Proline as an osmoregulator - (Jul/20/2007 )

hi

i tried to search for the role of proline in salt-tolerant plants or halophytes and what i understand is that these plants tend to accumulate salts to force the enterance of fresh water into their cells....
can anyone explain this role in more details or have a good site explaining the idea!!

Thanx in advance

The accumulation of that kind of compounds (called osmolites) enables the cells to mantain a stable osmotic pressure inside during abiotic stresses. Not only that, but usually this kind of molecules also helps protecting proteins from denaturation, membranes from leaking, etc. I don't know the exact mechanism for proline, but it's easily found on whatever science search engine.

I just checked something on some articles, and it appears that proline has a role as a free radical scavenger in addition to acting as an osmolyte.

Do check this (even if you cannot access the article, the abstract can give you an idea):

http://www.springerlink.com/content/gq31597mw857t203/

http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/feb102005/424.pdf

as radical scavenger! new info.
thanx for the links, i'll check them