Elsevier

Phytochemistry

Volume 11, Issue 11, November 1972, Pages 3207-3214
Phytochemistry

Methionine metabolism in apple tissue in relation to ethylene biosynthesis

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)86375-XGet rights and content

Abstract

A comparison of the rate of ethylene production by apple fruit to the methionine content of the tissue suggests that the sulfur of methionine has to be recycled during its continuous synthesis of ethylene. The metabolism of the sulfur of methionine in apple tissue in relation to ethylene biosynthesis was investigated. The results showed that in the conversion of methionine to ethylene the CH3S-group of methionine is first incorporated as a unit into S-methylcysteine. By demethylation, S-methylcysteine is metabolized to cysteine. Cysteine then donates its sulfur to form methionine, presumably through cystathionine and homocysteine. This view is consistent with the observation that cysteine, homoserine and homocysteine were all converted to methionine, in an order of efficiency from least to greatest. For the conversion to ethylene, methionine was the most efficient precursor, followed by homocysteine and homoserine. Based on these results, a methionine-sulfur cycle in relation to ethylene biosynthesis is presented.

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    Present address: Faculty of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.

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