The Function of Cyanogenic Glucosides in Manihot esculenta

Frederik Bøgeskov Schmidt

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an important crop to millions of people worldwide. The crop ismainly grown for its tuberous roots which are very rich on starch, and the plant adapts well to poorsoils, drought and high temperatures. Though cassava is an excellent crop, it holds unfavourableamounts of cyanogenic glucosides which through the process of cyanogenesis can release highlytoxic cyanide in amounts that can lead to chronic damages on humans dieting primarily on cassava,if not processed thoroughly, and pollute the environment with waste from processing. Cyanogenicglucosides are generally regarded as phytoanticipins, due to their ability to release cyanide and thusdefend a plant against generalist herbivores at all times. Recent studies, however, hypothesised amore diverse function – as a multi-function metabolite, which is included in nitrogen, transport andstorage, and in abiotic stress adaptation.Abiotic stress adaptation includes the ability to cope with reactive oxygen species (ROS).Cyanogenic glycosides have been linked to the scavenging of ROS by reacting with these andproducing corresponding amide forms. Manuscript I investigates the diurnal variation of cyanogenicglucosides in cassava and shows the rapid changes in protein and transcript level in reaction to lightand time of day. The study furthermore shows a tight regulation of transcript and proteins.To investigate the role of cyanogenic glucosides as transporter and storage of nitrogen, spatialinformation is the key. Manuscript II presents a novel method to monitor intact cyanogenicglucosides in tissue by stabilising the labile glucosides, which would otherwise be hydrolysedduring preparation for mass spectroscopy imaging. Additionally the manuscript validates thetechniques with Lotus japonicus and shows the spatial distribution of linamarin in cassava stemsand tubers, with a high concentration in cortex and around transport tissues.Cyanogenic glucosides seem to be important to cyanogenic plants plasticity with regards to theirsurroundings which is beneficial in agriculture. Removing cyanogenic glucosides from cassavawould diminish many of the agricultural qualities of the plant. Altering the translocation ofcyanogenic glucoside to the tubers could then be a viable mode of regulation and improve the valueof cassava as a crop plant both as food, feed and in the industry.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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