Interactions between polyamines and ethylene during grain filling in wheat grown under water deficit conditions

This study was to test the hypothesis that polyamines (PAs) and ethylene may be involved in mediating the effect of water deficit on grain filling. Two wheat cultivars, drought-tolerant Shannong16 (SN16) and drought-sensitive Jimai22 (JM22), were used and subjected to well-watered and severe water deficit (SD) during grain filling. SD reduced the weight of superior and inferior grains, by 7.38 and 23.54 % in JM22, 13.8 and 2.2 % in SN16, respectively. Higher free-spermidine (Spd) and free-spermine (Spm) concentration and lower free-putrescine (Put) concentration, ethylene evolution rate (EER) and 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) concentration were found in superior grains than those in inferior ones. Opposite to the variations of Spd and Spm concentration, ACC, Put concentration and EER were significantly increased under SD. The percentage variation of PAs and ACC differed with cultivars and grain types. ACC concentration of superior and inferior grains under SD increased significantly at 21 days post-anthesis, by 90 and 164 % in JM22, 65 and 13.2 % in SN16, respectively. The equivalent value of Put concentration was 1.04 and 7.9 % in JM22, 34.4 and 10.3 % in SN16. Spd concentration of superior grains showed a higher decrease than that of inferior ones in both cultivars, while Spm exhibited an opposite trend between both grain types. These percentage variations were highly consistent with the differed responses of weight of both grain types to SD in JM22 and SN16. Grain filling rate was negatively correlated with EER and ACC concentration, while positively correlated with Spd and Spm concentration as well as the ratio of Spd or Spm to ACC. Exogenous Spd or aminoethoxyvinylglycine (an inhibitor of ethylene synthesis by inhibiting ACC synthesis) obviously reduced ACC concentration and EER and increased Spd and Spm concentration, while exogenous ethephon (an ethylene-releasing agent) or methylglyoxal-bis (an inhibitor of Spd and Spm synthesis) showed the opposite effects. The results suggested that it would be good for wheat to have the physiological traits of higher Spd and Spm, as well as a higher Spd/ACC or Spm/ACC, under SD.     

The effect of AOA on ethylene and polyamine metabolism during early phases of somatic embryogenesis in Medicago sativa

Changes in the levels of ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), 1-(malonylamino)cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (MACC) and polyamines were simultaneously investigated during the early phases of alfalfa somatic embryogenesis. These included the period of induction and subculture of callus, and 3- and 7-day suspension cultures for the induction of somatic embryogenesis. The polyamines contained in the embryogenic callus were found to include putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm), but the level of Spm was much less than that of Put and Spd. There was a dramatic increase in MACC after induction of embryogenesis, and ACC levels were lower in somatic embryos than in embryogenic callus. Induction of embryogenesis for 3 days increased the levels of ACC and polyamines to a maximum level, and these then reduced as the embryogenesis proceeded. The ratios of Put/Spd and ACC/MACC were decreased during the induction. This indicated that both high levels of ACC and polyamines might be a prerequisite for early differentiation during the induction of the embryogenesis. Thus, there appears not to be competition between polyamine biosynthesis and ethylene biosynthesis at least during the induction of somatic embryogenesis, because both the polyamines and ACC were simultaneously increased during the induction period. Conversion of ACC into MACC and the maintenance of a relatively high level of polyamines, especially Spd, appear to be important for further development of the embryos.
When aminooxylvinylglycine (AOA) was added at the initiation of the callus subculture, it had no significant effect on the callus growth, the ethylene production and ACC level of the callus. However, AOA increased the numbers of the embryos accompanying an increase in Spd level and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) activity. Thus, the AOA effect could be associated with Spd increase rather than with the effect of ethylene biosynthesis.     

Flower fertilization and fruit development prompt changes in free polyamines and ethylene in damson plum (Prunus insititia L.)

