Evaluation of the role of methional, 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyric acid and peroxidase in ethylene formation by Escherichia coli.

During growth of Escherichia coli strain SPA O in the presence of methionine, an intermediate accumulates in the medium. This intermediate reacts with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, and can be degraded to ethylene either enzymically or photochemically, the latter being stimulated by the addition of a flavin. The pH optimum for the photochemical degradation of this intermediate and 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyric acid (KMBA) is pH 3 whereas the optimum for methional is pH 6. The enzyme which converts the intermediate to ethylene also converts KMBA to ethylene and has many of the properties of a peroxidase including inhibition by catalase, cyanide, azide and anaerobiosis. The enzyme which synthesizes the intermediate is not known but requires oxygen and pyridoxal phosphate. A pathway for ethylene biosynthesis is proposed in which methionine is converted to KMBA which can be degraded either by peroxidase or in a flavin-mediated photochemical reaction. Its relevance to the properties of other ethylene-producing bacteria and to the proposed pathway of ethylene release by higher plants is discussed.     

Effects of ethylene oxide on soil microbial content and some soil chemical characteristics

The effects of ethylene oxide (EtO) on survival of soil microflora and on selected chemical properties of a sandy-loam soil were examined. Soil sterilization was achieved after 8 hours exposure to EtO. Ethylene oxide treatment increased soil pH and organic matter content. Extractable Mn and Fe slightly increased whereas P content decreased. Total N was not affected by the treatment.     

Biochemical basis of high-temperature inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis in ripening tomato fruits

Biggs, M. S., Woodson, W. R. and Handa, A. K. 1988. Biochemical basis of high-temperature inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis in ripening tomato fruits. Physiol. Plant. 72: 572578
Incubation of fruits of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Rutgers) at 34°C or above resulted in a marked decrease in ripening-associated ethylene production. High temperature inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis was not associated with permanent tissue damage, since ethylene production recovered following transfer of fruits to a permissive temperature. Determination of pericarp enzyme activities involved in ethylene biosynthesis following transfer of fruits from 25°C to 35 or 40°C revealed that 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase (EC 4.4.1.14) activity declined rapidly while ethylene forming enzyme (EFE) activity declined slowly. Removal of high temperature stress resulted in more rapid recovery of ACC synthase activity relative to EFE activity. Levels of ACC in pericarp tissue reflected the activity of ACC synthase before, during, and after heat stress. Recovery of ethylene production following transfer of pericarp discs from high to permissive temperature was inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide, indicating the necessity for protein synthesis. Ethylene production by wounded tomato pericarp tissue was not as inhibited by high temperature as ripening-associated ethylene production by whole fruits.     

农田栽参土壤改良中肥料对土壤元素及酶活性的影响

为探究农田栽参土壤改良中肥料对土壤元素与土壤酶活性的影响, 于2019年5月21日采集经混合肥、土地乐、腐殖酸、木醋液、益生源处理过的土壤样品, 对其土壤养分与土壤酶活性进行研究。结果表明: 不同肥料在土壤中发挥出不同的作用, 施用混合肥的土壤SOM、ACa含量最高分别为139.51 g·kg-1、848.9 mg·kg-1。施用土地乐生物有机肥后土壤中AP和AMn含量最高分别为36.7 mg·kg-1、126.12 mg·kg-1。施用腐殖酸后土壤中AFe、电导率、AK数值最高分别为737.36 mg·kg-1、59.67 mg·kg-1、794.87 mg·kg-1。施用木醋液与益生源菌剂后各养分均有不同程度增加; 过氧化氢酶活性在混合肥处理后最低, 对照处理最高。漆酶活性在腐殖酸处理后最低, 木醋液处理最高。蔗糖酶活性在腐殖酸处理最低, 混合肥处理最高。脲酶活性在腐殖酸处理最低, 益生源处理后最高; 相关性分析表明, 土壤养分与土壤酶活性有密切关系, 存在不同程度的相关性。五种肥料在土壤改良中都有显著效果     

低乙烯减压处理对柿果实乙烯生物合成的影响

在 1 0℃± 1℃的条件下 ,研究了低乙烯减压处理对火柿采后乙烯生物合成的影响。结果表明 ,低乙烯减压处理使火柿 ACC含量降低 ,EFE活性减弱 ,从而显著抑制了乙烯的产生 ,延迟了乙烯峰出现的时间。该处理能显著延缓火柿硬度的下降。     

Chromium-induced inhibition of ethylene evolution in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) leaves

