Phenylalanine roles in the seed-to-seedling stage: Not just an amino acid

• Published in: Plant science (Limerick) 2019-12, Vol.289, p.110223-110223, Article 110223
• Main Authors: Perkowski, Mark C., Warpeha, Katherine M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arabidopsis - growth & development; Arabidopsis - metabolism; Arogenate dehydratase; Biosynthesis; Defense; Development; Germination; Hydro-Lyases - genetics; Hydro-Lyases - metabolism; Metabolism; Phenylalanine; Phenylalanine - genetics; Phenylalanine - metabolism; Seed-to-seedling; Seedlings - growth & development; Seedlings - metabolism; Seeds - growth & development; Seeds - metabolism
• ISSN: 0168-9452; 1873-2259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110223

•Phenylalanine formation in all plant clades may occur due to arogenate dehydratase activity or prephenate dehydratase activity.•Phenylalanine may be required for some aspects of cell division processes and may be involved in conserved mechanisms of cell division control.•Phenylalanine may be a source of carbon and nitrogen in metabolism, in the seed to seedling transition.•Phenylalanine is involved in processes critical to early seedling growth and development: cell defense, development, cell division / plastid division. Phenylalanine is an aromatic amino acid that provides the carbon skeleton for the phenylpropanoid pathway, making many diverse chemicals used for structure, defense, and yet undiscovered functions. The identification of the arogenate dehydratase (ADT) enzymes in the genetic model Arabidopsis thaliana provided a platform to explore the roles of phenylalanine in all stages of life: germination, in the seed-to-seedling transition stage, organelle function, and in generation of defense mechanisms, enabling further studies in other plants. From the literature, data indicate that phenylalanine produced by ADT may have direct roles in organellar and tissue development. Recent studies implicate ADTs in cell division and protection from Reactive Oxygen Species, and in signaling and growth. Research in phenylalanine and subsequent phenylpropanoids also point to a role of phenylalanine as a purveyor of C and N nutrients. The understanding of phenylalanine action in plant cells is enhanced by recent research on phenylalanine in animal cells.