Phospholipid Acylation in Cotyledons of Cotton Seedlings

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Chapman 9320047 Phospholipids are an integral component of all biological membranes. The phospholipid composition of intracellular membranes is highly variable. Differences in phospholipid composition determine the specific properties of the membrane; its physical properties and its function. Retailoring of phospholipids, such as deacylation or acylation of phospholipid chains in existing membranes, may be an important mechanism that the cell has for rapidly adjusting membrane function in response to changing environmental conditions, such as temperature, salt concentration, water activity, etc. Although there has been growing interest in the role of membrane lipid metabolism as a way to protect against environmental stress, retailoring mechanisms of existing membrane phospholipids has received less attention. The aim of this research program is to examine the role of biochemical pathway(s) that support the incorporation of acyl moieties into existing plant membrane phospholipids. This is accomplished by a pathway different from the ordinary plant biosynthetic pathway for de novo phospholipid synthesis. The specific aim of this research program is to delineate the biochemical pathway(s) leading to this unusual acyl-group incorporation into preformed cottonseed membrane phospholipids and to identify the enzyme(s) involved in the process. %%% This is a basic research project to determine how plant cells can efficiently regulate the chemical composition of their membranes to resist destructive changes in their environment, such as temperature, salt concentrations, water activity, etc. Although the effects of environmental stress on lipid biosynthesis in membrane formation have been a subject of research for some time to explain the development of plant resistance, changes in phospholipid chemistry in existing membranes has not. Experiments will be conducted to determine how plants can change the structure of membrane phospholipids and identify the enzymes involved. This research should significantly increase our understanding and ability to control resistance to environmental stress in plants. ***