Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Ascorbic acid in plants: biosynthesis and function.

N Smirnoff1, G L Wheeler

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, UK.

Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
|September 27, 2000
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Wherefore the Magic? The Evolutionary Role of Psilocybin in Nature.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same author

Arabidopsis lines with modified ascorbate concentrations reveal a link between ascorbate and auxin biosynthesis.

Plant physiology·2025
Same author

Evolution of thermal tolerance and phenotypic plasticity under rapid and slow temperature fluctuations.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2022
Same author

THLASPI CAERULESCENS J. & C. PRESL. (T. ALPESTRE L.) IN BRITAIN.

The New phytologist·2021
Same author

Publisher Correction: Environmental fluctuations accelerate molecular evolution of thermal tolerance in a marine diatom.

Nature communications·2018
Same author

Environmental fluctuations accelerate molecular evolution of thermal tolerance in a marine diatom.

Nature communications·2018
Same journal

Conformational mobility of cationic voltage-gated ion channels.

Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology·2026
Same journal

DNA polymerase I: structure, activity, and function in bacterial DNA replication and repair.

Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology·2026
Same journal

The impact of HIV-1 Nef on CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells.

Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology·2026
Same journal

Recent insights into bacterial ESCRT-III-mediated membrane remodeling.

Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology·2026
Same journal

CRISPR-Cas9 editing of agricultural crops and medicinal plants: toward a cornucopia of natural products.

Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology·2025
Same journal

RNA modifications as a means of self-recognition and immune protection.

Critical reviews in biochemistry and molecular biology·2025
See all related articles

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is vital for plant photosynthesis and growth. Recent research identified its biosynthetic pathway, aiding understanding of its functions and enabling manipulation of vitamin C levels in plants.

Area of Science:

  • Plant biochemistry
  • Molecular genetics
  • Plant physiology

Background:

  • Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is abundant in plants, present in all cellular compartments.
  • Proposed functions include roles in photosynthesis, enzyme cofactor activity, and cell growth regulation.
  • A recent biosynthetic pathway via GDP-mannose has been identified, supported by genetic evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of ascorbic acid in plants.
  • To understand the multifaceted roles of ascorbic acid in plant physiology.
  • To investigate the genetic basis of ascorbate deficiency and its consequences.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular genetic analysis using Arabidopsis thaliana mutants (e.g., vtc 1).
  • Biochemical assays to determine enzyme cofactor activity and reaction mechanisms.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of gene expression in response to oxidative stress and environmental factors.

    • Main Results:

    • A novel biosynthetic pathway involving GDP-mannose, GDP-L-galactose, L-galactose, and L-galactono-1,4-lactone was proposed and supported by genetic data.
    • Ascorbic acid plays key roles in photosynthesis (Mehler peroxidase reaction, photoprotection) and cell growth (cofactor for prolyl hydroxylase).
    • Ascorbate-deficient mutants show hypersensitivity to ozone and UV-B radiation, highlighting its antioxidative role.

    Conclusions:

    • The identification of the ascorbic acid biosynthetic pathway provides a foundation for manipulating vitamin C levels in plants.
    • Understanding this pathway and the functions of ascorbic acid is crucial for improving plant stress tolerance and growth.
    • Further research is needed to clarify the precise mechanisms linking ascorbate oxidase activity to cell expansion.