Oxidation plant substrates

In the dark, plants also carry out mitochondrial respiration, the oxidation of substrates to C02 and the conversion of 02 to H20. And there is another process in plants that, like mitochondrial respiration, consumes 02 and produces C02 and, like photosynthesis, is driven by light. This process, photorespiration, is a costly side reaction of photosynthesis, a result of the lack of specificity of the enzyme rubisco. In this section we describe this side reaction and the strategies plants use to minimize its metabolic consequences. 

Similar mechanisms operate in the action of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. Both of these substances are produced from ammonia by oxidation. Plants and soil bacteria can reduce these compounds to provide ammonia for metabolism. The common agricultural fertilizer ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3, provides reduced nitrogen for plant growth directly, and by providing a substrate for nitrate reduction. NADH or NADPH is the electron donor for nitrate reductase, depending on the organism. 

Oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the mitochondria of all animal and plant tissues, and is a coupled process between the oxidation of substrates and production of ATP. As the TCA cycle runs, hydrogen ions (or electrons) are carried by the two carrier molecules NAD or FAD to the electron transport pumps. Energy released by the electron transfer processes pumps the protons to the intermembrane region, where they accumulate in a high enough concentration to phosphorylate the ADP to ATP. The overall process is called oxidative phosphorylation. The cristae have the major coupling factors F, (a hydrophilic protein) and F0 (a hydrophobic lipoprotein complex). F, and F0 together comprise the ATPase (also called ATP synthase) complex activated by Mg2+. F0 forms a proton translocation pathway and Fj... 

Both plants and animals use mixed function oxidases (simultaneously oxidize two substrates) Acyl-CoA desaturases localized on the ER. Similar mixed function oxidases are also used to modify structural components of cells, hormones etc. so we will use the acyl-CoA desaturase as an example for this group of enzymes. In the acyl-CoA desaturase reaction molecular oxygen is used to oxidize both a fatty acid and NADH, each providing two of the the four electrons needed by the oxygen ... 

Stumpf reports that a specific fatty acid peroxidase occurs in peanut plants, which oxidatively decarboxylates substrate in the presence of enaymically generated peroxide (711). Added reagent peroxide is ineffective. The reaction is inhibited by cyanide, azide, and imidazole, but not by catalase. Long-chain fatty aldehydes maybe one of the reaction products. This system appears to be primarily peroxidatic, but a more complete characterization would be of great interest (711). 

Paint is one of the most common and widely used materials in home and building constmction and decoration (see Building materials). Its broad use comes from its abiHty to provide not only improved appearance and decoration but also protection of a substrate to which it is appHed. Evidence of the historical uses of paint goes back over 25,000 years to cave paintings found in Europe. The Bible describes pitch being used to coat and protect Noah s Ark. Over 10,000 years ago in the Middle East, various minerals and metals such as lime, siHca, copper and iron oxides, and chalk were mixed and reacted to produce many colors. Resins from plant sap and casein were also used. Over 2000 years ago in Asia, resins refined from insect secretions and sap from trees were used to make clear lacquers and varnishes (2). 

Carulite (Mn02/Cu0 on alumina) has shown exceptional performance for the complete rapid oxidation of phenol and other difficult substrates at temperatures just above T. The first full-scale SCWO plant has been commercialized by Huntsman, and it is expected that the technology will now become more mainstream as the value of different kinds of supercritical fluid technology becomes generally more widely appreciated and cost effective. 

---