Ethanolic fermentation: new functions for an old pathway

Tadege, Million; Dupuis, Isabelle; Kuhlemeier, Cris (1999). Ethanolic fermentation: new functions for an old pathway. Trends in Plant Science, 4(8), 320 - 325. Elsevier Current Trends 10.1016/S1360-1385(99)01450-8

Text TrendsPlantSci_4_320.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (134kB)

Ethanolic fermentation is an ancient metabolic pathway. In plants, it is a major route of {ATP} production under anaerobic conditions. In addition, recent developments suggest that the pathway has important functions in the presence of oxygen. Both of the enzymes required for the production of acetaldehyde and ethanol, pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase, are highly abundant in pollen, resulting in fermentation in fully oxygenated cells. Acetaldehyde toxicity is an inevitable side effect of aerobic fermentation. Could acetaldehyde be the elusive pollen factor that contributes to male sterility in cmsT maize? The versatility of this ancient pathway is also illustrated by the induction of aerobic fermentation by environmental stress and activation of a defense response by overexpression of pyruvate decarboxylase.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

2 since deposited on 02 Jun 2016
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item