Galactose-induced Ethylene Evolution in Mung Bean Hypocotyls: A Possible Mechanism for Galactose Retardation of Plant Growth

Galactose has long been known to inhibit growth in certain plant systems and more recently to promote abscission. These same systems are similarly affected by ethylene. The mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) hypocotyl system was employed to ascertain whether the inhibitory effects of galactose might be regulated through ethylene. Galactose alone (at 10 and 100 mM) of the many carbohydrates tested elicited high rates of ethylene evolution (1.5–4.0 nl/g fresh weight x h) as determined by gas chroma-tography. Hook opening, pigment formation, and hypocotyl elongation were inhibited by this resultant ethylene. Galactose and auxin were found to act synergistically with respect to ethylene induction. Use of an auxin antagonist and auxin transport inhibitor revealed that galactose-induced ethylene formation is auxin dependent. Time course studies indicate that this effect may be auxin-sparing. Methionine appears to be the substrate of galactose-induced ethylene. since a methionine antagonist [L-2-amino-4-(2′-amino ethoxy)-trans-3-butenoic acid] abolished the induction. Potential interrelationships between galactose and ethylene synthesis are discussed.     

Galactose inhibition of auxin-induced cell elongation in oat coleoptile segments

Auxin-induced cell elongation in oat coleoptile segments was inhibited by galactose; removal of galactose restored growth. Galactose did not appear to affect the following factors which modify cell elongation: auxin uptake, auxin metabolism, osmotic concentration of cell sap, uptake of tritium-labeled water, auxin-induced wall loosening as measured by a decrease in the minimum stress-relaxation time and auxininduced glucan degradation. Galactose markedly prevented incorporation of [¹⁴C]-glucose into cellulosic and non-cellulosic fractions of the cell wall. It was concluded that galactose inhibited auxin-induced long-term elongation of oat coleoptile segments by interfering with cell wall synthesis.     

Different effects of galactose and mannose on cell proliferation and intracellular soluble sugar levels in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna angularis</Emphasis> suspension cultures

Plant cells utilize various sugars as carbon sources for growth, respiration and biosynthesis of cellular components. Suspension-cultured cells of azuki bean (Vigna angularis) proliferated actively in liquid growth medium containing 1% (w/v) sucrose, glucose, fructose, arabinose or xylose, but did not proliferate in medium containing galactose or mannose. These two latter sugars thus appeared distinct from other sugars used as growth substrates. Galactose strongly inhibited cell growth even in the presence of sucrose but mannose did not, suggesting a substantial difference in their effects on cell metabolism. Analysis of intracellular soluble-sugar fractions revealed that galactose, but not mannose, caused a conspicuous decrease in the cellular level of sucrose with no apparent effects on the levels of glucose or fructose. Such a galactose-specific decrease in sucrose levels also occurred in cells that had been cultured together with glucose in place of sucrose, suggesting that galactose inhibits the biosynthesis, rather than uptake, of sucrose in the cells. By contrast, mannose seemed to be metabolically inert in the presence of sucrose. From these results, we conclude that sucrose metabolism is important for the heterotrophic growth of cells in plant suspension-cultures.     

Effect of Inversion on Growth and Movement of Indole-3-acetic Acid in Coleoptiles

The effect of a 180° displacement from the normal vertical orientation on longitudinal growth and on the acropetal and basipetal movement of ¹⁴C-IAA was investigated in Avena sativa L. and Zea mays L. coleoptile sections. Inversion inhibits growth in intact sections (apex not removed) and in decapitated sections supplied apically with donor blocks containing auxin. Under aerobic conditions, inversion inhibits basipetal auxin movement and promotes acropetal auxin movement, whereas under anaerobic conditions, it does not influence the movement of auxin in either direction. Inversion retards the basipetal movement of the peak of a 30-minute pulse of auxin in corn.

