title: Fatty acid unsaturation, mobilization, and regulation in the response of plants to stress.
abstract: Stress acclimating plants respond to abiotic and biotic stress by remodeling membrane fluidity and by releasing alpha-linolenic (18:3) from membrane lipids. The modification of membrane fluidity is mediated by changes in unsaturated fatty acid levels, a function provided in part by the regulated activity of fatty acid desaturases. Adjustment of membrane fluidity maintains an environment suitable for the function of critical integral proteins during stress. alpha-Linolenic acid, released from membrane lipid by regulated lipase activity, is the precursor molecule for phyto-oxylipin biosynthesis. The modulation of chloroplast oleic acid (18:1) levels is central to the normal expression of defense responses to pathogens in Arabidopsis. Oleic (18:1) and linolenic (18:2) acid levels, in part, regulate development, seed colonization, and mycotoxin production by Aspergillus spp.
authors.affiliation: Soybean & Nitrogen Fixation Unit, USDA-ARS, Raleigh, NC, USA. greg.upchurch@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Upchurch
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003681:Dehydration / Q000378:metabolism; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D054712:Salinity; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases