Postharvest Enhancement of Phenolic Phytochemicals in Apples for Preservation and Health Benefits - Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers - page 349

Pentose phosphate pathway

Cytosol

Glucose

Mitochondria

PDH

Proline Proline

Glucose-6-phosphate

NADP + P5C

reductase

e − G6PDH

NADPH

P-5-C P-5-C

6-Phospho-glucono-
-lactone

NADP +
NADPH

Glutamate
kinase

e −

Ribulose-5-phosphate

Glutamate Glutamate

Ribose-5-phosphate

-KG

Erythrose-4-phosphate

TCA

Fig. 16.5 Proline synthesis coupled to the pentose phosphate pathway. G6PDH, glucose-6-phosphate dehydro-
genase; PDH, proline dehydrogenase; P-5-C,

1 -pyrroline-5-carboxylate;

α -KG, α -ketoglutarate; TCA, tricar-

boxylic acid cycle.

An alternative model for coupling proline synthesis with the PPP has been proposed
where proline biosynthesis in response to stress can manage energy and reductant needs of
anabolic pathways (Shetty and Wahlqvist, 2004). This active metabolic role of proline could
have implications for plant senescence where proline can act as an antioxidant or stimulate
phenolic-linked antioxidant response (Smirnoff and Cumbes, 1989; Reddy and Veeran-
janeyulu, 1991; Shetty and Wahlqvist, 2004). Proline is synthesized via the reduction of glu-
tamate to

1 -pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C), which is further reduced to proline, with both
reactions using NADPH as a reductant (Hagedorn and Phang, 1983; Phang, 1985; Shetty
and Wahlqvist, 2004; Fig. 16.5). Since the reduction of P5C in the cytosol requires NADPH,
an increase in the proline synthesis would result in a reduction in the NADPH/NADP + ratio,
which has been shown to activate G6PDH (Lendzian, 1980; Copeland and Turner, 1987).
G6PDH catalyzes the first rate-limiting step in the PPP; therefore, it is possible that during
the postharvest storage period, different stress factors induce proline synthesis, which in
turn stimulates the PPP (Shetty, 2004; Shetty and Wahlqvist, 2004).
This stimulation of the PPP would result in more essential reducing equivalents in the
form of NADPH for efficient antioxidant enzyme response. The PPP stimulation would
also make more sugar phosphate precursors, which along with the NADPH produced can
support pathways for the synthesis of antioxidants, phenolic phytochemicals, and other
protective compounds (Shetty, 2004; Shetty and Wahlqvist, 2004). The proline synthesized
can function as an alternative reductant (in place of NADH) in mitochondrial oxidative
phosphorylation to generate ATP (Phang, 1985; Shetty, 2004; Shetty and Wahlqvist, 2004)
where proline dehydrogenase (PDH) catalyzes the first reaction of proline oxidation to