The inversion-induced inhibition of basipetal auxin movement is not explained by an effect of gravity on production, uptake, destruction, exit from sections, retention in tissue, or purely physical movement of auxin. It is concluded that inversion (a) inhibits basipetal transport, the component of auxin movement that is metabolically dependent, and as a result (b) inhibits growth and (c) promotes acropetal auxin movement.

     

Comparison of carbohydrate substrate preferences in eight species of bifidobacteria

Eight species of bifidobacteria were tested for their abilities to grow on a range of monosaccharides (glucose, arabinose, xylose, galactose and mannose). In contrast to the other sugars, glucose and galactose were utilized by all species and, in general, specific growth rates were highest on these sugars. Different substrate preferences were observed between species when the bacteria were grown in the presence of all five monosaccharides. For example, glucose and xylose were coutilized by Bifidobacterium longum, whereas glucose repressed uptake of all other sugars in B. bifidum and B. catenulatum. Galactose was the preferred substrate with B. pseudolongum. In B. angulatum, glucose and galactose were utilized simultaneously. B. breve did not grow on arabinose when this sugar provided the sole source of energy. However, glucose and arabinose were preferentially taken up during growth on sugar mixtures.     

Soluble Cell Wall Polysaccharides Released from Pea Stems by Centrifugation : II. EFFECT OF ETHYLENE

The effect of ethylene on cell wall metabolism in sections excised from etiolated pea stems was studied. Ethylene causes an inhibition of elongation and a pronounced radial expansion of pea internodes as shown by an increase in the fresh weight of excised, 1-cm sections. Cell wall metabolism was studied using centrifugation to remove the cell wall solution from sections. The principal neutral sugars in the cell wall solution extracted with H₂O are arabinose, xylose, galactose, and glucose. Both xylose and glucose decline relative to controls in air within 1 hour of exposure to ethylene. Arabinose and galactose levels are not altered by ethylene until 8 hours of treatment, whereupon they decline in controls in air relative to ethylene treatment. When alcohol-insoluble polymers are fractionated into neutral and acidic polysaccharides, xylose and glucose predominate in the neutral fraction and arabinose and galactose in the acidic fraction. Ethylene depresses the levels of xylose and glucose in the neutral fraction and elevates arabinose and galactose in the acidic fraction. Ethylene treatment does not affect the level of uronic acids extracted with H₂O; however, the level of hydroxyproline-rich proteins in this water-extracted cell wall solution is increased by ethylene. Extraction of sections with CaCl₂ results in an increase in the levels of neutral sugars particularly arabinose. Ethylene depresses the yield of arabinose in calcium-extracted solution relative to controls in air. Similarly, extraction with CaCl₂ increases the yield of extracted hydroxyproline in ethanol-insoluble polymers and ethylene depresses its level relative to controls. Metabolism of uronic acids and neutral sugars and growth in response to ethylene treatment contrast markedly with auxin-induced polysaccharide metabolism and growth. With auxin, sections increase mostly in length not radius, and this growth form is associated with an increase in the levels of xylose, glucose, and uronic acids. With ethylene, on the other hand, stem elongation is suppressed and expansion is promoted, and this growth pattern is associated with a decrease in xylose and glucose in the ethanol-insoluble polysaccharides.     

Inhibition of Polar Auxin Transport by Ethylene

Applied ethylene influences the growth of etiolated pea stem sections cut from untreated plants, but has no effect on (14)C-indoleacetic acid uptake, polar transport or destruction. However, the capacity of the polar auxin transport system is markedly reduced in sections cut from plants grown in ethylene, while the velocity of auxin transport is unchanged under these conditions. Inhibition of the polar transport system by ethylene could underlie certain responses in which the gas produces symptoms of auxin deficiency.     

