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Sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose accumulation at low temperature
C L Guy1, J L Huber, S C Huber
1Department of Environmental Horticulture, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.
Plant Physiology
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Low temperatures significantly increase sugars like sucrose in spinach leaves. This is linked to enhanced sucrose phosphate synthase activity, improving cold stress tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Plant acclimation to environmental stress is crucial for survival.
- Temperature significantly impacts plant metabolism and sugar accumulation.
- Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a model crop for studying cold responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of low growth temperature on free sugars and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) in spinach leaves.
- To understand the relationship between sugar accumulation and SPS activity under cold stress.
- To explore the role of SPS in plant adaptation to non-freezing temperatures and freezing stress.
Main Methods:
- Spinach plants were grown at 25°C and then transferred to 5°C for 14 days.
- Quantification of free sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) and enzyme activities (SPS, sucrose synthase, invertases) in leaf tissues.
- Analysis of sucrose phosphate synthase subunit synthesis and steady-state levels.
Main Results:
- A 14- to 20-fold increase in predawn sugar levels (sucrose, glucose, fructose) was observed after 14 days at 5°C.
- Sucrose was the predominant free sugar throughout the experiment.
- Low-temperature treatment significantly increased sucrose phosphate synthase activity and subunit synthesis, but not sucrose synthase or invertases.
Conclusions:
- Increased sucrose and enhanced sucrose phosphate synthase activity are key metabolic adjustments to low non-freezing temperatures in spinach.
- These changes likely contribute to improved freezing stress tolerance.
- Sucrose accumulation and SPS upregulation are critical components of cold acclimation in spinach.
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