Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-12-13
pubmed:abstractText
Nitrogen (N) is an essential requirement for kernel growth in maize (Zea mays); however, little is known about how N assimilates are metabolized in young earshoots during seed development. The objective of this study was to assess amino acid metabolism in cob and spikelet tissues during the critical 2 weeks following silking. Two maize hybrids were grown in the field for 2 years at two levels of supplemental N fertilizer (0 and 168 kg N/ha). The effects of the reproductive sink on cob N metabolism were examined by comparing pollinated to unpollinated earshoots. Earshoots were sampled at 2, 8, 14, and 18 d after silking; dissected into cob, spikelet, and/or pedicel and kernel fractions; then analyzed for amino acid profiles and key enzyme activities associated with amino acid metabolism. Major amino acids in the cob were glutamine (Gln), aspartic acid (Asp), asparagine (Asn), glutamate, and alanine. Gln concentrations dropped dramatically from 2 to 14 d after silking in both pollinated and unpollinated cobs, whereas all other measured amino acids accumulated over time in unpollinated spikelets and cobs, especially Asn. N supply had a variable effect on individual amino acid levels in young cobs and spikelets, with Asn being the most notably enhanced. We found that the cob performs significant enzymatic interconversions among Gln, alanine, Asp, and Asn during early reproductive development, which may precondition the N assimilate supply for sustained kernel growth. The measured amino acid profiles and enzymatic activities suggest that the Asn to Gln ratio in cobs may be part of a signal transduction pathway involving aspartate aminotransferase, Gln synthetase, and Asn synthetase to indicate plant N status for kernel development.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-10080705, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-10080717, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-10482686, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-11244098, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-11912236, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-11912240, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-12068109, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-12376627, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-12744660, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-12805621, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-12872481, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-16661688, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-16662738, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-16664090, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-16664091, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-16664546, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-4150338, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-4778854, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-5799567, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-7846154, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-8580967, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/15531710-9881155
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0032-0889
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
136
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
4326-34
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-9-20
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Amino acid metabolism in maize earshoots. Implications for assimilate preconditioning and nitrogen signaling.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't