Ethylene biosynthesis in Amaranthus caudatus seeds in response to methyl jasmonate

Methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) at 10^–3 M completely inhibited Amaranthus caudatus seed germination. Exogenous ethylene could totally reverse this inhibition. The inhibitor of ethylene action, 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD), increased the sensitivity of seeds to JA-Me. Methyl jasmonate inhibited ethylene production and also decreased both 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and malonyl ACC (MACC) content. Likewise, ACC oxidase activity in vivo was decreased by jasmonate. Similarly ACC oxidase activity in vitro isolated from seeds incubated in the presence of JA-Me was lower than that isolated from untreated seeds.The inhibitory JA-Me action on seed germination seems to be mainly associated with the inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis. Both inhibition of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activity and/or synthesis can be involved.     

Manipulation of ethylene biosynthesis

The plant hormone ethylene is involved in many plant processes ranging from seed germination to leaf and flower senescence and fruit ripening. Ethylene is synthesized from methionine, via S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). The key ethylene biosynthetic enzymes are ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO). Manipulation of ethylene biosynthesis by chemicals and gene technology is discussed. Biotechnological modification of ethylene synthesis is a promising method to prevent spoilage of agricultural and horticultural products.     

Recovery of ethylene biosynthesis in diazocyclopentadiene (DACP)-treated tomato fruit

Diazocyclopentadiene (DACP), a competitive ethylene action inhibitor binds irreversibly to the ethylene receptor to reduce tissue responses to ethylene. Tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv lsquo;Rondellorsquo;) were treated with DACP at the mature green stage. Ethylene biosynthesis and respiration rate were depressed. Color changes from green to red were delayed. Compared to the control, ACC content increased and ACC oxidase activity in vivo decreased in DACP-treated fruit. Thus, decrease of ethylene production caused by DACP treatment was due to the reduction of ACC oxidase activity. The decline in ripening subsequently recovered after DACP treatment. Results from the Northern analysis for gene expression of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase, showed that expression of both genes declined in DACP-treated fruit, and then recovered. Therefore the recovery of ethylene production was due to the recovery in gene expression and activity of ACC oxidase. We conclude that the effects of DACP on ethylene biosynthesis are on expression of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase genes, and/or regulation of ACC oxidase activity.     

植物乙烯生物合成过程中活性氧的作用

大量的研究结果表明,活性氧参与植物乙烯生物合成过程具有明显的普遍性,超氧阴离子自由基是参与乙烯生物合成过程的主要活性氧。近年来研究的焦点主要从乙烯生物合成的关键调控酶ACC合酶及ACC氧化酶的酶活性、酶动力学特性、酶蛋白空间结构、酶基因表达水平等方面来阐明活性氧调控植物乙烯生物合成的机制。最新的研究表明：植物在各种正常或应激的生长条件下首先诱导了活性氧产生水平的变化,活性氧在基因或蛋白质水平上影响ACC合酶和ACC氧化酶的活性水平,从而调节乙烯的生物合成。本文首次综述了活性氧影响植物乙烯生物合成过程的最新研究进展,并对活性氧在植物乙烯生物合成中具有诱导与抑制并存的“双重性”作用进行了探讨。     

Role of ethylene in the regulation of cell death and leaf loss in ozone-exposed European beech

To test the involvement of ethylene in mediating ozone-induced cell death and leaf loss in European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.), tree seedlings were exposed to proportionally increased or decreased field ozone levels for up to 6 months. Ozone treatment caused cell death and accelerated leaf loss at higher than ambient levels, but had only minor effects at ambient and no effects at subambient ozone levels. The emission of ethylene, the levels of its precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC), and mRNA levels of specific ACC synthase ( FS-ACS2 ) and ACC oxidase ( FS-ACO1 ) isoforms showed a persistent increase and preceded cell death by approximately 2 weeks. Inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis led to reduced lesion formation whereas application of ACC accelerated ozone-induced cell death and leaf loss. Similar results were obtained when adult beech trees were exposed to 2 × ozone by a whole tree free-air canopy exposure system. The results suggest a role of ethylene in amplifying ozone effects under field conditions in this major European broad-leaved tree species.     

Ethylene biosynthesis in a chilling-sensitive<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> mutant,<Emphasis Type="Italic">chs4-2</Emphasis>

We investigated chilling-induced changes in ethylene levels in Arabidopsis to find plants with distinct patterns of ethylene production in the cold-related biosynthetic pathway. The sensitive mutants identified here includedchs1-2,chs4-2, andchs6-2. Among these, plants of thechs4-2 mutant produced more ethylene than did the wild type after both were transferred from 4°C or 10°C to 22°C. This mutant also showed less freezing tolerance and more electrolyte leakage than the wild-type plants. Our results suggest a relationship between ethylene biosynthesis and chilling sensitivity in the mutant To determine which of the enzymes involved in ethylene biosynthesis were induced by chilling, we tested the activities of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase in both mutant and wild-type plants, and found greater activity by ACC synthase as well as a higher ACC content in the mutants after all the plants were transferred from 10°C to 22°C. However, ACC oxidase activity did not differ between mutant and wild-type plants in response to chilling treatment Therefore, we conclude thatchs4-2 mutants produce more ethylene than do other mutants or the wild type during their recovery from chilling conditions. Furthermore, we believe that ACC synthase is the key enzyme involved in this response.     

