AOBPreview originally published online on October 6, 2007
Annals of Botany 2008 101(1):5-18; doi:10.1093/aob/mcm240
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
INVITED REVIEW |
Isoprene Emission from Plants: Why and How
Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
* For correspondence. E-mail tsharkey{at}wisc.edu
Received: 30 May 2007 Returned for revision: 4 July 2007 Accepted: 9 August 2007 Published electronically: 6 October 2007
Background: Some, but not all, plants emit isoprene. Emission of the related monoterpenes is more universal among plants, but the amount of isoprene emitted from plants dominates the biosphere–atmosphere hydrocarbon exchange.
Scope: The emission of isoprene from plants affects atmospheric chemistry. Isoprene reacts very rapidly with hydroxyl radicals in the atmosphere making hydroperoxides that can enhance ozone formation. Aerosol formation in the atmosphere may also be influenced by biogenic isoprene. Plants that emit isoprene are better able to tolerate sunlight-induced rapid heating of leaves (heat flecks). They also tolerate ozone and other reactive oxygen species better than non-emitting plants. Expression of the isoprene synthase gene can account for control of isoprene emission capacity as leaves expand. The emission capacity of fully expanded leaves varies through the season but the biochemical control of capacity of mature leaves appears to be at several different points in isoprene metabolism.
Conclusions: The capacity for isoprene emission evolved many times in plants, probably as a mechanism for coping with heat flecks. It also confers tolerance of reactive oxygen species. It is an example of isoprenoids enhancing membrane function, although the mechanism is likely to be different from that of sterols. Understanding the regulation of isoprene emission is advancing rapidly now that the pathway that provides the substrate is known.
Key words: Atmospheric chemistry, isoprene, methylerythritol 4-phosphate pathway, thermotolerance
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
Related articles in Ann Bot:
- ContentSnapshots
Ann Bot 2008 101: NP.[Extract] [Full Text]
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. Hartikainen, A.-m. Nerg, M. Kivimaenpaa, S. Kontunen-soppela, M. Maenpaa, E. Oksanen, M. Rousi, and T. Holopainen Emissions of volatile organic compounds and leaf structural characteristics of European aspen (Populus tremula) grown under elevated ozone and temperature Tree Physiol, September 1, 2009; 29(9): 1163 - 1173. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. Rasulov, K. Huve, M. Valbe, A. Laisk, and U. Niinemets Evidence That Light, Carbon Dioxide, and Oxygen Dependencies of Leaf Isoprene Emission Are Driven by Energy Status in Hybrid Aspen Plant Physiology, September 1, 2009; 151(1): 448 - 460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Behnke, E. Kleist, R. Uerlings, J. Wildt, H. Rennenberg, and J.-P. Schnitzler RNAi-mediated suppression of isoprene biosynthesis in hybrid poplar impacts ozone tolerance Tree Physiol, May 1, 2009; 29(5): 725 - 736. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Rasulov, L. Copolovici, A. Laisk, and U. Niinemets Postillumination Isoprene Emission: In Vivo Measurements of Dimethylallyldiphosphate Pool Size and Isoprene Synthase Kinetics in Aspen Leaves Plant Physiology, March 1, 2009; 149(3): 1609 - 1618. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Gershenzon Insects turn up their noses at sweating plants PNAS, November 11, 2008; 105(45): 17211 - 17212. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
E-letters:
Read all E-letters
- Correction and clarification for the atmospheric chemistry of isoprene
- Paul J Young
- Annals of Botany, 19 Mar 2008 [Full text]
- Response
- Thomas D. Sharkey, et al.
- Annals of Botany, 19 Mar 2008 [Full text]