Uptake and transformation of benzene and toluene by plant leaves

The [1-6(14)C]benzene and [1-(14)C]toluene vapors penetrate into hypostomatous leaves of Acer campestre, Malus domestica, and Vitis vinifera from both sides, whereas hydrocarbons are more intensively absorbed by the stomatiferous side and more actively taken up by young leaves. Benzene and toluene conversion in leaves occurs with the aromatic ring cleavage and their carbon atoms are mainly incorporated into nonvolatile organic acids, while their incorporation into amino acids is less intensive. Intact spinach chloroplasts oxidize benzene, and this process is strongly stimulated in light. Oxidation of benzene by spinach chloroplasts or by enzyme preparation from spinach leaves is almost completely inhibited by 8-oxyquinoline or sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, and slightly affected by alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl. Benzene oxidation by enzyme preparation is significantly stimulated by NADH and NADPH; in their presence, the benzene hydroxylation product, phenol, is formed in a determinable amount. It is supposed that the enzyme performing the first step of oxidative transformation of benzene in plant leaves contains copper as the prosthetic group.