嫁接对网纹甜瓜果实乙烯生物合成及CmACO1基因表达的影响

以“新汉城翠蜜”网纹甜瓜为接穗,以“圣砧一号”南瓜为砧木进行嫁接,研究嫁接对目光温室网纹甜瓜果实乙烯生物合成及CmACO1基因转录水平表达的影响。结果表明：嫁接明显降低了网纹甜瓜果实ACC含量及乙烯释放量,在乙烯释放高峰时,嫁接的网纹甜瓜果实乙烯释放量比自根的降低了12．6％;嫁接降低了果实中ACC合成酶和ACC氧化酶活性,其最大值分别比自根网纹甜瓜降低了9．0％和6．8％;嫁接抑制了CmACO1的表达,其相对表达量最大值比自根网纹甜瓜降低了39．0％;嫁接网纹甜瓜果实中乙烯释放高峰、ACC合成酶和ACC氧化酶活性峰值及CmACO1相对表达量峰值出现的时间均比自根的延迟了3d。     

园艺作物成熟和衰老的分子生物学

对园艺作物乙烯和果实成熟、乙烯生物合成途径中二个关键酶ACC合成酶和ACC氧化酶的分子特性,基因克隆和表达及转基因研究等方面问题进行了评述。     

Glucose Inhibits ACC Oxidase Activity and Ethylene Biosynthesis in Ripening Tomato Fruit

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of glucose on ripening and ethylene biosynthesis in tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Fruit at the light-red stage were vacuum infiltrated with glucose solutions post-harvest and changes in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase, ACC, ACC oxidase, and ethylene production monitored over time. ACC oxidase activity was also measured in pericarp discs from the same fruits that were treated either with glucose, fructose, mannose, or galactose. While control fruit displayed a typical peak of ethylene production, fruit treated with glucose did not. Glucose appeared to exert its effect on ethylene biosynthesis by suppressing ACC oxidase activity. Fructose, mannose, and galactose did not inhibit ACC oxidase activity in tomato pericarp discs. Glucose treatment inhibited ripening-associated colour development in whole fruit. The extent of inhibition of colour development was dependent upon the concentration of glucose. These results indicate that glucose may play an important role in ethylene-associated regulation of fruit ripening.     

授粉诱导兰花花部乙烯生物合成基因在转录水平上的表达

朵丽蝶兰（Ｄｏｒｉｔａｅｎｏｐｓｉｓｈｙｂｒｉｄａ Ｈｏｒｔ．）的花授粉后,测定乙烯的产生,并分析授粉后花部各器官乙烯生物合成的ＡＣＣ合成酶和ＡＣＣ氧化酶两个基因转录水平上的表达。授粉后在花部均可探测到ＡＣＣ合成酶和ＡＣＣ氧化酶的ｍ ＲＮＡ。在花部不同器官之间,此两种酶的ｍ ＲＮＡ的积累水平均表现出一些差异。ＡＣＣ合成酶的ｍ ＲＮＡ 积累与ＡＣＣ氧化酶相比,具有更明显的特异性。而ＡＣＣ氧化酶ｍ ＲＮＡ 的积累水平远比ＡＣＣ合成酶高     

活性氧对外源IAA诱导的ACC合酶活性的影响

本文试图从活性氧的角度阐明外源IAA诱导ACC合酶活性的机制.绿豆(Phaseolus radiatus L.)幼苗的乙烯产生及ACC合酶活性从萌发的第5天开始上升,到第10天达到高峰,接着下降.10 μmol/L的外源IAA能明显促进绿豆幼苗乙烯的产生及ACC合酶的活性,同时也促进了超氧阴离子自由基(O(-)/(*)2)、过氧化氢(H2O2)的产生.显示外源IAA诱导的ACC合酶的活性与其诱导的活性氧的产生具有某种相关性.外源O(-)/(*)2处理能明显提高绿豆幼苗的乙烯产生速率及ACC合酶的活性,而外源H2O2无论对乙烯产生或ACC合酶的活性均没有明显的作用.外加O(-)/(*)2的清除剂SOD对绿豆幼苗乙烯的产生及ACC合酶活性的提高有一定的抑制作用,而外源过氧化氢酶却没有明显的作用.为此我们可以得出结论:外源IAA诱导的绿豆幼苗ACC合酶活性的提高可能是由于其诱导的O(-)/(*)2产生的升高引起的,这可能也是高等植物中调控乙烯生物合成的机制之一;而IAA诱导的H2O2产率的升高并不是其诱导ACC合酶活性升高的原因.     

