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Plant Physiol, February 2001, Vol. 125, pp. 634-640

Biosynthesis of L-Ascorbic Acid and Conversion of Carbons 1 and 2 of L-Ascorbic Acid to Oxalic Acid Occurs within Individual Calcium Oxalate Crystal Idioblasts1

Todd A. Kostman,2 Nathan M. Tarlyn, Frank A. Loewus, and Vincent R. Franceschi*

School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4236 (T.A.K, N.M.T., V.R.F.); and Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6340 (F.A.L.)

L-Ascorbic acid (AsA) and its metabolic precursors give rise to oxalic acid (OxA) found in calcium oxalate crystals in specialized crystal idioblast cells in plants; however, it is not known if AsA and OxA are synthesized within the crystal idioblast cell or transported in from surrounding mesophyll cells. Isolated developing crystal idioblasts from Pistia stratiotes were used to study the pathway of OxA biosynthesis and to determine if idioblasts contain the entire path and are essentially independent in OxA synthesis. Idioblasts were supplied with various 14C-labeled compounds and examined by micro-autoradiography for incorporation of 14C into calcium oxalate crystals. [14C]OxA gave heavy labeling of crystals, indicating the isolated idioblasts are functional in crystal formation. Incubation with [1-14C]AsA also gave heavy labeling of crystals, whereas [6-14C]AsA gave no labeling. Labeled precursors of AsA (L-[1-14C]galactose; D-[1-14C]mannose) also resulted in crystal labeling, as did the ascorbic acid analog, D-[1-14C]erythorbic acid. Intensity of labeling of isolated idioblasts followed the pattern OxA > AsA (erythorbic acid) > L-galactose > D-mannose. Our results demonstrate that P. stratiotes crystal idioblasts synthesize the OxA used for crystal formation, the OxA is derived from the number 1 and 2 carbons of AsA, and the proposed pathway of ascorbic acid synthesis via D-mannose and L-galactose is operational in individual P. stratiotes crystal idioblasts. These results are discussed with respect to fine control of calcium oxalate precipitation and the concept of crystal idioblasts as independent physiological compartments.

1 This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (grant no. MCB-9904562 to V.R.F.) and by the College of Agriculture and Home Economics Research Center, Washington State University (project no. 0266 to F.A.L.).

2 Present address: Department of Biology and Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI 54901-8640.

* Corresponding author; e-mail vfrances{at}mail.wsu.edu; fax 509-335-3184.

© 2001 American Society of Plant Physiologists


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