Growth inhibition by exogenous proline and its metabolism in saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) suspension cultures.

The growth of Distichlis spicata suspension cultures in LS medium without NaCl was inhibited 54% by 2 mM proline. In medium containing 260 mM NaCl, 10 mM proline inhibited growth by only 22%. The uptake and metabolism of 10 mM L-[1-(13)C] proline was followed by (13)C NMR and ninhydrin analyses of suspensions cultured in the presence of 0 or 260 mM NaCl. Uptake of 85 to 92% of the exogenous proline occurred within 72 h in all media. In 10 mM proline and no NaCl, cellular proline reached a maximm of 51.5 μmoles/g FW compared to 1.9 μmoles/g FW in suspensions not grown on proline. In medium containing 260 mM NaCl and proline, cellular proline reached 59-65 μmoles/g FW compared to 30-40 μmoles/g FW in controls grown without proline. The (13)C-label in the proline-C1 was either retained in proline or disappeared, presumably released as carbon dioxide, by catabolism through the TCA cycle. Since no metabolite of (13)C-proline was detected by NMR, proline was considered to be the molecule which inhibited the suspension culture growth.