The influence of chromium concentration on ethylene production in bean plants ( Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Contender) was investigated. A Cr ion-induced inhibition of ethylene synthesis from endogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) was observed within both leaf discs floated on 2 m M CrO²⁻₄ or Cr³⁺ and leaf discs from plants cultured in nutrient solutions containing 10, 20 or 40 μ M CrO²⁻₄. However, Cr ions supplied either to plants with the nutrient solution or to discs with the incubation medium rather increased the conversion of exogenous ACC to ethylene. Primary leaves of plants exposed to CrO²⁻₄-containing nutrient solutions showed a statistically insignificant decrease of ACC-synthase activity. In the trifoliolate leaves of plants exposed to 10 μ M CrO²⁻₄, in which a significant decrease of ethylene production from endogenous ACC was observed, a substantial increase of ACC synthase was found. These results indicate that Cr ion-induced inhibition of ethylene production is not due to a breakdown of membrane integrity, which is necessary for ethylene forming enzyme activity, but caused by metabolic alterations leading to decreased ACC availability. Chromium ions may act by inhibiting ACC synthase activity or by diverting a metabolic step prior to the ACC synthase catalyzed reaction.     

柿果实采后氧化还原电位与乙烯合成和相关酶活性的关系

该研究以广西特色柿品种‘恭城月柿''为材料,在采后贮藏过程中对其氧化还原电位(ORP)、乙烯生物合成量、硬度、色差、抗氧化酶及细胞壁降解酶活性的变化进行了测定,初步探讨柿果实氧化还原电位与乙烯生物合成和相关酶活性的关系。结果表明:贮藏期果实的硬度整体呈下降趋势,乙烯利处理果实的硬度从采后3 d即急速下降,至贮藏末期始终显著低于对照。贮藏前14 d果实转色较缓慢,采后15 d乙烯利处理果实的总色差ΔE值快速上升至29.6,转色完全,显著高于对照的11.9。在贮藏前期处理和对照果实的ORP均稳定在7.5 mv·g^-1,采后15 d乙烯利处理果实的ORP快速上升至11.9 mv·g^-1,是对照组的1.4倍。乙烯利处理果实的乙烯生物合成量在贮藏前期呈较低水平,采后15 d乙烯生成量急剧增加至0.372 μL·kg^-1·h^-1的高峰,对照乙烯生成量则始终维持在0.033 μL·kg^-1·h^-1的较低水平。可见,乙烯生成量的增加与ORP的上升关系密切。此外,抗氧化酶中的过氧化物酶(POD)和细胞壁降解酶中的β-D-半乳糖苷酶(β-D-Gal)活性与ORP呈极显著正相关,表明二者受果实ORP变化的影响。因此,经乙烯利处理柿果实的ORP贮藏末期显著上升,促进乙烯生物合成量的急剧增加,诱导抗氧化酶POD和细胞壁降解酶 β-D-Gal活性增强,导致果实急速后熟软化。柿果实ORP可能作为开关调控1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)生成乙烯这一生物化学反应,即打破ORP的稳定状态引发乙烯合成的启动。     

Correlation between total and EDTA/DTPA-extractable trace elements in soil and wheat

Wheat and wheat products are more important sources of energy and nutrients in diets of people in many cultures compared to other foods. The daily consumption of wheat is about 200 g/d/person in Western Europe and North America. On the other hand, 400–450 g of wheat and wheat products are consumed daily by average Turkish people. Wheat samples collected from the Iskenderun region in 1995 and 1996 and Ankara and Istanbul regions in 1995 were analyzed for their trace element content by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). In addition, 13 soil samples were collected from the Iskenderun region in 1996. Total soil samples were analyzed by INAA and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), EDTA-extractable elements by INAA, and DTPA-extractable elements by AAS. Correlation analysis and enrichment factor calculations were applied to the trace element results. In wheat samples, a strong correlation was found between the elements such as Sc, La, Sm, Rb, and K whose main source is soil. The concentration of Se appeared to show larger variations among different regions. No significant correlation was observed for elements such as As and Se whose main sources in the atmosphere are anthropogenic activities.     

Effect of ethylene and metabolic inhibitors on anthocyanin biosynthesis

The use of metabolic inhibitors indicated that ethylene-enhancement of light-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in Sorghum vulgare is through promotion of enzyme synthesis. Ethylene treatment had no effect on the amount of cyanidin synthesized in sorghum tissue infiltrated with actinomycin D to inhibit RNA synthesis. Treatment of sorghum tissue with ethylene in the dark for 24 hr prior to light-induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis reduced the ability of cycloheximide to inhibit anthocyanin formation in the tissue. Ethylene treatment promoted the biosynthesis of two 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in sorghum for which light-induced RNA synthesis is not necessary.     