The flower opening of damson plum (Prunus insititia L.) was accompanied by an increase in the content of free-polyamines (PA) in the sepals, petals and sex organs, the ovary being most active in accumulating spermine (Spm). The fertilization process and senescence brought on a decline in ovarian Spm, but stimulated putrescine (Put) and spermidine (Spd) content in the sepals. The endocarp of this climacteric fruit produced only ethylene at the end of the S1 phase and throughout S2, in which there was a great richness in ACC and MACC. The greatest amounts of ACC and MACC were observed in the ripening mesocarp and epicarp. The contribution of the endocarp and epicarp to the total ACC in the developing fruit was very similar. During flowering and S1 and S2 phases, Spd was the most abundant PA; in contrast, during S3 and S4 Put was most abundant. The mesocarp contributed the most to the total content in PA throughout the fruit development. The control of SAM distribution towards ethylene and/or PA appears to differ during the development of the endocarp, as the only peak of free-Put (detected in S2) coincided with the highest ACC accumulation and ethylene production. On the contrary, in S3 it is probable that SAM was transformed preferentially into PA, given that free-Spd and Spm, hardly detectable in S1 and S2, peaked in this phase in which there was no gas production.     

水稻细胞质雄性不育系幼穗发育过程中多胺与乙烯的关系初探(英文 )

利用ＨＰＬＣ和ＧＣ分别测定了水稻细胞质雄性不育系及其保持系幼穗多胺（ 腐胺,亚精胺和精胺） 含量和乙烯释放速率,并研究了外施多胺合成抑制剂ＭＧＢＧ 和乙烯前体ＡＣＣ生成抑制剂ＡＶＧ 对两系幼穗多胺含量和乙烯释放速率以及花粉育性的影响。结果表明, 不育系幼穗乙烯释放速率显著高于其保持系幼穗, 外施ＡＶＧ 引起两系幼穗乙烯释放速率下降,并使不育系花粉育性得以部分恢复; 不育系幼穗多胺含量显著低于保持系幼穗, 外施ＭＧＢＧ 使两系幼穗Ｓｐｄ 和Ｓｐｍ 含量下降, 并使保持系花粉育性降低。外施ＡＶＧ 抑制乙烯释放,促进多胺合成;而外施ＭＧＢＧ 抑制Ｓｐｄ和Ｓｐｍ 合成, 却促进乙烯的释放; 而且,乙烯释放速率与多胺（精胺和亚精胺） 含量呈显著负相关。提示在水稻ＣＭＳ 系及其保持系幼穗发育过程中乙烯与多胺（ 精胺和亚精胺） 的生物合成竞争ＳＡＭ。     

Polyamines and ethylene in the removal of embryonal dormancy in apple seeds

Putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) were found in seeds of apple ( Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Antonovka), in amounts that increased in the order given. The levels slowly decreased during 30 days of stratification. Exogenous polyamines (PAs) affected germination of isolated embryos in a way dependent on the type of polyamine, its concentration, and the state of the embryo dormancy. The effect of Put and Spd on germination was stimulatory, while that of Spm was inhibitory. Stimulation of germination was also observed when embryos were treated with arginine, ornithine and methionine. Canavanine inhibited germination, and this effect was reversed by arginine or Put. Ethephon, aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) present during seed stratification had no effect on the levels of endogenous PAs. Put and Spd did not change ethylene production, neither during seed stratification nor during embryo germination, whereas Spm reduced ethylene evolution. The data suggest that Spm plays a role in the maintenance of dormancy by preventing ethylene production, while Put and Spd participate in dormancy removal, independently of ethylene.     

Polyamine and ethylene interactions in grain filling of superior and inferior spikelets of rice

This study was to test the hypothesis that polyamines (PAs) and ethylene and their interactions may be involved in mediating the post-anthesis development of spikelets in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Six rice cultivars differing in grain filling rate were field-grown, and the changing patterns of PAs and ethylene levels in rice spikelets during the filling and their relations with grain filling rates were investigated. The results showed that inferior spikelets had much greater ethylene evolution rate and 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) concentration than superior spikelets. Opposite to ethylene production, superior spikelets showed much higher free-spermidine (Spd) and free-spermine (Spm) concentrations than inferior spikelets. Grain filling rate was very significantly and negatively correlated with ethylene evolution rate and ACC concentration, whereas positively correlated with free-Spd and free-Spm concentrations and with the ratio of free-Spd or free-Spm to ACC. Application of Spd, Spm, or aminoethoxyvinylglycine (an inhibitor of ethylene synthesis by inhibiting ACC synthesis) to panicles at the early grain filling stage significantly reduced ethylene evolution rate and ACC concentration, while significantly increased Spd and Spm concentrations, grain filling rate and grain weight of inferior spikelets. Application of ACC, ethephon (an ethylene-releasing agent), or methylglyoxal-bis (guanylhydrazone) (an inhibitor of Spd and Spm synthesis) showed the opposite effects. The results suggest that antagonistic interactions between PAs (Spd and Spm) and ethylene may be involved in mediating grain filling. A higher ratio of free-Spd or free-Spm to ethylene in rice spikelets could enhance grain filling.     

