title: Early changes in the fatty acid composition of photosynthetic membrane lipids from Populus nigra grown on a metallurgical landfill.
abstract: We compared the fatty acid composition of leaves taken from poplars on a metal-contaminated landfill, and on the uncontaminated roadside bordering this site. For the first time, it is shown that the percentage of linolenic acid, which is mainly associated with thylakoid lipids, was significantly lower in tree species within the landfill than within the control area. A correlation study was carried out to investigate relationships between the C18:3/(C18:0 + C18:1 + C18:2) fatty acid ratios and the metal contents in soils and leaves. Lead and chromium leaf contents were significantly negatively correlated to this fatty acid ratio. The impact of each of these metals remains difficult to evaluate, but chromium in leaf likely plays a major role in toxicity. In addition, the decrease in the C18:3/(C18:0 + C18:1 + C18:2) fatty acid ratio occurred at low leaf metal content, and therefore it is shown that this ratio can be used as an early indicator of the effect of metals.
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire, UMR-5200, F-33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France. marina.le-guedart@biomemb.u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Guédard
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bessoule
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D032107:Populus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D020524:Thylakoids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D019216:Metals, Heavy