Stimulation of ACC-dependent ethylene production in citrus leaf discs by light

The influence of light and darkness incubation on in vivo ethylene forming enzyme (EFE) activity in citrus ( Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck cv. Salustiana) mature leaf discs was studied. Leaf discs incubated in light produced higher amounts of ethylene than in darkness. Transfer of discs from light to the dark resulted in a marked inhibition of EFE activity, whereas transfer of discs from the dark to light enhanced ethylene forming activity considerably. Light did not affect 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylie acid (ACC) uptake. Incubation in a CO₂-eniiched atmosphere enhanced EFE activity both in light and in darkness, but light stimulation of EFE activity was apparently not affected by CO₂. Effects of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU, inhibitor of photosynthetic electron flow) and KCN (inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase) were studied. DCMU at 0.2 m M inhibited EFE activity in light, whereas no effect was detected in the dark. On the other hand 1 m M KCN stimulated EFE activity in the light, and no significant effect was observed in the dark. CoCl₂ at 1 m M inhibited ACC-dependent ethylene production, suggesting that ethylene production from ACC is mediated by EFE in citrus leaf discs both in light and in the dark. Cycloheximide also inhibited EFE activity in the light and no effects were detected in the dark. Therefore protein synthesis in light (perhaps EFE synthesis) could be required for the light stimulation of the in vivo EFE activity.     

Effect of temperature on ethylene biosynthesis in carnation petals

Carnation petals, at a stage in which they are already producing ethylene, show a sigmoidal dependency of ethylene production on temperature within the range of 0 to 30°C. An Arrhenius plot of these data show a break atca. 22°C in the straight lines connecting the points. The activity of the ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE), measured bothin vitro, using isolated membranes, andin vivo, using petals pretreated with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), shows an exponential dependency on temperature within the same range. Arrhenius plots of EFE activity fail to show any discontinuity.In contrast, ACC synthase activity measuredin vitro shows the same sigmoidal dependency on temperature as that of the intact petals. We suggest, therefore, that ACC synthase activity is the rate-limiting step mediating the influence of temperature on ethylene biosynthesis by carnation petals over the range studied.     

桉树人工林地土壤酶活性与微量元素含量的关系

运用典范相关分析研究了桉树人工林地土壤酶活性和土壤微量元素含量关系。结果表明,Zn和Mn对土壤蛋白酶活性的促进作用最大。Zn在一定程度上对脲酶和过氧化氢酶有抑制作用;而Mn对脲酶和过氧化氢酶有促进作用。结合林地生物的生长特征等因子,"综合土壤酶因子"可作为土壤肥力评价的一个指标,对桉树林地土种的划分有一定意义。     

The effects of abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate on 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic acid conversion to ethylene in hypocotyl segments of sunflower seedlings,and their control by calcium and calmodulin

The conversion of 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic acid (ACC) to ethylene by hypocotyl segments of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings was inhibited by abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (Me-Ja), and this inhibitory effect increased with increasing concentration of both growth regulators. On the contrary, CaCl, enhanced ACC conversion to ethylene at the concentrations of 10^-4 M and 5 x 10^-4 M, however lower and higher concentrations had no significant action. CaCl, (5 x 10^-4M) seemed to magnify the inhibition of the reaction induced by ABA, whereas it reduced (5 x 10^-4M) and even abolished (10^-3M) the inhibitory action of Me-Ja. The results obtained with a Ca²⁺ chelator (EGTA), a Ca²⁺ channel blocker (nifedipine) and calmodulin antagonists (W7 and TFP), given in association with ABA or Me-Ja, suggested that calcium was involved in the inhibition of ACC conversion to ethylene by ABA and Me-Ja through an interaction with calmodulin. However, the mechanism of action of the two growth regulators seemed to be different, since all treatments which resulted in a decrease in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration or in calmodulin action induced a decrease in the effect of ABA and an increase in the effect of Me-Ja.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - ACC 1-aminocyclopropane 1-carboxylic acid - EFE ethylene for enzyme - EGTA ethylene glycol-bis-2-aminoethyl tetraacetic acid - Me-Ja methyl jasmonate - NIF nifedipine - TFP trifluoperazine dihydrochloride - W7 N-(6-aminohexyl)5-chloro-l-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride     

Microbial physiology and soil CO2 efflux after 9 years of soil warming in a temperate forest – no indications for thermal adaptations