Stimulation of Ethylene Production by Exogenous Spermidine in Detached Tobacco Leaves in the Light

Exogenous supply of Spd and Spin stimulated ethylone production in detached tobacco leaves kept in the light. Stimulation, that was first detected after 9 but not 6 h of treatment, linearly increased with concentration and was maintained for several h after returning treated leaves to deionized water. Stimulation of ethylene production was prevented by AVG and Co²⁺ and was accompanied by increased activity of ACC synthase and ethylene-forming enzyme. Put, and other diamines, did not give any stimulatory effect. Stimulation was not accompanied by apparent damage of plasmalomina nor was it reversed by Ca⁺ or Put, suggesting that the cationic properties of polyamines are probably not involved. Stimulation might be due to endogenous polyamine accumulation high enough to inhibit the activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, so that all S-adenosyhnethionine might be committed to the ethylene pathway. The stimulatory effect of poly a nines acquires particular interest considering that they have so fur been doscribod to inhibit ethylone production in darkened plant tissues. This finding suggests that polyamines may play a regulatory role in plant development by modulating ethylene bio-synthesis under the control of light.     

Role of polyamines in adventitious shoot morphogenesis from cotyledons of cucumber <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

The relationship between polyamines (PAs) metabolism and adventitious shoot morphogenesis from cotyledons of cucumber was investigated in vitro. The endogenous levels of free putrescine (Put) and spermidine (Spd) in the explants decreased sharply, whereas endogenous spermine (Spm) increased during adventitious shoot morphogenesis. The presence of 1–15 mM Put, 1–2 mM Spd, 0.05–1 mM Spm, 5–10 M aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) or 5 M AVG together with 50 M 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in the regeneration medium could promote adventitious shoot formation. Conversely, 1–5 mM D-arginine (D-Arg) or 0.01–0.1 mM methylglyoxal bis-guganylhydrazone (MGBG) inhibited regeneration; and 0.005–0.05 mM ACC displayed little or no evident effects. The explants growing on medium containing 5 M AVG produced higher levels of free Put and Spm, and on medium containing 5 mM Put the explants responded similarly to the AVG-treated explants. However, the exogenous use of 1 mM D-Arg reduced the levels of Put, Spd and Spm, and 0.1 mM MGBG reduced the levels of free Spd and Spm. Moreover, although the explants cultured on medium containing Put and MGBG enhanced ethylene production, AVG and D-Arg inhibited ethylene biosynthesis. This study shows the PAs requirement for the formation of adventitious shoot from cotyledons of cucumber in vitro and the enhanced adventitious shoot morphogenesis may be associated with the elevated level of endogenous free Spm, albeit the promotive effect of PAs on adventitious shoot morphogenesis may not be related to ethylene metabolism.     

‘神马’菊花花芽分化与内源多胺的关系

用薄层层析-荧光法测定菊花'神马'花芽分化期间顶芽和叶片中多胺的动态变化,分析了菊花花芽分化与多胺的关系.结果表明,花芽分化起始期顶芽中的腐胺(Put)含量急剧下降,此后在低水平上波动;叶片内Put则于总苞鳞片分化初期大幅上升,其后各阶段处于较低的水平.顶芽中精胺(Spm)与亚精胺(Spd)含量呈平行波动上升趋势,顶芽中Spin在小花原基分化初期直到花冠分化中期处于优势地位,而顶芽中Spd并无明显变化.顶芽、叶片中的Spin变化趋势相反,顶芽中Spm、Spd的含量变化趋势十分相似,但叶片中却呈交替性变化.结果显示,菊花花芽分化过程中,Put含量的降低有利于启动菊花花芽分化,后期Spm的增加有利于小花的分化,叶片可能向顶芽提供Spm,顶芽和叶片中的Spd与小花原基分化有密切关系.     

