A Compartmental Analysis of Abscisic Acid in Roots of Hordeum distichon

An efflux compartmental analysis of abscisic acid (ABA) in barleyroots revealed two compartments of ABA, a fast exchanging one(probably the cytoplasm) containing 3.63 µM ABA and aslowly exchanging compartment (probably the vacuoles) whichcontained 0.39 µM ABA.     

Effect of Osmotic Stress on Abscisic Acid Efflux and Compartmentation in the Roots of Two Maize Lines Differing in Drought Susceptibility

Roots of two Zea mays L. lines (drought-resistant Polj 17, and drought-susceptible F-2) were exposed to osmotic stress induced by sorbitol (osmotic potential –1.0 MPa). The following parameters were determined in cortex cells: membrane permeability for abscisic acid (ABA), ABA fluxes across membranes, pH values and ABA content in cytoplasm and vacuole. Osmotic stress induced different distribution of ABA within cell compartments in the investigated lines. ABA transport in the F-2 line occurred according to the intracellular pH gradient and the anion trap concept. In Polj 17, however, osmotic stress did not cause any significant effect on pH gradient and compartmental ABA content, but had a stimulating effect on ABA efflux from cytoplasm to apoplast and than via xylem to the leaf. These findings indicate different mechanisms of ABA transport between the investigated lines in response to osmotic stress.     

Biosynthesis of Abscisic Acid under Osmotic Stress: Studies Based on a Dual Labelling Technique

Sterile liquid suspension cultures from grape pericarp tissue incorporate label from mevalonic acid into abscisic acid (ABA), some of which is subsequently released into the surrounding medium. The addition of mannitol to the culture medium caused plasmolysis of individual cells and increased ABA generation and release. Levels in the medium increased up to 30 fold over a period of 8 h in the presence of mannitol (720 milliosmol). A dual labelling technique using ¹⁴C and ³H mevalonic acid was developed to distinguish between labelled compounds produced by turgid tissue and those specifically associated with the substantial increase in ABA synthesis following mannitol treatment.     

渗透胁迫下小麦根系渗透调节与根冠淀粉水解的研究

用不同浓度的PEG—600对抗旱性不同的小麦幼苗进行渗透胁迫处理,研究了小麦幼苗根系的淀粉酶活性、可溶性糖含量、渗透势、渗透调节能力和根冠淀粉的水解状况。结果表明,随着渗透胁迫程度的加重,抗旱性强的小麦品种昌乐5号和北农2号根系渗透势和饱和渗透势的降低程度大于抗旱性弱的小麦品种鲁麦5号和921842,并且抗旱性强的小麦品种根系的渗透调节能力大于抗旱性弱的小麦品种。随着渗透胁迫程度的加重．各品种小麦根冠淀粉粒均有不同程度的减少。而抗旱性强的品种根冠淀粉粒的减少程度小于抗旱性弱的品种;抗旱性强的小麦品种根系淀粉酶活性显著高于抗旱性弱的小麦品种,但是,随着渗透胁迫程度的加重,抗旱性弱的品种淀粉酶活性增加的幅度远高于抗旱性强的品种。可溶性糖含量的变化趋势与淀粉酶活性的变化趋势一致．即渗透胁迫下根冠淀粉水解程度大的小麦品种,可溶性糖的含量高。但根冠淀粉水解在根系的渗透调节以及在小麦适应水分胁迫中的作用还有待于进一步探讨。     

渗透胁迫下水杨酸对玉米幼苗根系63.5 kD热稳定蛋白的调控作用

以抗旱性较强的玉米品种‘鲁单50’幼苗为材料,采用等渗的离子胁迫(0.8%NaCl,-0.6 MPa)和非离子胁迫(20%PEG)进行渗透胁迫处理,从受胁迫的玉米幼苗根系中分离出63.5 kD热稳定蛋白。用水杨酸(SA)处理幼苗96 h,取材进行SDS-PAGE电泳,发现63.5 kD热稳定蛋白既可被渗透胁迫诱导,也可被SA诱导产生,且SA对非离子渗透胁迫和离子渗透胁迫下诱导的该蛋白的表达表现出不同的作用,SA对非离子渗透胁迫下该蛋白的表达有抑制作用,而对离子渗透胁迫下该蛋白的表达有促进作用。SA对非离子渗透胁迫或离子渗透胁迫 ABA处理下的该蛋白的表达都表现出促进作用。研究表明,63.5 kD热稳定蛋白受SA信号途径的调控,并且在不同条件下,SA在参与和影响代谢过程的信号途径及其对代谢调控的机理可能存在差异。     

