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Science 22 April 1983:
Vol. 220. no. 4595, pp. 419 - 421
DOI: 10.1126/science.220.4595.419
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Articles

Direct Respiration of Lipids During Heat Production in the Inflorescence of Philodendron selloum

DAN B. WALKER 1, JÜRG GYSI 1, LEONEL STERNBERG 2, and MICHAEL J. DENIRO 2

1 Department of Biology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024
2 Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles

Respiration in the heat-generating, sterile florets of Philodendron selloum was examined by electron microscopy and carbon isotopic analysis of respired carbon dioxide. After the spathe unfolded, the florets switched from carbohydrate oxidation to lipid oxidation, which persisted during heating and for at least 2 days thereafter. The scarcity of glyoxysome-like organelles and the low catalase activity in this tissue indicate that the lipid was respired directly and not after conversion to carbohydrate by the glyoxylate shunt. Thus, lipid metabolism in this heat-generating plant tissue appears to mimic aspects of the biochemistry and physiology of heat production in some animal tissues.

Submitted on June 24, 1982
Revised on November 29, 1982


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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R. S. Seymour and M. Gibernau (2008)
J. Exp. Bot. 59, 1353-1362
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Expression of uncoupling protein and alternative oxidase depends on lipid or carbohydrate substrates in thermogenic plants.
K Ito and R.S Seymour (2005)
Biol Lett 1, 427-430
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Physical Constraints on Temperature Difference in Some Thermogenic Aroid Inflorescences.
M. GIBERNAU, D. BARABE, M. MOISSON, and A. TROMBE (2005)
Ann. Bot. 96, 117-125
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)