L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and Development

L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is as essential to plants as it is to animals. Ascorbic acid functions as a major redox buffer and as a cofactor for enzymes involved in regulating photosynthesis, hormone biosynthesis, and regenerating other antioxidants. Ascorbic acid regulates cell division and growth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Daniel R. Gallie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Scientifica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/795964
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832558943712313344
author Daniel R. Gallie
author_facet Daniel R. Gallie
author_sort Daniel R. Gallie
collection DOAJ
description L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is as essential to plants as it is to animals. Ascorbic acid functions as a major redox buffer and as a cofactor for enzymes involved in regulating photosynthesis, hormone biosynthesis, and regenerating other antioxidants. Ascorbic acid regulates cell division and growth and is involved in signal transduction. In contrast to the single pathway responsible for ascorbic acid biosynthesis in animals, plants use multiple pathways to synthesize ascorbic acid, perhaps reflecting the importance of this molecule to plant health. Given the importance of ascorbic acid to human nutrition, several technologies have been developed to increase the ascorbic acid content of plants through the manipulation of biosynthetic or recycling pathways. This paper provides an overview of these approaches as well as the consequences that changes in ascorbic acid content have on plant growth and function. Discussed is the capacity of plants to tolerate changes in ascorbic acid content. The many functions that ascorbic acid serves in plants, however, will require highly targeted approaches to improve their nutritional quality without compromising their health.
format Article
id doaj-art-8550d9855752442daebfa4a899a6b9bc
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-908X
language English
publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Scientifica
spelling doaj-art-8550d9855752442daebfa4a899a6b9bc2025-02-03T01:31:15ZengWileyScientifica2090-908X2013-01-01201310.1155/2013/795964795964L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and DevelopmentDaniel R. Gallie0Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0129, USAL-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is as essential to plants as it is to animals. Ascorbic acid functions as a major redox buffer and as a cofactor for enzymes involved in regulating photosynthesis, hormone biosynthesis, and regenerating other antioxidants. Ascorbic acid regulates cell division and growth and is involved in signal transduction. In contrast to the single pathway responsible for ascorbic acid biosynthesis in animals, plants use multiple pathways to synthesize ascorbic acid, perhaps reflecting the importance of this molecule to plant health. Given the importance of ascorbic acid to human nutrition, several technologies have been developed to increase the ascorbic acid content of plants through the manipulation of biosynthetic or recycling pathways. This paper provides an overview of these approaches as well as the consequences that changes in ascorbic acid content have on plant growth and function. Discussed is the capacity of plants to tolerate changes in ascorbic acid content. The many functions that ascorbic acid serves in plants, however, will require highly targeted approaches to improve their nutritional quality without compromising their health.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/795964
spellingShingle Daniel R. Gallie
L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and Development
Scientifica
title L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and Development
title_full L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and Development
title_fullStr L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and Development
title_full_unstemmed L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and Development
title_short L-Ascorbic Acid: A Multifunctional Molecule Supporting Plant Growth and Development
title_sort l ascorbic acid a multifunctional molecule supporting plant growth and development
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/795964
work_keys_str_mv AT danielrgallie lascorbicacidamultifunctionalmoleculesupportingplantgrowthanddevelopment