Debolt Seth, Melino Vanessa, Ford Christopher M
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
Ann Bot. 2007 Jan;99(1):3-8. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcl236. Epub 2006 Nov 10.
l-Ascorbate (vitamin C) has well-documented roles in many aspects of redox control and anti-oxidant activity in plant cells. This Botanical Briefing highlights recent developments in another aspect of l-ascorbate metabolism: its function as a precursor for specific processes in the biosynthesis of organic acids.
The Briefing provides a summary of recent advances in our understanding of l-ascorbate metabolism, covering biosynthesis, translocation and functional aspects. The role of l-ascorbate as a biosynthetic precursor in the formation of oxalic acid, l-threonic acid and l-tartaric acid is described, and progress in elaborating the mechanisms of the formation of these acids is reviewed. The potential conflict between the two roles of l-ascorbate in plant cells, functional and biosynthetic, is highlighted.
Recent advances in the understanding of l-ascorbate catabolism and the formation of oxalic and l-tartaric acids provide compelling evidence for a major role of l-ascorbate in plant metabolism. Combined experimental approaches, using classic biochemical and emerging 'omics' technologies, have provided recent insight to previously under-investigated areas.
左旋抗坏血酸（维生素C）在植物细胞氧化还原调控及抗氧化活性的诸多方面发挥着作用，已有充分记载。本植物学简报着重介绍左旋抗坏血酸代谢的另一个方面的最新进展：其作为有机酸生物合成特定过程前体的功能。
本简报总结了我们对左旋抗坏血酸代谢的最新认识进展，涵盖生物合成、转运及功能方面。描述了左旋抗坏血酸作为草酸、l-苏糖酸和l-酒石酸形成过程中生物合成前体的作用，并综述了阐述这些酸形成机制的研究进展。强调了左旋抗坏血酸在植物细胞中的功能和生物合成这两种作用之间的潜在冲突。
对左旋抗坏血酸分解代谢以及草酸和l-酒石酸形成的最新认识进展，为左旋抗坏血酸在植物代谢中的重要作用提供了有力证据。结合经典生化和新兴“组学”技术的综合实验方法，为之前研究不足的领域提供了新见解。
