Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine
Floral nectar contains sugars and numerous other compounds, including amino acids, but little is known about their function and origin in nectar. Therefore, the amino acid, sugar, and inorganic ion concentrations, as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) and glutamine synthetase (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/1/23 |
| _version_ | 1827384576945684480 |
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| author | Thomas Göttlinger Gertrud Lohaus |
| author_facet | Thomas Göttlinger Gertrud Lohaus |
| author_sort | Thomas Göttlinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Floral nectar contains sugars and numerous other compounds, including amino acids, but little is known about their function and origin in nectar. Therefore, the amino acid, sugar, and inorganic ion concentrations, as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in nectar, nectaries, and leaves were analyzed in 30 <i>Pitcairnia</i> species. These data were compared with various floral traits, the pollinator type, and the phylogenetic relationships of the species to find possible causes for the high amino acid concentrations in the nectar of some species. The highest concentrations of amino acids (especially alanine) in nectar were found in species with reddish flowers. Furthermore, the concentration of amino acids in nectar and nectaries is determined through analyzing flower color/pollination type rather than phylogenetic relations. This study provides new insights into the origin of amino acids in nectar. The presence of almost all amino acids in nectar is mainly due to their transport in the phloem to the nectaries, with the exception of alanine, which is partially produced in nectaries. In addition, active regulatory mechanisms are required in nectaries that retain most of the amino acids and allow the selective secretion of specific amino acids, such as alanine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:59:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-999aa1edb5514875a01c68a336c08796 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:59:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-999aa1edb5514875a01c68a336c087962024-01-10T15:05:57ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-12-011312310.3390/plants13010023Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and GlutamineThomas Göttlinger0Gertrud Lohaus1Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, GermanyMolecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, GermanyFloral nectar contains sugars and numerous other compounds, including amino acids, but little is known about their function and origin in nectar. Therefore, the amino acid, sugar, and inorganic ion concentrations, as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in nectar, nectaries, and leaves were analyzed in 30 <i>Pitcairnia</i> species. These data were compared with various floral traits, the pollinator type, and the phylogenetic relationships of the species to find possible causes for the high amino acid concentrations in the nectar of some species. The highest concentrations of amino acids (especially alanine) in nectar were found in species with reddish flowers. Furthermore, the concentration of amino acids in nectar and nectaries is determined through analyzing flower color/pollination type rather than phylogenetic relations. This study provides new insights into the origin of amino acids in nectar. The presence of almost all amino acids in nectar is mainly due to their transport in the phloem to the nectaries, with the exception of alanine, which is partially produced in nectaries. In addition, active regulatory mechanisms are required in nectaries that retain most of the amino acids and allow the selective secretion of specific amino acids, such as alanine.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/1/23Bromeliaceae<i>Pitcairnia</i>floral nectarnectariesamino acidsalanine aminotransferase |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Göttlinger Gertrud Lohaus Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine Plants Bromeliaceae <i>Pitcairnia</i> floral nectar nectaries amino acids alanine aminotransferase |
| title | Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine |
| title_full | Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine |
| title_fullStr | Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine |
| title_short | Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of <i>Pitcairnia</i> Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine |
| title_sort | origin and function of amino acids in nectar and nectaries of i pitcairnia i species with particular emphasis on alanine and glutamine |
| topic | Bromeliaceae <i>Pitcairnia</i> floral nectar nectaries amino acids alanine aminotransferase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/1/23 |
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