Biosynthesis and Cellular Functions of Tartaric Acid in Grapevines

  • Front Plant Sci. 2021 Mar 4:12:643024. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.643024.
Crista Ann Burbidge  1 ,  Christopher Michael Ford  2 ,  Vanessa Jane Melino  3 ,  Darren Chern Jan Wong  4 ,  Yong Jia  5 ,  Colin Leslie Dow Jenkins  6 ,  Kathleen Lydia Soole  6 ,  Simone Diego Castellarin  7 ,  Philippe Darriet  8 ,  Markus Rienth  9 ,  Claudio Bonghi  10 ,  Robert Peter Walker  11 ,  Franco Famiani  11 ,  Crystal Sweetman  6
Affiliations
  • 1. Agriculture and Food, CSIRO, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia.
  • 2. School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA, Australia.
  • 3. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
  • 4. Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia.
  • 5. Western Barley Genetic Alliance, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.
  • 6. College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
  • 7. Wine Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
  • 8. Université Bordeaux, Unité de recherche OEnologie, EA 4577, USC 1366 INRAE, Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin, Villenave d'Ornon, France.
  • 9. University of Sciences and Art Western Switzerland, Changins College for Viticulture and Oenology, Nyon, Switzerland.
  • 10. Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy.
  • 11. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
PMID: 33747023 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.643024
Abstract

Tartaric acid (TA) is an obscure end point to the catabolism of ascorbic acid (Asc). Here, it is proposed as a "specialized primary metabolite", originating from carbohydrate metabolism but with restricted distribution within the plant kingdom and lack of known function in primary metabolic pathways. Grapes fall into the list of high TA-accumulators, with biosynthesis occurring in both leaf and berry. Very little is known of the TA biosynthetic pathway Enzymes in any plant species, although recently some progress has been made in this space. New technologies in grapevine research such as the development of global co-expression network analysis tools and genome-wide association studies, should enable more rapid progress. There is also a lack of information regarding roles for this organic acid in plant metabolism. Therefore this review aims to briefly summarize current knowledge about the key intermediates and Enzymes of TA biosynthesis in grapes and the regulation of its precursor, ascorbate, followed by speculative discussion around the potential roles of TA based on current knowledge of Asc metabolism, TA biosynthetic Enzymes and Other aspects of fruit metabolism.

Keywords
antioxidant; enzyme; fruit; gene; grape; metabolism; tartaric acid.
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