Ethylene formation in pea seedlings; its relation to the inhibition of bud growth caused by indole-3-acetic Acid

Indole-3-acetic acid stimulates ethylene production in the nodal region of pea stems, and the gas inhibits bud growth. At all concentrations of IAA there is a close correlation between the intensity and duration of ethylene production and the bud inhibition which results. Kinetin reverses the inhibitory actions of ethylene and IAA on bud growth. It is concluded that auxins suppress bud development by stimulating ethylene formation. The possibility that auxin induced ethylene formation controls apical dominance is considered.     

Relation of Phytochrome-enhanced Geotropic Sensitivity to Ethylene Production

Brief exposure of etiolated pea (Pisum sativum cv. Alaska) seedlings to red light enhances subsequent development of geotropic curvature of the stem. Both this response and inhibition of ethylene production by red light become maximal 8 hours after illumination. Very low concentrations of applied ethylene inhibit development of geotropic curvature, whereas hypobaric treatment enhances geotropic sensitivity by removing endogenous ethylene. Increased geotropic sensitivity after illumination is accompanied by increased lateral migration of ³H-indoleacetic acid in response to gravity, and ethylene inhibits this lateral migration. It is suggested, therefore, that red light-enhanced geotropic sensitivity is caused by increased lateral auxin transport resulting from a reduction in ethylene production after illumination.     

GROWTH REGULATION BY ETHYLENE IN FERN GAMETOPHYTES. I. EFFECTS ON PROTONEMAL AND RHIZOIDAL GROWTH AND INTERACTION WITH AUXIN

Three responses resulted from the treatment with ethylene of dark-grown gametophytes of Onoclea sensibilis. Elongation of the filament was increased, elongation of the rhizoid was decreased, and cell division was inhibited. The optimal ethylene concentrations were between 0.01 and 0.1 ppm. Filament elongation was very tolerant of high ethylene concentrations, since up to 1,000 ppm did not inhibit growth below control levels. Enclosing cultures of gametophytes in chambers of limited volumes produced all the effects of treatment with ethylene, but the responses to sealing were eliminated if plants were enclosed in a chamber which contained a solution of mercuric Perchlorate. This evidence that gametophytes produced ethylene was substantiated by a direct gas chromatographic demonstration of ethylene formation. The growth-regulating effects of ethylene and auxin appeared to be independent in filament and rhizoid growth. Inhibition of elongation by supra-optimal auxin concentrations could not be attributed to an auxin-stimulated production of ethylene.     

Inhibition of IAA-induced ethylene production in etiolated mung bean hypocotyl segments by 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid and 2-(p-chlorophenoxy)-2-methyl propionic acid

The effect of two auxin antagonists, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and 2-( p -chlorophenoxy)-2-methyl propionic acid (CMPA) on IAA-induced ethylene production in etiolated mung bean hypocotyl ( Vigna radiata L. Rwilcz cv. Berken) segments was studied. Both TIBA and CMPA inhibited IAA-induced ethylene production and CO₂ production at concentrations from 0.001 m M to 0.1 m M and 0.01 m M to 1.0 m M , respectively. The optimum concentration for inhibition of ethylene production by TIBA was 0.05 m M and CMPA was 0.5 m M . At the optimum concentration of TIBA and CMPA, there was a significant decrease in IAA-induced ethylene production without a decrease in respiration rates below control levels. After 18 h, mung bean hypocotyl segments treated with 0.05 m M TIBA for 6 h or 0.5 m M CMPA for 8 h showed a maximum inhibition of IAA-induced ethylene production. Treatments longer than 8 h caused no further inhibition. The uptake of [¹⁴C]-naphthaleneacetic acid by mung bean segments was greatly reduced by the addition of either TIBA (0.05m M ) or CMPA (0.5 m M ) to the incubation media. The results of treatment sequences showed that TIBA needed to be applied prior to IAA in order to inhibit IAA-induced ethylene production, but CMPA caused the same inhibitory effect whether applied before or after IAA treatment. These findings provide evidence that TIBA inhibits auxin-induced ethylene production in etiolated mung bean hypocotyl segments by blocking auxin movement into the tissue whereas CMPA may work on both auxin transport and action.     