Stimulating effect of spermine on bulblet formation in bulb-scale segments of Lilium longiflorum

When bulb-scale segments of Lilium longiflorum were cultured on a medium containing auxin and cytokinin, the proportion of the expiants with newly-formed bulblets was significantly increased by the application of different polyamines. The most effective polyamine was spermine, where more than 90% of segments formed an average of 5 bulblets as compared to controls where less than 50% explants formed an average of 1.5 bulblets. Application of arginine one of the precursors putrescine biosynthesis, slightly promoted bulblet formation. The putrescine-stimulated bulblet formation was strongly inhibited by simultaneous addition of an inhibitor of the spermidine synthase, cyclohexylamine. The spermidine-promoted bulblet formation, however, could not be suppressed by this inhibitor. The promotive effect of spermidine on bulblet formation was reversed by an inhibitor of the spermine synthase, N-(3-aminopropyl)cyclohexylamine, but application of this inhibitor with spermine did not show any apparent effect on the bulblet formation. Endogenous level of spermine increased in common during bulblet formation that were stimulated by exogenous polyamines. Thus, spermine seemed to be the main stimulating chemical on bulblet formation in lily bulb-scale segments.Abbreviations APCHA N-(3-aminopropyl)cyclohexylamine - Arg arginine - BA benzyladenine - CHA cyclohexylamine - MS Murashige and Skoog's - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - Orn ornithine - Put putrescine - Spd spermidine - Spm spermine     

Stress-dependent accumulation of spermidine and spermine in the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum under salinity conditions

We studied the effects of chloride salinity (300 and 500 mM NaCl) on the content of free polyamines (PAs) from putrescine (Put) family in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. leaves and roots. The contents of Put and spermidine (Spd) in leaves increased temporarily, achieving the highest values on the third day of salinity treatment; thereafter (by days 7–14), they dropped sharply. The content of spermine (Spm) increased gradually, and its high level was maintained until the end of experiment. The dynamics of Spm accumulation in leaves under salinity conditions resembled that of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), a key enzyme of the water-saving CAM pathway of photosynthesis. This indicates indirectly the involvement of Spm in the common ice plant adaptation to salinity. A decrease in the molar ratios of Spd to Spm in the leaves under salinity conditions could point to the acceleration of Spm biosynthesis (accumulation) during plant adaptation, whereas the levels of Spm precursors, Put and Spd, did not increase. This phenomenon could be explained by an accelerated conversion of Spd into Spm, an active liberation of free Spm from its conjugates, or changes in the rates of studied PA biosynthesis and degradation under salinity. At the same time, the intracellular concentration of ethylene rose under these conditions. It was supposed and then demonstrated, that the pathway of ethylene biosynthesis and that of the synthesis of Put family PAs compete under severe salinity conditions. This competition might be based on the disturbances in sulfur metabolism and a decrease in the methionine content, an immediate precursor of S-adenosyl-L-methionine.     

光周期对菊花花芽分化及其叶片和芽内源多胺含量的影响

以切花菊品种神马为材料,研究不同光周期(16h昼/8h夜;12h昼/12h夜;8h昼/16h夜)对菊花花芽分化过程中叶片和芽内腐胺(Put)、亚精胺(Spd)和精胺(Spm)含量的影响.结果显示:(1)16h/8h处理植株始终没有花芽分化,8h/16h处理的花芽分化开始和完成分别在处理后第13.9天和第23.1天出现,比12h/12h处理的分别提前1.7d和2.8d.(2)16h/8h处理叶片和芽中Put、Spd和Spm含量始终都没有明显变化,而8h/16h和12h/12h处理的叶片和芽中Put、Spd、Spm含量都比16h/8h处理的明显增加,而且8h/16h和12h/12h处理的叶片Put和Spd含量在处理第10天和第20天时出现2个高峰,芽中Put和Spd含量在处理第15天时出现一个高峰;另外,8h/16h处理的叶片和芽中Put、Spd含量比12h/12h处理的有所增加,但差异不显著.结果表明,菊花神马是质型短日照植物,短日照可诱导神马叶片和芽内合成多胺,而且日照时数越短,越有利于叶片和芽内Put、Spd、Spm的积累和促进花芽分化.     

