Effect of salt stress on the metabolism of ethanolamine and choline in leaves of the betaine-producing mangrove species Avicennia marina

Glycinebetaine synthesis from [methyl-C-14]choline and [1,2-C-14]ethanolamine in leaf disks of Avicennia marina, was increased by salt stress (250 and 500 mM NaCl). After 18 h incubation with [methyl-14C]choline, phosphocholine and CO2 were found to be heavily labelled. Phosphocholine contained 39% of the total radioactivity taken up by non-salinised (control) leaf disks and 15% of the total for salinised leaf disks stressed with 500 mM NaCl. Eighteen and 49% of the radioactivity absorbed by control and salinised disks, respectively. were released as CO2. Metabolic studies of [1,2-14C]ethanolamine revealed that the radioactivity taken up by the leaf disks was recovered as the following compounds after 18 h: phosphorylated compounds (mainly phosphoethanolamine, phosphodimethylethanolamine and phosphocholine) (40-50%); choline (1-2%); glycinebetaine (3-5%); lipids (20-28%); CO2 (610%). Unlike glycinebetaine, incorporation into phosphorylated compounds and lipids were reduced by salt stress. Incorporation of [methyl-C-14]S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) into choline, phosphocholine and glycinebetaine in leaf disks was stimulated by salt stress. In vitro activities of adenosine kinase and adenosine nucleosidase, which are implicated in stimulating the SAM regeneration cycle, increased after the leaf disks were incubated with 250 and 500 mM NaCl for 18 h. Changes in metabolism involving choline and glycinebetaine due to salt stress are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.