Extracellular polysaccharides of some basidiomycetes.

Culture filtrates of four basidiomycete fungi, Stereum strigoso-zonatum, Fomes australis, Trametes lilacinogilva and Polyporus tumulosus were fractionated and examined for polysaccharide content. Acid hydrolysis showed the presence of galactose, mannose, xylose, fucose and glucose. Their relative amounts were estimated by gas chromatography of the corresponding alditol acetates. Galactose and mannose were the major constituent sugars, amounting to more than 50% of the total. One of the polysaccharides, a fucogalactomannan elaborated by P. tumulosus, was isolated in a purified form. It was shown to have [alpha]D +42 degrees and contained galactose, mannose, fucose and xylose in the relative proportions 2 : 1 : 1 : 0-2.     

Factors increasing ethylene production enhance the sensitivity of root growth to auxins

Light inhibits root elongation, increases ethylene production and enhances the inhibitory action of auxins on root elongation of pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Weibulls Marma) seedlings. To investigate the role of ethylene in the interaction between light and auxin, the level of ethylene production in darkness was increased to the level produced in light by supplying 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) or benzylaminopurine (BAP). Ethylene production was measured in excised root tips after treatment of intact seedlings for 24 h, while root growth was measured after 48 h. Auxin, at a concentration causing a partial inhibition of root elongation, did not increase ethylene production significantly. A 4-fold increase in ethylene production, caused either by light, 0.1 μ M ACC or 0.1 μ M BAP, inhibited root elongation by 40–50%. The auxins 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and indolebutyric acid applied at 0.1 μ M inhibited root elongation by 15–25% in darkness but by 50–60% in light. Supply of ACC or BAP in darkness enhanced the inhibitory effects of auxins to about the same extent as in light. The inhibition caused by the auxins as well as by the BAP was associated with swelling of the root tips. ACC and BAP treatment synergistically increased the swelling caused by auxins. We conclude that auxin and ethylene, when applied or produced in partially inhibitory concentrations, act synergistically to inhibit root elongation and increase root diameter. The effect of light on the response of the roots to auxins is mediated by a light-induced increase in ethylene production.     

Bioconversion of lignocellulose-derived sugars to ethanol by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural and agro-industrial residues represents one of the most important renewable resources that can be utilized for the biological production of ethanol. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is widely used for the commercial production of bioethanol from sucrose or starch-derived glucose. While glucose and other hexose sugars like galactose and mannose can be fermented to ethanol by S. cerevisiae, the major pentose sugars D-xylose and L-arabinose remain unutilized. Nevertheless, D-xylulose, the keto isomer of xylose, can be fermented slowly by the yeast and thus, the incorporation of functional routes for the conversion of xylose and arabinose to xylulose or xylulose-5-phosphate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can help to improve the ethanol productivity and make the fermentation process more cost-effective. Other crucial bottlenecks in pentose fermentation include low activity of the pentose phosphate pathway enzymes and competitive inhibition of xylose and arabinose transport into the cell cytoplasm by glucose and other hexose sugars. Along with a brief introduction of the pretreatment of lignocellulose and detoxification of the hydrolysate, this review provides an updated overview of (a) the key steps involved in the uptake and metabolism of the hexose sugars: glucose, galactose, and mannose, together with the pentose sugars: xylose and arabinose, (b) various factors that play a major role in the efficient fermentation of pentose sugars along with hexose sugars, and (c) the approaches used to overcome the metabolic constraints in the production of bioethanol from lignocellulose-derived sugars by developing recombinant S. cerevisiae strains.     

