Amino-acids in Nectar and their Evolutionary Significance

Baker, Herbert G.; Baker, Irene

doi:10.1038/241543b0

Cited by 334 publications

(158 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Nectar is a vital food source for adult parasitoids because it contains both amino acids and sugars (Baker and Baker, 1973;Hanny and Elmore, 1974). Many adult parasitoid species feed almost exclusively on nectar (Jervis et al, 1993), and without nectar parasitoids show a dramatic reduction in their ability to parasitize insect pests (Stapel et al, 1997;Lewis et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disruptive Sublethal Effects of Insecticides on Biological Control: Altered Foraging Ability and Life Span of a Parasitoid after Feeding on Extrafloral Nectar of Cotton Treated with Systemic Insecticides

2000

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disruptive Sublethal Effects of Insecticides on Biological Control: Altered Foraging Ability and Life Span of a Parasitoid after Feeding on Extrafloral Nectar of Cotton Treated with Systemic Insecticides

2000

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confidence: 99%

“…Nectar is principally an aqueous carbohydrate solution, containing most frequently sucrose, glucose, and fructose. However, nectars are also known to contain amino acids (Baker and Baker, 1973), organic acids Baker, 1975), vitamins (Griebel andHess, 1940), oils (Vogel, 1969), biological cations (Heinrich, 1989), and proteins (Carter et al, 1999; Thornburg, 2000, 2003;Thornburg et al, 2003).Over the past 5 years, our work has demonstrated the presence of a limited array of five proteins, termed nectarins, that are secreted into the nectar of ornamental tobacco (N. langsdorffii X N. sanderae) (Carter et al, 1999). We have demonstrated that the major protein, NEC1 (Nectarin I), is a novel germinlike protein (Carter et al, 1999) that functions as a superoxide dismutase, producing high levels (up to 4 mm) of hydrogen peroxide (Carter and Thornburg, 2000).…”

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confidence: 99%

Tobacco Nectarin V Is a Flavin-Containing Berberine Bridge Enzyme-Like Protein with Glucose Oxidase Activity

2004

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Ornamental tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorffii X N. sanderae) secretes a limited array of proteins (nectarins) into its floral nectar. Careful sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of tobacco nectar revealed that a broad protein band from 61 to 65 kD actually consists of five discrete protein bands. N-terminal sequencing and tryptic peptide mass spectrometry fingerprint analysis demonstrated that the upper three bands are isoforms of the same protein, NEC5 (Nectarin V), whereas the lower two bands, NEC4 (Nectarin IV), are related to each other but not to NEC5. Reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based upon N-terminal sequence of NEC5 generated a short cDNA that encoded the N terminus of the NEC5 protein. Two rounds of inverse-PCR using genomic DNA permitted the isolation of approximately one-half of the coding region of the nec5 gene along with 787 nucleotides of the 5Ј-flanking region. This DNA fragment was used as a probe to isolate a near full-length nec5 clone from a nectary-derived cDNA library. BLAST analysis identified the nec5 cDNA as a berberine bridge enzyme-like protein. Approximately 40% of the cDNA sequence corresponded to peptides that were identified by tryptic peptide mass spectrometry fingerprint analysis of the NEC5 protein, thereby confirming that this cDNA encoded the NEC5 protein.In-gel assays also demonstrated that NEC5 contains a covalently linked flavin, and it possesses glucose oxidase activity. RT-PCR-based expression analyses showed that nec5 expression is limited exclusively to the nectary gland during late stages of floral development.During evolution, many angiosperms have developed a remarkable reproductive strategy that relies on animal pollinators to transfer pollen between plants. These plants attract pollinators with floral rewards that encourage insect, avian, and mammalian visitors. Perhaps the primary reward for many species that visit angiosperms is floral nectar. Floral nectar is produced from a terminally differentiated organ frequently located at the base of the flower. Nectar is principally an aqueous carbohydrate solution, containing most frequently sucrose, glucose, and fructose. However, nectars are also known to contain amino acids (Baker and Baker, 1973), organic acids Baker, 1975), vitamins (Griebel andHess, 1940), oils (Vogel, 1969), biological cations (Heinrich, 1989), and proteins (Carter et al., 1999; Thornburg, 2000, 2003;Thornburg et al., 2003).Over the past 5 years, our work has demonstrated the presence of a limited array of five proteins, termed nectarins, that are secreted into the nectar of ornamental tobacco (N. langsdorffii X N. sanderae) (Carter et al., 1999). We have demonstrated that the major protein, NEC1 (Nectarin I), is a novel germinlike protein (Carter et al., 1999) that functions as a superoxide dismutase, producing high levels (up to 4 mm) of hydrogen peroxide (Carter and Thornburg, 2000). These levels are antimicrobial (C. Carter and R.W. Thornburg, unpublished data) and have led to the hypothe...

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“…Nectar analysis for sugar types was done as per the Paper Chromatography method of Harborne (1973). Nectar analysis for amino acid types was done as per the Paper Chromatography method of Baker & Baker (1973). The stigma receptivity was tested as per the protocol given by Dafni et al (2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal dioecism, melittophily and anemochory of Wendlandia glabrata (Rubiaceae)

Raju

Ramana

2014

TAPROBANICA

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Wendlandia glabrata is a massive bloomer during February-March. Floral characteristics such as diurnal anthesis, white coloured, odorless, tubular flowers with deep seated sucrose-rich nectar conform to psychophily. Nectar is a source of essential and non-essential amino acids for butterflies, inconsistent foragers due to nectar traces in open flowers. This suggests a breakdown of psychophilous pollination. Honey bees consistently collect only pollen. Flies are also inconsistent nectar foragers. Therefore, W. glabrata with psychophilous pollination syndrome is actually melittophilous, and the flowers exhibit Secondary Pollen Presentation (SPP). The flowers are morphologically hermaphroditic but functionally temporally dioecious which promotes outcrossing. Natural fruit and seed set rates are attributed to pollen robbery by honey bees. Anemochory is effective to dispersal of seeds. In situ seedling establishment rate is low due to habit, seasonal herbaceous vegetation, and space limitation. Therefore, we recommend that seedlings be raised in nurseries and transplanted to rebuild populations of W. glabrata.

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Amino-acids in Nectar and their Evolutionary Significance

Cited by 334 publications

References 9 publications

Disruptive Sublethal Effects of Insecticides on Biological Control: Altered Foraging Ability and Life Span of a Parasitoid after Feeding on Extrafloral Nectar of Cotton Treated with Systemic Insecticides

Disruptive Sublethal Effects of Insecticides on Biological Control: Altered Foraging Ability and Life Span of a Parasitoid after Feeding on Extrafloral Nectar of Cotton Treated with Systemic Insecticides

Tobacco Nectarin V Is a Flavin-Containing Berberine Bridge Enzyme-Like Protein with Glucose Oxidase Activity

Temporal dioecism, melittophily and anemochory of Wendlandia glabrata (Rubiaceae)

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