Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Peroxisomal Metabolism Of Propionic Acid And Isobutyric Acid In Plants*, Kerry A. Rouhier

Kerry A Rouhier

The subcellular sites of branched-chain amino acid metabolism in plants have been controversial, particularly with respect to valine catabolism. Potential enzymes for some steps in the valine catabolic pathway are clearly present in both mitochondria and peroxisomes, but the metabolic functions of these isoforms are not clear. The present study examined the possible function of these enzymes in metabolism of isobutyryl-CoA and propionyl-CoA, intermediates in the metabolism of valine and of odd-chain and branched-chain fatty acids. Using¹³C NMR, accumulation of β-hydroxypropionate from [2-¹³C]propionate was observed in seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana and a range of other plants, …