Abstract
The radial distribution of membrane and storage lipids was determined in the trunkwood ofRobinia pseudoacacia L. The trees were felled in November at the time of heartwood formation and fluctuations in the amount and composition of phospholipids, free sterols, steryl esters, diand triacylglycerols, and free fatty acids were investigated across the sapwood-heartwood boundary. The individual compounds were identified and quantified by thin layer chromatography, enzymatic and colorimetric assays, and by capillary gas chromatography. Phospholipids show a significant decrease towards the boundary area, and in the heartwood only trace amounts can be detected. The same pattern is observed for free sterols in the sapwood; in the heartwood, however, they reach maximum values with increasing depth of the trunk. Steryl esters exhibit a complementary behaviour by accumulating at the periphery of the heartwood. No concentration changes are found in the total amounts of diacylglycerols and free fatty acids. In contrast, the triacylglycerol concentration declines steadily across the trunk. With regard to qualitative composition, free fatty acids and the fatty acid moieties of the esterified constituents vary in their chain length from 14 to 24 carbon atoms and have up to three double bonds. A radial gradient in the ratio saturated/unsaturated fatty acids can be observed: except for the phospholipid fraction the relative amounts of unsaturated fatty acids increase in centripetal direction. Seven phospholipids were identified: phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidic acid, which constitutes the major proportion. In the sterol group, sitosterol is the most abundant component. The composition of the esterified sterols remains constant across the trunk cross-section, whereas the relative frequencies of individual free sterols change markedly.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson AB, Riffer R, Wong A (1969) Monoterpenes, fatty and resin acids ofPinus contorta andPinus attenuata. Phytochemistry 8: 2401–2403
Bamber RK (1976) Heartwood, its function and formation. Wood Sei Technol 10: 1–8
Baqui SA, Shah JJ (1985) Histoenzymatic studies in wood ofAcacia auriculiformis Cunn. during heartwood formation. Holzforschung 39: 311–320
Battay JF, Ohlrogge JB (1989) A comparison of the metabolic fate of fatty acids of different chain lengths in developing oilseeds. Plant Physiol 90: 835–840
Bernard-Dagan C (1988) Les substances de reserve du Pin maritime: role eventuel des metabolites secondaires. Bull Soc Bot Fr 135: 25–40
Bhatt PN, Bhatt DP (1984) Changes in sterol content during leaf aging and in vitro differentiation inSolanum nigrum, J Natl Prod 47: 426–432
Bonicel A, Haddard G, Gagnaire J (1987) Seasonal variations of starch and major soluble sugars in the different organs of young poplars. Plant Physiol Biochem 25: 451–459
Borochov A, Woodson RW (1989) Physiology and biochemistry of flower petal senescence. Hortic Rev 11: 15–43
Brenner RR (1984) Effect of unsaturated acids on membrane structure and enzyme kinetics. Prog Lipid Res 23: 69–96
Casey PJ (1995) Protein lipidation in cell signalling. Science 268: 221–225
Chen PS, Toribara TY, Warner H (1956) Microdetermination of phosphorus. Anal Chem 28: 1756–1758
Datta SK, Kumar A (1987) Histochemical studies of the transition from sapwood to heartwood inTectona grandis. IAWA Bull 8: 363–368
Dell' Angelica EC, Stella CA, Ermácora MR, Santomé JA, Ramos EH (1993) Inhibitory action of palmitic acid on the growth ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Folia Microbiol (Prague) 38: 486–490
Dietrichs HH (1964) Das Verhalten von Kohlenhydraten bei der Verkernung. Holzforschung 18: 14–24
Drossopoulos JB, Niavis CA (1988) Sesonal changes of metabolites in the leaves, bark and xylem tissue of olive tree (Olea europaea L.). II. Carbohydrates. Ann Bot 62: 321–327
Dyas L, Goad LJ (1993) Steryl fatty acyl esters in plants. Phytochemistry 34: 17–29
Eigenbrode SD, Espelie KE (1995) Effects of plant epicuticular lipids on insect herbivores. Annu Rev Entomol 40: 171–194
Fay JP, Farias RN (1975) The inhibitory action of fatty acids on the growth ofEscherichia coli. J Gen Microbiol 91: 233–240
Fischer A (1891) Beiträge zur Physiologie der Holzgewächse. Jahrb Wiss Bot 22: 73–160
