Reactive Oxygen Species Production by Potato Tuber Mitochondria Is Modulated by Mitochondrially Bound Hexokinase Activity1

Potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum) mitochondria (PTM) have a mitochondrially bound hexokinase (HK) activity that exhibits a pronounced sensitivity to ADP inhibition. Here we investigated the role of mitochondrial HK activity in PTM reactive oxygen species generation. Mitochondrial HK has a 10-fold higher affinity for glucose (Glc) than for fructose (KMGlc = 140 μm versus KMFrc = 1,375 μm). Activation of PTM respiration by succinate led to an increase in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) release that was abrogated by mitochondrial HK activation. Mitochondrial HK activity caused a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in oxygen consumption by PTM. Inhibition of Glc phosphorylation by mannoheptulose or GlcNAc induced a rapid increase in H2O2 release. The blockage of H2O2 release sustained by Glc was reverted by oligomycin and atractyloside, indicating that ADP recycles through the adenine nucleotide translocator and F0F1ATP synthase is operative during the mitochondrial HK reaction. Inhibition of mitochondrial HK activity by 60% to 70% caused an increase of 50% in the maximal rate of H2O2 release. Inhibition in H2O2 release by mitochondrial HK activity was comparable to, or even more potent, than that observed for StUCP (S. tuberosum uncoupling protein) activity. The inhibition of H2O2 release in PTM was two orders of magnitude more selective for the ADP produced from the mitochondrial HK reaction than for that derived from soluble yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) HK. Modulation of H2O2 release and oxygen consumption by Glc and mitochondrial HK inhibitors in potato tuber slices shows that hexoses and mitochondrial HK may act as a potent preventive antioxidant mechanism in potato tubers

EFEITO DO FRIO NA BROTAÇÃO DE GEMAS DE PEREIRA (Pyrus communis L.) cv. Carrick, EM PELOTAS, RS EFFECT OF CHILLING ON THE BUD BREAKING OF PEAR CV. CARRICK, IN PELOTAS, RS

Objetivou-se, no presente trabalho, identificar a profundidade de dormência e a velocidade de brotação em gemas de pereira, submetidas a diferentes períodos de frio à temperatura de 4ºC ±1. O experimento foi conduzido na Embrapa-Clima Temperado, em Pelotas, em 1999. Em 1º de junho, foram coletados 50 ramos, na cultivar Carrick, com aproximadamente 30 cm de comprimento. Após, foram divididos em 5 lotes de 10 ramos, sendo 4 mantidos a 4ºC± 1, e um em condições ambiente, constituindo, assim, 5 tratamentos: 0 (Testemunha); 272; 544; 816 e 1088 horas de frio (HF). No final de cada tratamento, os ramos foram divididos em pequenas estacas, contendo apenas uma única gema, sendo, após, armazenados em câmara climática a 25ºC ± 1. Avaliou-se a brotação, considerando-se o estádio de ponta verde. A partir destes dados, calculou-se o tempo médio de brotação (TMB), bem como a percentagem de gemas brotadas, em cada um dos tratamentos. Utilizou-se o índice de velocidade de brotação (IVB), para determinar a eficiência da temperatura na brotação das gemas. A profundidade de dormência, das gemas terminais, diminuiu à medida que se aumentou o período de frio. As gemas axilares não foram influenciadas pelo tempo de exposição ao frio. Com base nos dados do IVB e dos coeficientes angulares, as gemas terminais da cv. Carrick necessitam de 800 horas de frio para completar a brotação, nas condições que foram conduzidos os experimentos.<br>The objective for this work was to identify the dormancy depth and the bud-sprouting rate of pear trees kept at chilling conditions (4ºC±1) for different periods. The experiment was carried out using buds of twigs of the previous growth season from a pear orchard of the Embrapa Clima Temperado Research Center. The twigs were collected on June 1, 1999. The treatments were five period of chilling: 0 (control); 272; 544; 816; or 1088 hours at 4ºC±1. At the end of each treatment, the twigs were cut into short cuttings containing one lateral or terminal bud each and placed in controlled conditions at 25ºC± 1. The variables evaluated were percentage of bud break and period of time to reach that phase. The mean of time of bud break (MTB) for the terminal buds decreased significantly on the cuttings that received 816 or 1088 chilling hours which were equivalent on MTB. Similarly the bud break rate (time to reach 100% bud break) was significantly shorter on the buds that received 816 or 1088 chilling hours. Therefore the terminal buds of pear cv. Carrick need 800 hours for a satisfactory bud break