Galactose as an Inhibitor of the Expansion of Root Cells

The inhibition of the growth of cultured tomato roots by galactoseis due to an inhibition of cell expansion. Galactose is rapidlyabsorbed during the first 8 h following application and thefull inhibitory effect on extension growth of the roots is exertedwithin the first 24 h. At a concentration of 0·05 percent or less (50 per cent inhibition occurs at 0·035per cent) the galactose is not toxic and growth continues for7 days at the partially inhibited rate. The simultaneous presenceof glucose reduces galactose uptake but significant galactoseuptake continues at sites insensitive to a high concentrationof external glucose. In presence of an appropriate level ofglucose, although galactose uptake proceeds, the growth inhibitoryeffect of the galactose is fully reversed. Galactose reduces the content in the cell walls of the -cellulosefraction and during feeding with (I-¹⁴C) galactose all the cellwall fractions become labelled. The -cellulose fraction thenyields galactose of high specific activity. Glucose inhibitsthe incorporation of carbon from galactose into the -cellulosefraction and galactose inhibits the incorporation into thisfraction of the carbon of sucrose. The hypothesis is developedthat galactose inhibits cell expansion by a disruption of cellulosesynthesis which involves a direct incorporation of the externallyapplied galactose into the a-cellulose fraction of the cellwalls.     

Mediation of Herbicide Effects by Hormone Interactions

Chemical manipulation of the phytohormone system involves the use of herbicides for weed control in modern crop production. In the latter case, only compounds interacting with the auxin system have gained practical importance. Auxin herbicides mimic the overdose effects of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the principal natural auxin in higher plants. With their ability to control, particularly, dicotyledonous weeds in cereal crops, the synthetic auxins have been among the most successful herbicides used in agriculture. A newly discovered sequential hormone interaction plays a decisive role in their mode of action. The induction of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase in ethylene biosynthesis is the primary target process, following auxin herbicide signalling. Although the exact molecular target site has yet to be identified, it appears likely to be at the level of auxin receptor(s) for perception or signalling, leading ultimately to species- and organ-specific de novo enzyme synthesis. In sensitive dicots, ethylene causes epinastic growth and tissue swelling. Ethylene also triggers the biosynthesis of abscisic acid (ABA), mainly through the stimulated cleavage of xanthophylls to xanthoxal, catalyzed by 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED). ABA mediates stomatal closure which limits photosynthetic activity and biomass production, accompanied by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Growth inhibition, senescence and tissue decay are the consequences. Recent results suggest that ethylene-triggered ABA is not restricted to the action of auxin herbicides. It may function as a module in the signalling of a variety of stimuli leading to plant growth regulation. An additional phenomenon is caused by the auxin herbicide quinclorac which also controls grass weeds. Here, quinclorac induces the accumulation of phytotoxic levels of cyanide, a co-product of ethylene, which ultimately derives from herbicide-induced ACC synthase activity in the tissue. Phytotropins are a further group of hormone-related compounds which are used as herbicides. They inhibit polar auxin transport by interacting with a regulatory protein, the NPA-binding protein, of the auxin efflux carrier. This causes an abnormal accumulation of IAA and applied synthetic auxins in plant meristems. Growth inhibition, loss of tropic responses and, in combination with auxin herbicides, synergistic effects are the consequences.     

Ethylene modification of an auxin pulse in cotton stem sections

The effect of ethylene on the basipetal movement of indole-3-acetic acid-1-¹⁴C through cotton stem sections (Gossypium hirsutum, L. var. Stoneville 213) was studied apart from processes involved in the uptake and exit of auxin by the section. Stem sections 60 mm in length were pretreated with ethylene or placed in room air (control) and pulse labeled for 20 min with IAA-1-¹⁴C. In both the ethylene treated and control sections, the IAA-1-¹⁴C taken up moved basipetally as a peak of radioactivity. Generally, the applied pulse moved down the stem sections at an average velocity of approximately 5.8 mm per hr. In some experiments, however, ethylene slightly reduced the velocity of auxin transport. Although the peak of radioactivity became broader and more dispersed during its migration through the section, it was still distinguishable after 7 hr of transport.     

