Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.sajb.2006.08.003
Title (Primary) Oxidative biodegradation of tetrachloroethene in needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.)
Author Weissflog, L.; Krüger, G.H.J.; Forczek, S.T.; Lange, C.A.; Kotte, K.; Pfennigsdorff, A.; Rohlenová, J.; Fuksová, K.; Uhlířová, H.; Matucha, M.; Schröder, P.
Source Titel South African Journal of Botany
Year 2007
Department ANA
Volume 73
Issue 1
Page From 89
Page To 96
Language englisch
Keywords biodegradation; chloroplasts; drought stress; Norway spruce; tetrachloroethene; trichloroacetic acid
Abstract Through employing [14C]-PER exposure experiments it was shown for the first time that PER taken up by drought-stressed spruce needles via the air/needle pathway is preferably degraded to trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in the chloroplasts. TCA formed by oxidative biotransformation is mineralised to CO2 and HCl via various degradation routes. HCl contributes to increased proton concentration in the chloroplast, inducing a pH shift leading to a pathophysiological effect on H+ transport from the thylakoid interior into the stroma. As a result of their high degree of dissociation and related protonation, the PER metabolites, TCA and HCl, cause a change in protein structures. In addition to this, the TCA anions created in the process may lead to destabilisation of the thylakoid membrane potential. The damage to the chloroplasts inflicted by protons and trichloroacetate ions subsequently leads to an impairment of photosynthesis, most particularly to uncoupling of photosynthetic electron transport. Since progressive aridity as consequence of the climate change observed throughout the world is predicted, a regionally variable marked enhancement of the phytotoxic risk caused by PER emission is anticipated.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=2416
Weissflog, L., Krüger, G.H.J., Forczek, S.T., Lange, C.A., Kotte, K., Pfennigsdorff, A., Rohlenová, J., Fuksová, K., Uhlířová, H., Matucha, M., Schröder, P. (2007):
Oxidative biodegradation of tetrachloroethene in needles of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.)
S. Afr. J. Bot. 73 (1), 89 - 96 10.1016/j.sajb.2006.08.003