Rapid Accumulation of gamma-Aminobutyric Acid and Alanine in Soybean Leaves in Response to an Abrupt Transfer to Lower Temperature, Darkness, or Mechanical Manipulation

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr) leaves contain a low level (0.05 micromole per gram fresh weight) of gamma-aminobutyric acid (Gaba) but the concentration of this non-protein amino acid increased to 1 to 2 micromoles per gram fresh weight within 5 minutes after transfer of plants or detached leaves from 33 degrees C to 22 degrees C or lower temperatures. A parallel decrease occurred in the concentration of glutamate. Accumulation of Gaba was also triggered by mechanical damage to the soybean leaves, but in plants subjected to a gradual reduction in temperature (2 degrees C per minute) only a small increase in Gaba occurred. A rapid increase in the concentration of alanine and decrease in glycine occurred upon transfer of the soybean plants to darkness and was not influenced by temperature. When plants were returned to normal growing conditions, all changes in amino acid concentrations were fully reversed in 1 hour.In soybean leaf discs incubated with [(14)C]glutamate, a rapid accumulation of [(14)C]Gaba was detected, and glutamate decarboxylase activity of the soybean leaf considerably exceeded (>30-fold) that of Gaba pyruvate transaminase. Part of the transaminase was localized in the mitochondria, but glutamate decarboxylase was not associated with any organelle or membrane component of the leaf cell. We consider that Gaba accumulation results from some change in intracellular compartmentation of the cell triggered by low temperature shock or mechanical damage. The accumulation of alanine due to a light-dark transition could be accounted for by transamination. [(14)C]Alanine formation was demonstrated when soybean leaf extracts were incubated with glutamate, aspartate, or serine and [(14)C]pyruvate.The changes in amino acid concentrations described for soybean leaves were demonstrated for all the vegetative tissues of the soybean plant and at variable rates in the leaves of a range of plant species. The response in detached tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaves was of a similar magnitude to soybean. Thus, precautions are necessary to minimize changes in amino acid composition induced by manipulation and extraction of plant material.