Inhibition of auxin-induced ethylene production by salicylic acid in mung bean hypocotyls

Salicylic acid (SA), a common plant phenolic compound, influences diverse physiological and biochemical processes in plants. To gain insight into the mode of interaction between auxin, ethylene, and SA, the effect of SA on auxininduced ethylene production in mung bean hypocotyls was investigated. Auxin markedly induced ethylene production, while SA inhibited the auxin-induced ethylene synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. At 1 mM of SA, auxininduced ethylene production decreased more than 60% in hypocotyls. Results showed that the accumulation of ACC was not affected by SA during the entire period of auxin treatment, indicating that the inhibition of auxin-induced ethylene production by SA was not due to the decrease in ACC synthase activity, the rate-limiting step for ethylene biosynthesis. By contrast, SA effectively reduced not only the basal level of ACC oxidase activity but also the wound-and ethylene-induced ACC oxidase activity, the last step of ethylene production, in a dose-dependent manner. Northern and immuno blot analyses indicate that SA does not exert any inhibitory effect on the ACC oxidase gene expression, whereas it effectively inhibits both the in vivo and in vitro ACC oxidase enzyme activity, thereby abolishing auxin-induced ethylene production in mung bean hypocotyl tissue. It appears that SA inhibits ACC oxidase enzyme activity through the reversible interaction with Fe²⁺, an essential cofactor of this enzyme. These results are consistent with the notion that ethylene production is controlled by an intimate regulatory interaction between auxin and SA in mung bean hypocotyl tissue.     

Characterization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylobacterium oryzae</Emphasis> and interactions with auxins and ACC regulation of ethylene in canola (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica campestris</Emphasis>)

The possible interaction of the plant hormones auxin and ethylene and the role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase containing bacteria on ethylene production in canola (Brassica campestris) in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of growth regulators were investigated. The effects of auxin (indole-3-acetic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid), auxin transport inhibitor 2-(p-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic acid, ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate and ethylene synthesis inhibitor l-α-(2-aminoethoxyvinyl)glycine hydrochloride on root elongation were concentration dependent. Exogenous addition of growth regulators influences the enzyme activities of ethylene production and we have presented here evidences that support the hypothesis that inhibitory effects of auxin on root elongation are independent of ethylene. Additionally, we have proved that inoculation of ACC deaminase containing Methylobacterium oryzae sequester ACC exuded from roots and hydrolyze them lowering the concentration of ACC in root exudates. However, the inhibitory actions of exogenous additions of auxins could not be ameliorated by bacterial inoculation that reduces ethylene concentration in canola seedlings.     

Shoot-supplied ammonium targets the root auxin influx carrier AUX1 and inhibits lateral root emergence in Arabidopsis

Deposition of ammonium (NH₄⁺) from the atmosphere is a substantial environmental problem. While toxicity resulting from root exposure to NH₄⁺ is well studied, little is known about how shoot‐supplied ammonium (SSA) affects root growth. In this study, we show that SSA significantly affects lateral root (LR) development. We show that SSA inhibits lateral root primordium (LRP) emergence, but not LRP initiation, resulting in significantly impaired LR number. We show that the inhibition is independent of abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and sucrose uptake in shoots but relates to the auxin response in roots. Expression analyses of an auxin‐responsive reporter, DR5:GUS, and direct assays of auxin transport demonstrated that SSA inhibits root acropetal (rootward) auxin transport while not affecting basipetal (shootward) transport or auxin sensitivity of root cells. Mutant analyses indicated that the auxin influx carrier AUX1, but not the auxin efflux carriers PIN‐FORMED (PIN)1 or PIN2, is required for this inhibition of LRP emergence and the observed auxin response. We found that AUX1 expression was modulated by SSA in vascular tissues rather than LR cap cells in roots. Taken together, our results suggest that SSA inhibits LRP emergence in Arabidopsis by interfering with AUX1‐dependent auxin transport from shoot to root.