Distribution of Secondary Plant Metabolites and Their Biosynthetic Enzymes in Pea ( Pisum sativum L.) Leaves

Abstract

Leaves of a novel strain of peas (Pisum sativum L.) were used to determine the distribution of secondary metabolites and their biosynthetic enzymes. Leaf epidermal layers in this strain are easily separated from the parenchyma. Anthocyanins and flavonol glycosides were localized in epidermal vacuoles only. Among the biosynthetic enzymes studied, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5), S-adenosyl-1-methionine (SAM):caffeic acid and SAM:quercetin methyltransferases (o-dihydric phenol methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.42) and a flavonoid 7-O-glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.91) were chiefly localized in the parenchyma, whereas trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase (EC 1.14.13.11), hydroxycinnamate:CoA ligases (EC 6.2.1.12) and a flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.91) were found mainly in the epidermis. Flavanone (chalcone) synthase activity was found only in the epidermis, whereas chalcone isomerase (EC 5.5.1.6) was evenly distributed in epidermal and parenchyma tissues.