Thermal adaptations of soil microorganisms could mitigate or facilitate global warming effects on soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and soil CO₂ efflux. We incubated soil from warmed and control subplots of a forest soil warming experiment to assess whether 9 years of soil warming affected the rates and the temperature sensitivity of the soil CO₂ efflux, extracellular enzyme activities, microbial efficiency, and gross N mineralization. Mineral soil (0–10 cm depth) was incubated at temperatures ranging from 3 to 23 °C. No adaptations to long‐term warming were observed regarding the heterotrophic soil CO₂ efflux (R₁₀ warmed: 2.31 ± 0.15 μmol m^?2 s^?1, control: 2.34 ± 0.29 μmol m^?2 s^?1; Q₁₀ warmed: 2.45 ± 0.06, control: 2.45 ± 0.04). Potential enzyme activities increased with incubation temperature, but the temperature sensitivity of the enzymes did not differ between the warmed and the control soils. The ratio of C : N acquiring enzyme activities was significantly higher in the warmed soil. Microbial biomass‐specific respiration rates increased with incubation temperature, but the rates and the temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀ warmed: 2.54 ± 0.23, control 2.75 ± 0.17) did not differ between warmed and control soils. Microbial substrate use efficiency (SUE) declined with increasing incubation temperature in both, warmed and control, soils. SUE and its temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀ warmed: 0.84 ± 0.03, control: 0.88 ± 0.01) did not differ between warmed and control soils either. Gross N mineralization was invariant to incubation temperature and was not affected by long‐term soil warming. Our results indicate that thermal adaptations of the microbial decomposer community are unlikely to occur in C‐rich calcareous temperate forest soils.     

Effect of suppression of ethylene biosynthesis on flavor products in tomato fruits

To elucidate the role of ethylene in the production of flavor compounds by tomato fruits, wild-type tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L., cv. Lichun) and its transgenic antisense LeACS2 line with suppressed ethylene biosynthesis were used. The metabolism of individual sugars was ethylene-independent. However, citric acid and malic acid were under ethylene regulation. The content of these acids was higher in transgenic tomato fruits and returned to normal level after transgenic fruits were treated with ethylene. Because most of amino acids, which are important precursors of volatiles, were shown to be correlated with ethylene, we surmise that amino acid-related aroma volatiles were also affected by ethylene. Headspace analysis of volatiles showed a significant accumulation of aldehydes in wild-type tomato fruits during fruit ripening and showed a dramatic decrease in most aroma volatiles in transgenic tomato fruits as compared with wild-type fruits. The production of hexanal, hexanol, trans-2-heptenal, cis-3-hexanol, and carotenoid-related volatiles, except β-damascenone and β-ionone, was inhibited by suppression of ethylene biosynthesis. No remarkable differences were observed in the concentrations of cis-3-hexenal and trans-2-hexenal between transgenic and wild-type tomato fruits, indicating these two volatiles to be independent of ethylene. Thus, there are various regulation patterns of flavor profiles in tomato fruits by ethylene. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2007, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 92–101. The text was submitted by the authors in English. Both authors equally contributed to this work.     

Nitrate-induced ethylene biosynthesis and the control of nodulation in alfalfa

We previously reported that inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) eliminated the inhibitory effect of NO₃^– on nodulation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Aragon) plants grown aeroponically. In this work, the effect of Ag⁺, as an inhibitor of ethylene action, has been studied in plants growing aeroponically or in darkened tubes with vermiculite, and low-nitrate or high-nitrate solution. Vermiculite-grown plants developed up to 3 times as many nodules as did those growing aeroponically. Nodule formation was mirrored by dry-matter accumulation. High (10 mol m^–3) NO₃^– applied from planting inhibited nodulation to an equal extent (c. 50%) in the two growth conditions. In contrast, Ag⁺ treatment increased nodule formation at all NO₃^– concentrations assayed under the two growth conditions, with the stimulation being higher in plants grown aeroponically. Finally, no effect of Ag⁺ (10 mmol m^–3) on plant growth was observed in either of the growth conditions. The effectiveness of NO₃^– as a nodulation inhibitor and enhancer of ethylene biosynthesis in roots of alfalfa was also studied. Within 24 h after inoculation, 10 mol m^–3 NO₃^– exerted most of its inhibitory effect on nodulation. At the same time, both 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase activity and ethylene evolution rates markedly increased in inoculated and uninoculated alfalfa roots treated with NO₃^–. Support for a role of endogenous ethylene in the control of nodule formation in legumes is discussed.     