Fischer C, Höll W (1990) Lipoprotein lipase as a new tool in steryl ester analysis. Lipids 25: 292–295
Fischer C, Höll W (1992) Food reserves of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). II. Seasonal changes and radial distribution of carbohydrate and fat reserves in pine wood. Trees 6: 147–155
Frey-Wyssling A, Bosshard HH (1964) Cytology of the ray cells in sapwood and heartwood. Holzforschung 13: 129–137
Gondet L, Bronner R, Benveniste P (1994) Regulation of sterol content in membranes by subcellular compartmentation of steryl-esters accumulating in a sterol-overproducing tobacco mutant. Plant Physiol 105: 509–518
Grammatikos SI, Subbaiah PV, Victor TA, Miller WM (1994) Diverse effects of essential (n-6 and n-3) fatty acids on cultured cells. Cytotechnology 15: 31–50
Grunwald C (1971) Effects of free sterols, steryl ester, and steryl glycoside on membrane permeability. Plant Physiol 48: 653–655
Grunwald C (1974) Sterol molecular modifications influencing membrane permeability. Plant Physiol 54: 624–628
Grunwald C (1980) Steroids. In: Bell EA, Charlwood BV (eds) Encyclopedia of plant physiology: secondary plant products, vol 8. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 221–236
Hartmann MA, Benveniste P (1974) Effect of ageing on sterol metabolism in potato tuber slices. Phytochemistry 13: 2667–2672
Harwood J (1989) Lipid metabolism in plants. Critic Rev Plant Sci 8: 1–44
Heftmann E (1971) Function of sterols in plants. Lipids 6: 128–133
Hillinger C, Höll W, Ziegler H (1996) Lipids and lipolytic enzymes in the trunkwood ofRobinia pseudoacacia L. during heartwood formation. II. Radial distribution of lipases and phospholipases. Trees 10: 376–381
Hillis WE (1977) Secondary changes in wood. In: Loewus FA, Runeckles VC (ededs) Recent advances in phytochemistry 11: 247–309. Plenum Press, New York
Hillis WE (1987) Heartwood and tree exudates. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Höll W (1972) Stärke und Stärkeenzyme im Holz vonRobinia pseudoacacia L. Holzforschung 26: 41–45
Höll W (1981) Eine dünnschichtchromatographische Darstellung des Jahresgangs löslicher Zucker im Stammholz von drei Angiospermen und einer Gymnosperme. Holzforschung 35: 173–175
Höll W, Goller I (1982) Free sterols and steryl esters in the trunkwood ofPicea abies (L.) Karst. Z Pflanzenphysiol 106: 409–418
Höll W, Lipp J (1987) Concentration gradients of free sterols, steryl esters and lipid phosphorus in the trunkwood of Scot's pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.). Trees 1: 79–81
Höll W, Pieczonka K (1978) Lipids in the sapand heartwood ofPicea abies (L.). Karst. Z Pflanzenphysiol 87: 191–198
Höll W, Poschenrieder G (1975) Radial distribution and partial characterization of lipids in the trunk of three hardwoods. Holzforschung 29: 118–123
Höll W, Priebe S (1985) Storage lipids in the trunkwood ofTilia cordata Mill. from the dormant to the growing period. Holzforschung 39: 7–10
Kates M (1972) Techniques in lipidology. North-Holland Publishing, Amsterdam
Kemp RJ, Goad LJ, Mercer EJ (1967) Changes in the levels and the composition of the esterified sterols of maize seedlings during germination. Phytochemistry 6: 1609–1615
Knowles LO, Knowles NR (1990) Changes in the fatty acid composition of phospholipids from different ages of potato seed-tubers during sprouting. Ann Bot 65: 217–223
Kondo E, Kanai K (1976) Further studies on the lethal effect of longchain fatty acids on mycobacteria. Jpn J Med Sci Biol 29: 25–37
Kumar A, Datta SK (1989) Histochemical and histoenzymological changes during heartwood formation in a timber treeShorea robusta. Proc Indian Sci (Plant Sci) 99: 21–27
Lalaguna F, Agudo M (1989) Relationship between changes in lipid with ageing of cassava roots and senescence parameters. Phytochemistry 28: 2059–2062
Larsson C, Moller IM, Widell S (1990) Introduction to the plant plasma membrane. Its molecular composition and organization. In: Larsson C, Moller IM (eds) The plant plasma membrane. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 1–15
Laver ML, Fang HH (1986) Douglas-fir bark. III. Sterol and wax esters of the n-hexane wax. Wood Fiber Sci 18: 553–564
Lloyd JA (1975) Fatty acids, resins and phenols inPinus muricata. Phytochemistry 14: 483–485
Magel EA, Höll W (1993) Storage carbohydrates and adenine nucleotides in trunks ofFagus sylvatica in relation to discoloured wood. Holzforschung 47: 19–24
