Activity of the pentose phosphate pathway during lignification.

We did this work to see if there is a correlation between lignin synthesis and the activity of the pentose phosphate pathway. Excision of the third internode of the stem of Coleus blumei Benth. followed by incubation on sucrose and indoleacetic acid led to extensive formation of tracheids. During this lignification we determined the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase, and the extent to which [1-(14)C]-,[3,4-(14)C]-, and [6-(14)C]glucose labelled CO2 and the major cellular components. The results indicate that the pentose phosphate pathway was active during lignification, and that the activity of this pathway relative to glycolysis increased at the onset of lignification. Explants of storage tissue of Helianthus tuberosus L. were cultured under conditions which caused extensive lignification. (14)CO2 production from [1-(14)C]-, [3,4-(14)C]-, and [6-(14)C]glucose indicated activity of the pentose phosphate pathway during tracheid formation. We suggest that lignification is accompanied by appreciable activity of the pentose phosphate pathway and that this could provide the reducing power for lignin synthesis.