Pollination-Induced Expression of Ethylene Biosynthetic Genes at Transcription Level in Orchid Flowers

The authors investigated pollination-induced ethylene production and expression patterns of genes encoding 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase in orchid flowers (Doritaenopsis hybrida Hort. ). Following pollination both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase mRNAs were detected in the different organs of flowers, and the patterns of both ACC synthase and ACC oxidase mRNA accumulation were similar, mRNA accumulation of ACC synthase mRNA was more organ-specific than that of ACC oxidase mRNA. However, ACC oxidase mRNAs were much more abundant than ACC synthase mRNAs in the flower organs.     

Ethylene biosynthesis: The role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase, and its possible evolutionary origin

Recent developments in our knowledge of the biochemistry of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the final stage in the biosynthesis of ethylene, are reviewed. Particular reference is made to the role of carbon dioxide as an essential cofactor, the activity of ACC oxidase in the plant cell, the enzyme catalytic centre, and the role of ACC oxidase in the evolutionary development of ethylene biosynthesis in plants. Evidence is marshalled to support a proposal that the membrane requirement for ACC oxidase that is observed in vivo is attributable to a need for a charged plasma membrane to maintain ascorbate in the reduced state for an ACC oxidase located in the apoplast. It is argued on biochemical grounds that the acquisition of the ACC oxidase was the crucial evolutionary step in the development by seed plants of an ethylene biosynthesis pathway that could easily be regulated, and that signalled the plant's response to stress and pathogen attack.     

Effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the dark-induced senescence in oat (Avena sativa L.) leaf segments

To investigate the relationship between methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and ethylene in leaf senescence, we studied the effects of MeJA on ethylene production and ethylene biosynthetic enzyme activities in oat(Avena sativa L.) leaf segments incubated in darkness. MeJA promoted dark-induced senescence judged from the contents of chlorophyll and protein, and increased ethylene production 6 times of the control. MeJA also increased the activities of ethylene biosynthetic enzymes, 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase as compared to control. In MeJA-treated leaf segments, ACC synthase activity reached its maximum level at 24 h of incubation and ACC oxidase activity peaked at 6 h of incubation. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and Co²⁺, inhibitors of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase respectively, reduced MeJA-induced ethylene production. They also delayed leaf senescence that was promoted by the treatment of MeJA. From these results, we can suggest that MeJA increased the activities of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase, these increased activities lead to increase in ethylene production and this increased ethylene production might promote dark-induced leaf senescence.     

生长素与乙烯对兰花授粉后花发育的调节作用(英文)

以朵丽蝶兰为材料,对乙烯和生长素调节的授粉后花的发育进行了研究。实验结果显示,切花和植株上的花授粉后,乙烯的产生和花的发育无明显差异;花瓣的衰老、子房发育、花粉萌发和花粉管的伸长受乙烯调节;与切花相比,植株上花的子房内无ＡＣＣ合酶和ＡＣＣ 氧化酶ｍＲＮＡ 的积累。用生长素运输抑制剂２ ［（１ｎａｐｈｔｈａｌｅｎｙｌａｍｉｎｏ）ｃａｒｂｏｎｙｌ］ ｂｅｎｚｏｉｃａｃｉｄ（ＮＰＡ） 处理柱头,授粉诱导的子房发育在很大程度上受到抑制, 表明授粉后子房的发育需要转运来的生长素。     

The ethylene biosynthetic and perception machinery is differentially expressed during endosperm and embryo development in maize

The maize endosperm undergoes programmed cell death late in its development so that, with the exception of the aleurone layer, the tissue is dead by the time the kernel matures. Although ethylene is known to regulate the onset of endosperm cell death, the temporal and spatial control of the ethylene biosynthetic and perception machinery during maize endosperm development has not been examined. In this study, we report the isolation of the maize gene families for ACC synthase, ACC oxidase, the ethylene receptor, and EIN2 and EIL, which act downstream of the receptor. We show that ACC oxidase is expressed primarily in the endosperm, and only at low levels in the developing embryo late in its development. ACC synthase is expressed throughout endosperm development but, in contrast to ACC oxidase, it is transiently expressed to a significantly higher level in the developing embryo at a time that corresponds with the onset of endosperm cell death. Only two ethylene receptor gene families were identified in maize, in contrast to the five types previously identified in Arabidopsis. Members of both ethylene receptor families were expressed to substantially higher levels in the developing embryo than in the endosperm, as were members of the EIN2 and EIL gene families. These results suggest that the endosperm and embryo both contribute to the synthesis of ethylene, and they provide a basis for understanding why the developing endosperm is especially sensitive to ethylene-induced cell death while the embryo is protected.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at Communicated by G. Jürgens