Magel EA, Drouet A, Claudot AC, Ziegler H (1991) Formation of heartwood substances in the stemwood ofRobinia pseudoacacia L. I. Distribution of phenylalanine ammonium-lyase and chalcone synthase across the trunk. Trees 5: 203–207
Magel E, Jay-Allemand C, Ziegler H (1994) Formation of heartwood substances in the stemwood ofRobinia pseudoacacia L. II. Distribution of non-structural carbohydrates and wood extractives across the trunk. Trees 8: 165–171
Mangold HK, Malins DC (1960) Fractionation of fats, oils and waxes on thin layers of silicic acid. J Am Oil Chem Soc 37: 383–385
Merril AH, Schroeder JJ (1993) Lipid modulation of cell function. Annu Rev Nutr 13: 539–559
Nagele U, Wahlefeld AW, Ziegenhorn J (1985) Triglycerides. In: Bermeyer HU (ed) Methods of enzymatic analysis, vol VIII. VCH, Weinheim, pp 2–12
Nobuchi T, Kuroda K, Iwata R, Harada H (1982) Cytological study of the seasonal feature of heartwood formation of Suge (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don.). Mokuzai Gakkaishi 28: 669–676
Nobuchi T, Sato T, Iwata R, Harada H (1984) Season of heartwood formation and the related cytological structure of ray parenchyma cells inRobinia pseudoacacia L. Mokuzai Gakkaishi 30: 628–636
Roughan G, Slack R (1982) Cellular organization of glycerolipid metabolism. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 33: 97–132
Ryyppö A, Vapaavuori EM, Rikala R, Sutinen ML (1994) Fatty acid composition of microsomal phospholipids and H+-ATPase activity in the roots of Scots pine seedlings grown at different root temperatures during flushing. J Exp Bot 45: 1533–1539
Salama AM, Pearce RS (1993) Ageing of cucumber and onion seeds: phospholipase D, lipoxygenase activity and changes in phospholipid content. J Exp Bot 44 (265): 1253–1265
Sandermann Jr H (1978) Regulation of membrane enzymes by lipids. Biochim Biophys Acta 515: 209–237
Saranpää P, Höll W (1989) Soluble carbohydrates ofPinus sylvestris L. sapwood and heartwood. Trees 3: 138–143
Saranpää P, Nyberg H (1987) Seasonal variation of neutral lipids inPinus sylvestris L. sapwood and heartwood. Trees 1: 82–87
Shain L, Hillis WE (1973) Ethylene production in xylem ofPinus radiata in relation to heartwood formation. Can J Bot 51: 1331–1335
Sinnott EW (1918) Factors determining character and distribution of food reserves in woody plants. Bot Gaz (Chicago) 66: 162–175
Spector AA, Yorek M (1985) Membrane lipid composition and cellular function. J Lipid Res 26: 1015–1035
Stewart CM (1966) Excretion and heartwood formation in living trees. Science 153: 1068–1074
Stymne S, Stobart K (1987) Triacylglycerol biosynthesis. In: Stumpf PK (ed) The biochemistry of plants, a comprehensive treatise. Lipids: structure and function, vol 9. Academic Press, Orlando,pp 175–214
Tevini M, Steinmüller D (1985) Composition and function of plastoglobuli. II. Lipid composition of leaves and plastoglobuli during beech leaf senescence. Planta 163: 91–96
Thompson GA (1988) The molecular basis for membrane deterioration during senescence. In: Noodén LD, Leopold EC (eds) Senescence and aging in plants. Academic Press, New York, pp 51–83
Treleaven WD, Wassall SR, Cushley RJ (1983) Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance study of spin labelled cholesteryl ester in model membranes. Chem Phys Lipids 33: 223–231
Verhey SD, Lomax TL (1993) Signal transduction in vascular plants. I Plant Growth Regul 12: 179–195
Yamashita T (1990) Variations in amounts of carbohydrates, amino acids and adenine nucleotides in mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) stems during transitional phases of growth. Tree Physiol 6: 191–200
Yoshioka H, Nagai K, Aoba K, Fukumoto M (1988) Seasonal changes of carbohydrate metabolism in apple trees. Sci Hortic 36: 219–227
Ziegler H (1964) Storage, mobilization and distribution of reserve materials in trees. In: Zimmermann EH (ed) The formation of wood in forest trees. Academic Press, New York, pp 303–320
Ziegler H (1968) Biologische Aspekte der Kernholzbildung. Holz Roh-Werkst 26: 61–68
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hillinger, C., Höll, W. & Ziegler, H. Lipids and lipolytic enzymes in the trunkwood ofRobinia pseudoacacia L. during heartwood formation. Trees 10, 366–375 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185640
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185640