Ethanolamine metabolism in plant tissues.

Ethanolamine is readily metabolized by oat, pea, wheat, apple and carrot tissue preparations. Ethanolamine-1,2 (14)C was incorporated into the lipid fraction, and (14)C activity was distributed in the organic acid, sugar, acid volatile, carbon dioxide and insoluble residue fractions. The distribution varied with the particular tissue. Incorporation into the lipid fraction occurred in tissue homogenates in the absence of ATP by a Ca(++) activated system similar to that reported for animal preparations. The initial step in ethanolamine oxidation involves an amine oxidase. Glycolaldehyde and glyoxylic acid are metabolic intermediates, the former in the conversion of ethanolamine to carbon dioxide. No evidence was obtained for the operation of an ethanolamine transaminase or for the involvement of phosphorylated intermediates in the conversion of ethanolamine to carbon dioxide.