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Composition and physical properties of starch in microgravity-grown plantsThe effect of spaceflight on starch development in soybean (Glycine max L., BRIC-03) and potato (Solanum tuberosum, Astroculture-05) was compared with ground controls by biophysical and biochemical measurements. Starch grains from plants from both flights were on average 20-50% smaller in diameter than ground controls. The ratio delta X/delta rho (delta X --difference of magnetic susceptibilities, delta rho--difference of densities between starch and water) of starch grains was ca. 15% and 4% higher for space-grown soybean cotyledons and potato tubers, respectively, than in corresponding ground controls. Since the densities of particles were similar for all samples (1.36 to 1.38 g/cm3), the observed difference in delta X/delta rho was due to different magnetic susceptibilities and indicates modified composition of starch grains. In starch preparations from soybean cotyledons (BRIC-03) subjected to controlled enzymatic degradation with alpha-amylase for 24 hours, 77 +/- 6% of the starch from the flight cotyledons was degraded compared to 58 +/- 12% in ground controls. The amylose content in starch was also higher in space-grown tissues. The good correlation between the amylose content and delta X/delta rho suggests, that the magnetic susceptibility of starch grains is related to their amylose content. Since the seedlings from the BRIC-03 experiment showed elevated post-flight ethylene levels, material from another flight experiment (GENEX) which had normal levels of ethylene was examined and showed no difference to ground controls in size distribution, density, delta X/delta rho and amylose content. Therefore the role of ethylene appears to be more important for changes in starch metabolism than microgravity. c2001 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Document ID
20040088509
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Kuznetsov, O. A.
(University of Louisiana at Lafayette LA 70504-2451, United States)
Brown, C. S.
Levine, H. G.
Piastuch, W. C.
Sanwo-Lewandowski, M. M.
Hasenstein, K. H.
Sager, J. C.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Advances in space research : the official journal of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
Volume: 28
Issue: 4
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-4022
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG10-0190
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG10-0142
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS10-12180
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Experiment Number 9305014 2/2
manned
short duration
STS-63 Shuttle Project
STS-73 Shuttle Project
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Plant Biology
STS-87 Shuttle Project
Flight Experiment
NASA Center KSC
NASA Experiment Number 9600006

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