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Changes in lipid molecular species and sterols of microsomal membranes during aging of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed-tubers

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Lipids

Abstract

Changes in sterols and the molecular species composition of polar lipids from microsomal membranes were characterized as a prerequisite to determining how lipid chemistry affects membrane susceptibility to peroxidation during aging of potato tubers. Polar lipid content of the microsomal fraction fell 17% (protein basis) as tubers aged from 2 to 38 mon at 4°C. In younger seed-tubers, PC concentration (protein basis) was the highest, followed by digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), PE, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), and PI. PC and PE increased 14 and 27%, respectively, whereas glycolipids fell 64 and PI 43% with advancing age. These changes resulted in PC and PE dominating the microsomal membrane lipids of 38-mon-old tubers. Nonpositional analysis of lipid molecular species across lipid pools showed an increase in 16∶0/18∶3, 18∶3/18∶3, and 18∶2/18∶3 (PC and PE only), and a decline in 18∶2/18∶2 and 16∶0/18∶2 (except for MGDG) with advancing tuber age. The increase in 18∶3-bearing species effected a linear increase in double-bond index (DBI) of PC and PE during aging. The DBI of DGDG did not change with age; however, it fell 65% for MGDG, resulting in an overall decrease in average microsomal DBI. In addition, Δ5-avenasterol and stigmasterol concentrations increased 1.6- and 3.3-fold, respectively, effecting a significant increase in the sterol/phospholipid ratio with advancing tuber age. The increase in sterol/phospholipid ratio and the possibility that the increased unsaturation of microsomal membranes reflects a compensatory response to maintain optimal membrane function in light of the age-induced loss of galactolipid and PI are discussed.

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Abbreviations

DBI:

double-bond index

DGDG:

digalactosyldiacylglycerol

DHB:

2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid

MALDI TOF MS:

matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

MGDG:

monogalactosyldiacylglycerol

PVP:

polyvinylpyrrolidone

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  1. Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646414, 99164, Pullman, WA

    Vladimir Zabrouskov & N. Richard Knowles

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  1. Vladimir Zabrouskov
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  2. N. Richard Knowles
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Correspondence to N. Richard Knowles.

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Zabrouskov, V., Knowles, N.R. Changes in lipid molecular species and sterols of microsomal membranes during aging of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed-tubers. Lipids 37, 309–315 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-002-0896-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-002-0896-0

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