全球大气CO2浓度升高对土壤微生物的影响

全球大气CO2浓度升高对土壤微生物生态系统的影响已引起广泛关注。本文从土壤微生物群落结构、微生物区系、土壤呼吸、微生物生物量以及土壤酶活性方面对大气高浓度CO2的响应进行了综述。由于提供高浓度CO2的实验系统、所选植物材料以及土壤特性等的不同,大气CO2浓度升高对土壤微生物群落结构、微生物区系、土壤呼吸、微生物生物量以及土壤酶活性的影响并未得出一致结论。但高浓度CO2对土壤微生物生态系统的影响是存在的。     

不同水氮水平对川西亚高山林地土壤酶活性的影响

为探讨氮沉降在不同土壤水分状况下对林下土壤中参与土壤碳氮磷循环主要酶(β-D-葡萄糖苷酶(β-D-glucosidase,βG)、过氧化物酶(Peroxidase, PER)、多酚氧化酶(Polyphenol oxidase, PPO)、β-N-乙酰葡糖胺糖苷酶(β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, NAG)和酸性磷酸酶(Acid phosphatase, AP))活性的动态影响,于2017年开展了盆栽模拟试验。试验以青杨扦插苗为植物材料,采用两因素(土壤水分和氮沉降)的随机区组设计,土壤水分含量分别为40%(W40)、60%(W60)和80%(W80)最大田间持水量,氮沉降水平分别为:0(N0)、4(N4)和8(N8)g N m~(-2) a~(-1)。在土壤水分达到预定的水分含量后开始氮沉降处理,于氮沉降后的6 h、24 h和3、7、14、31、62 d采集土壤样品进行土壤酶活性的测定。结果表明:土壤含水量的降低显著降低了βG、NAG和PPO活性,且在W40时达到最低;对AP和PER活性无显著影响。氮沉降抑制了βG、NAG和AP活性,而且施氮浓度越大,抑制效应越强;对PER和PPO活性无显著影响。水氮交互作用对上述5种土壤酶活性均无显著影响。5种土壤酶活性在施氮7 d或14 d内变化较大,之后随处理时间的延长逐步平稳。两个月的实验期间,在不同水氮处理下,5种土壤酶活性基本都呈现升高-降低-升高-降低的双峰模式。该研究可为理解氮沉降对不同水分状况地区森林生态系统中土壤碳氮磷循环的生态学过程提供科学参考。     

Dual effect of 2, 4-D on ethylene production and ripening of tomato fruit tissue

Tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Indian River) were treated with aqueous solutions of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) and the effects on respiration, ethylene production, and ripening were examined. 10-³ and 10-⁵ M 2, 4-D solutions were used. Dipping treatment of whole fruit picked at the 74% stage of development, gave an increase in respiration and ethylene production, the effect being directly related to 2, 4-D concentration. Ripening was advanced relative to control fruit.
Tomato disks cut from the pericarp tissue of fruit picked at the 81% stage of development were vacuum-infiltrated with the same 2, 4-D solutions. In these disks the increase in respiration continued longer compared to control disks. Ethylene production was considerably increased, and after an initial recovery the 2, 4-D-treated disks showed another increase at a much faster rate than controls. However, contrary to what could be expected from this increase in ethylene, ripening was delayed. Nevertheless, all disk samples showed advance ripening compared to whole fruit of the same age, indicating that they could not recover completely from the effect of cutting and treatment.
The results showed that 2, 4-D causes a dual effect in tomato fruit tissue: an increase in ethylene production which promotes ripening, and a delay in ripening. This last effect, depending on the uniformity of the auxin distribution and its concentration, prevails.     

Methionine metabolism and ethylene biosynthesis in senescing petals of Tradescantia

The endogenous content of methionine in isolated petals of Tradescantia was found to increase during petal senescence while the levels of S-methylmethionine and protein were found to decline. The increase in free methionine was, at least in part, the result of protein degradation. Methionine and homocysteine were shown to be intermediates in ethylene biosynthesis while S-methylmethionine was not involved. Application of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) to all floral tissues resulted in large stimulations of ethylene production. ACC was shown to be an endogenous amino acid the internal levels of which correlated positively with the rate of ethylene production. Application of l-methionine-[U-¹⁴C] led to a rapid appearance of radioactivity in both ethylene and ACC. The specific radioactivity of C-2 and C-3 of ACC and that of ethylene were found to be nearly identical which indicated that ACC was the immediate precursor of ethylene in senescing petals of Tradescantia.