Nitrated Fatty-Acids Distribution in Storage Biomolecules during Arabidopsis thaliana Development.

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Nitric oxide (NO) reacts with polyunsaturated fatty acids to form nitrated fatty acids (NO2-FAs).
• NO2-FAs function as signaling molecules in plant development and stress responses.
• The storage and distribution of NO2-FAs in plants were previously unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify storage biomolecules of NO2-FAs in Arabidopsis thaliana.
• To determine the distribution of NO2-FAs in storage biomolecules throughout plant development.
• To investigate the roles of NO2-FAs in plant development and signaling.

Main Methods:

• Identification of NO2-FAs in various storage biomolecules.
• Quantification of NO2-FAs during different stages of Arabidopsis development.
• Analysis of NO2-FA esterification in lipids and proteins.

Main Results:

• Phytosterol esters (SE) and TAGs store NO2-FAs in seeds, replaced by phospholipids and proteins later.
• Nitro-linolenic acid (NO2-Ln), nitro-oleic acid (NO2-OA), and nitro-linoleic acid (NO2-LA) were detected.
• NO2-OA and NO2-LA were identified for the first time in Arabidopsis.
• Esterified NO2-FA levels decreased during plant development.
• NO2-FAs were found esterified in both lipids and proteins.

Conclusions:

• Arabidopsis stores NO2-FAs in SE and TAGs in seeds, shifting to phospholipids and proteins in vegetative and reproductive stages.
• The dynamic distribution of NO2-FAs suggests their involvement in plant development and signaling.
• Esterification of NO2-FAs in phospholipids and proteins highlights their roles in biomembrane dynamics and signaling processes.