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Environmental and Stress Physiology

Seasonal Variation in the Antioxidant System of Eastern White Pine Needles ¹

Evidence for Thermal Dependence

Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

Antioxidant metabolites in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) needles increased two- to fourfold from the summer to the winter season. Antioxidant enzymes in needle tissue increased between 2- and 122-fold during this same period. These seasonal changes were determined by monitoring ascorbate and glutathione concentrations and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase (GR), and superoxide dismutase. Levels of antioxidant metabolites and enzymes were observed always to be lowest during the summer, or active growing season, and highest during the winter, or dormant season. These data correlated well with the thermal kinetic window for purified GR obtained from summer needles. The minimum, apparent K_m,NADPH for two isoforms of GR (GR_A and GR_B) occurred at 5 and 10°C, respectively. The upper limit of the thermal kinetic window (200% of the minimum K_m) for GR_A and GR_B was 20 and 25°C, respectively, indicating that needle temperatures exceeding 25°C may result in impairment of antioxidant metabolism. The needle content and kinetic properties of GR, the increased activities of other enzymes, and the high substrate concentrations observed during the winter are consistent with the protective function this pathway may provide against photooxidative, winter injury.

¹ This research was supported by Environmental Protection Agency grant No. R-814224-01-0 to B.I.C. and J.L.H. This article has not been subjected to EPA peer and administrative review and may not necessarily reflect the views of EPA and no official endorsement should be inferred.

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