p. 30311 Respiration and Lipid Metabolism
- Lincoln Taiz, Lincoln TaizUniversity of California, Santa Cruz
- Eduardo Zeiger, Eduardo ZeigerUniversity of California, Los Angeles
- Ian Max MøllerIan Max MøllerAarhus University, Denmark
- , and Angus MurphyAngus MurphyUniversity of Maryland
Abstract
This chapter reviews plant respiration and lipid metabolism. Aerobic respiration is the biological process by which reduced organic compounds are oxidized in a controlled manner. The chapter looks at respiration in its metabolic context, emphasizing the interconnections among the processes involved and the special features that are peculiar to plants. It also relates respiration to recent developments in the understanding of the biochemistry and molecular biology of plant mitochondria and respiratory fluxes in intact plant tissues. The chapter then describes the pathways of lipid biosynthesis that lead to the accumulation of fats and oils, which many plant species use for energy and carbon storage. Finally, it discusses the catabolic pathways involved in the breakdown of lipids and the conversion of their degradation products into sugars that occurs during the germination of fat-storing seeds.