月季切花衰老过程中多胺与乙烯的关系

月季切花瓶插过程中,内源腐胺在前2天略有增加,内源亚精胺、精胺、多胺总量则呈下降趋势,乙烯释放速率在第3天达到最高峰;多胺抑制剂甲基乙醛-双咪腙处理抑制了亚精胺、精胺的合成,增加了乙烯的释放速率;乙烯抑制剂氨氧乙酸处理推迟腐胺高峰的到来,降低了乙烯的释放速率,而且在瓶插期的前2天内源亚精胺、精胺含量较高。结果表明,具乙烯跃变型特征的月季切花衰老过程中,多胺与乙烯在其生物合成过程中相互竞争S-腺苷甲硫氨酸作为其合成的前体。     

Inhibition of activity of the ethylene-forming enzyme by α(p-chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid

(p-Chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid (PCIB) inhibited indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-induced ethylene production in etiolated mung bean hypocotyl sections. The endogenous level of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) was not significantly affected by PCIB, indicating that PCIB exerted its effect primarily by inhibiting the activity of the ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE). This conclusion was supported by the observations that PCIB inhibited the conversion of exogenously applied ACC to ethylene. The inhibitory effect of PCIB was already evident with 0.05 mM PCIB, and it increased with time after application of the inhibitor. PCIB also significantly inhibited ethylene production in apple fruit tissues, but it only slightly reduced the level of endogenous ACC. Similar to mung bean, EFE activity in apple tissue was significantly inhibited by PCIB. The possibility that PCIB also inhibits auxin-induced ACC synthase activity is discussed.     

Exogenous polyamines enhance copper tolerance of Nymphoides peltatum

The protective effects of polyamines (PAs) against copper (Cu) toxicity were investigated in the leaves of Nymphoides peltatum. Cu treatment increased the putrescine (Put) level and lowered spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) levels, thereby reducing the (Spd+Spm)/Put ratio in leaves. Exogenous application of Spd or Spm markedly reversed these Cu-induced effects for all three PAs and partially restored the (Spd+Spm)/Put ratio in leaves. It also significantly enhanced the level of proline, retarded the loss of soluble protein, decreased the rate of O2*- generation and H2O2 content, and prevented Cu-induced lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, exogenous Spd and Spm reduced the accumulation of Cu and effectively maintained the balance of nutrient elements in plant leaves under Cu stress. These results suggest that exogenous application of Spd or Spm can enhance the tolerance of N. peltatum to Cu by increasing the levels of endogenous Spd and Spm as well as the (Spd+Spm)/Put ratio.     

干旱期间春小麦叶片多胺含量与作物抗旱性的关系

使用两种抑制剂MCBG(抑制SAMDC活性)和AOA(抑制ACC合成酶活性)研究了干旱期间两个春小麦品种8139(抗旱性较弱)和504(抗旱性较强)叶片多胺(Put、Spd和Spm)含量、RWC水平、SOD和POD活性以及MDA含量的变化,并由此探讨了不同类别多胺与作物抗旱性的关系以及多胺与乙烯在作物对干旱胁迫响应过程中对共同前体SAM的竞争趋向及其生理意义。     

Putrescine overproduction does not affect the catabolism of spermidine and spermine in poplar and Arabidopsis

The effect of up-regulation of putrescine (Put) production by genetic manipulation on the turnover of spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) was investigated in transgenic cells of poplar (Populus nigra × maximowiczii) and seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana. Several-fold increase in Put production was achieved by expressing a mouse ornithine decarboxylase cDNA either under the control of a constitutive (in poplar) or an inducible (in Arabidopsis) promoter. The transgenic poplar cells produced and accumulated 8–10 times higher amounts of Put than the non-transgenic cells, whereas the Arabidopsis seedlings accumulated up to 40-fold higher amounts of Put; however, in neither case the cellular Spd or Spm increased consistently. The rate of Spd and Spm catabolism and the half-life of cellular Spd and Spm were measured by pulse-chase experiments using [¹⁴C]Spd or [¹⁴C]Spm. Spermidine half-life was calculated to be about 22–32 h in poplar and 52–56 h in Arabidopsis. The half-life of cellular Spm was calculated to be approximately 24 h in Arabidopsis and 36–48 h in poplar. Both species were able to convert Spd to Spm and Put, and Spm to Spd and Put. The rates of Spd and Spm catabolism in both species were several-fold slower than those of Put, and the overproduction of Put had only a small effect on the overall rates of turnover of Spd or Spm. There was little effect on the rates of Spd to Spm conversion as well as the conversion of Spm into lower polyamines. While Spm was mainly converted back to Spd and not terminally degraded, Spd was removed from the cells largely through terminal catabolism in both species.     

