Nucleotides Metabolism in Plant Development

Dear Colleagues,

Nucleotides are essential for life. Nucleotides are elementary components of nucleic acids, participate in bioenergetic processes, are part of enzymatic cofactors and are components of secondary messengers.

Nucleotides can be separated into purines and pyrimidines, according to the nitrogenous base that they contain in their molecule. Nucleotides can be synthesized de novo or through the salvage pathways, or have been taken up from the soil. Furthermore, purine nucleotides metabolism has an additional role as a precursor of ureides, compounds involved in nitrogen transport in some legumes such as soybean or common bean. In these legumes, ureides constitute almost the totality of the nitrogen transported from the nodules to the aerial plants under nitrogen fixing conditions. In addition, a role in the response to abiotic stresses has been associated to purine degradation metabolites in plants. Nucleotides are the intermediates in the nucleic acids degradation, compounds relatively abundant in plant tissues, containing nitrogen and phosphorous on their molecules, and they could play an important role as reservoirs for these compounds with a relevant role in situations of high nutrient mobilization.

Despite its important contribution to plant metabolism, many aspects of nucleotide metabolism in plants are still poorly understood, perhaps because of the complexity of the multiple biochemical reactions involved in all nucleotide metabolism.

This Special Issue will focus on all these aspects of nucleotide metabolism, including de novo synthesis, salvage, catabolism, and transport. Original research papers, reviews, and perspectives are welcome.

Dr. Pedro Piedras
Guest Editor

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• nucleotides
• purines
• pyrimidines
• plant development