Research progresses on one-carbon compound metabolism in higher plants.

The metabolism of one-carbon compounds (C1 compounds) in higher plants mainly includes methanol metabolism,formaldehyde metabolism and formic acid metabolism,which is an important part in C1 unit metabolisms.However,because of their complex metabolic mechanisms,the very small-scale metabolism,and their enzymes and intermediates tending to be labile and low in abundance,the studies on C1 compounds metabolism in plants are very poor.Fortunately,the integration of molecular and genetic approaches with biochemical ones allowed certain understanding of enzymes and genes involved in C1 compound metabolisms in higher plants.This paper reviewed the recent research progress on the endogenous and exogenous C1 compound metabolic pathways in higher plants,as well as the various enzymes and metabolic intermediates involved in these metabolic pathways.