外源多胺对铜胁迫下水鳖叶片多胺代谢、抗氧化系统和矿质营养元素的影响

采用营养液水培的方法,研究了外源亚精胺(Spd)和精胺(Spm)对Cu胁迫下水鳖叶片3种形态多胺(PAs)、抗氧化系统及营养元素的影响。结果表明:(1)Cu胁迫使水鳖叶片腐胺(Put)急剧积累,Spd和Spm明显下降,从而使(Spd+Spm)/Put比值也随之下降。外源Spd和Spm显著或极显著逆转Cu诱导的PAs变化,抑制Put的积累,缓解Spd和Spm的下降,从而提高了(Spd+Spm)/Put比值。(2)外源Spd和Spm抑制了Cu胁迫诱导的多胺氧化酶(PAO)的增加,缓解了二胺氧化酶(DAO)的下降。(3)与单一Cu胁迫相比,Spd和Spm显著或极显著提高了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性和抗坏血酸(AsA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)、游离脯氨酸(Pro)含量,从而降低了超氧阴离子(O2.-)产生速率和过氧化氢(H2O2)含量,极显著降低了丙二醛(MDA)含量,缓解了Cu诱导的氧化胁迫。(4)外源Spd和Spm显著或极显著缓解了Cu胁迫下矿质营养元素吸收平衡的紊乱。以上结果均说明了外施Spd和Spm可增加水鳖对Cu胁迫的耐受性。     

Polyamines and cellular metabolism in plants: transgenic approaches reveal different responses to diamine putrescine versus higher polyamines spermidine and spermine

Distribution of biogenic amines—the diamine putrescine (Put), triamine spermidine (Spd), and tetraamine spermine (Spm)—differs between species with Put and Spd being particularly abundant and Spm the least abundant in plant cells. These amines are important for cell viability and their intracellular levels are tightly regulated, which have made it difficult to characterize individual effects of Put, Spd and Spm on plant growth and developmental processes. The recent transgenic intervention and mutational genetics have made it possible to stably alter levels of naturally occurring polyamines and study their biological effects. We bring together an analysis of certain metabolic changes, particularly in amino acids, to infer the responsive regulation brought about by increased diamine or polyamine levels in actively growing poplar cell cultures (transformed with mouse ornithine decarboxylase gene to accumulate high Put levels) and ripening tomato pericarp (transformed with yeast S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene to accumulate high Spd and Spm levels at the cost of Put). Our analysis indicates that increased Put has little effect on increasing the levels of Spd and Spm, while Spd and Spm levels are inter-dependent. Further, Put levels were positively associated with Ala (α and β), Ile and GABA and negatively correlated with Gln and Glu in both actively growing poplar cell cultures and non-dividing tomato pericarp tissue. Most amino acids showed positive correlations with Spd and Spm levels in actively growing cells. Collectively these results suggest that Put is a negative regulator while Spd–Spm are positive regulators of cellular amino acid metabolism.     

Exogenous Polyamines Stimulate Ethylene Synthesis by Soybean Leaf Tissues

Exogenous supply of spermine (Spm) markedly stimulated ethyleneevolution from intact soybean leaves of leaf discs, stronglyincreased the level of free 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylicacid (ACC), and slightly stimulated ethylene forming-enzyme(EFE) activity Spm treatment also resulted in leaf epinastyand accelerated leaf senescence Ethylene stimulation was depressed,but not abolished, by light, and was suppressed by inhibitorsof ACC synthase and EFE activity Spermidine had a less pronouncedstimulatory effect on ethylene production whereas the diaminesputrescine and diaminopropane were without effect These resultscontrast with other reports indicating that di- and polyaminesinhibit ethylene biosynthesis in plants, and extend our previousresults on detached tobacco leaves exogenously treated withpolyamines Glycine max, ethylene, polyamines