Abscisic Acid Content of Algae under Stress*

The distribution of the phytohormone, abscisic acid (ABA), within the phylum of Phycophyta was investigated by an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Of 64 algal species tested (originating from 9 divisions, 20 classes and 36 orders, including procaryotes) all species contained ABA, whereas no ABA could be detected in the bacteria Escherichia coli, Rhodospirillum rubrum, and Halobacterium halobium. It is concluded that ABA is universally distributed within the algal kingdom and is not restricted to cormophytes. The ability to synthesize ABA must have been developed even within the procaryotes. The physiological role of ABA in some selected algae was studied by investigating 1. the distribution of ABA between the cells and the culture medium, 2. the responses of endogenous ABA to stress, 3. the synthesis of ¹⁴C-ABA from externally applied ¹⁴C-mevalonic acid, 4. the metabolism of ABA, 5. the effect of externally applied ABA on various physiological reactions of the algae, and the effect of norflurazon on ABA content. ¹⁴C-mevalonic acid served as precursor of ¹⁴C-ABA synthesis in Dunaliella cells and ABA was metabolised to the same products which have been observed in higher plants. In D. parva the internal ABA level increased upon hyperosmotic salt shocks, and in D. acidophila upon alkalization of the medium. Norflurazon caused an increase of ABA content in Dunaliella. Externally applied ABA did not affect photosynthesis, respiration and K⁺ content of the cells. The permeability of the plasma membrane of D. acidophila to water was slightly decreased by ABA. The possible physiological function of ABA in algae is discussed.     

The Compartmentation of Abscisic Acid and beta-d-Glucopyranosyl Abscisate in Mesophyll Cells

β-d-Glucopyranosyl abscisate (ABA-GE) is synthesized in Xanthium strumarium L. leaves during water stress. Following recovery from stress, the amount of ABA-GE does not decline. These observations led to the hypothesis that ABA-GE is sequestered in the vacuole where it is metabolically inert. The localization of abscisic acid (ABA) and ABA-GE was investigated by a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) compartmentation method and by direct isolation of vacuoles.     

Regulation of K+ Channels in Maize Roots by Water Stress and Abscisic Acid

Root cortical and stelar protoplasts were isolated from maize (Zea mays L.) plants that were either well watered or water stressed, and the patch-clamp technique was used to investigate their plasma membrane K⁺ channel activity. In the root cortex water stress did not significantly affect inward- or outward-rectifying K⁺ conductances relative to those observed in well-watered plants. In contrast, water stress significantly reduced the magnitude of the outward-rectifying K⁺ current in the root stele but had little effect on the inward-rectifying K⁺ current. Pretreating well-watered plants with abscisic acid also significantly affected K⁺ currents in a way that was consistent with abscisic acid mediating, at least in part, the response of roots to water stress. It is proposed that the K⁺ channels underlying the K⁺ currents in the root stelar cells represent pathways that allow K⁺ exchange between the root symplasm and xylem apoplast. It is suggested that the regulation of K⁺ channel activity in the root in response to water stress could be part of an important adaptation of the plant to survive drying soils.     

逆境胁迫下植物体内脱落酸的生理功能和作用机制

文章介绍逆境胁迫下植物体内ABA的生理功能和作用机制研究进展。     

Inhibition of Ion Transport in Excised Barley Roots by Abscisic Acid; Relation to Water Permeability of the Roots

Previous papers have shown that abscisic acid can inhibit transportof ions across the root to the xylem vessels, resulting in reducedexudation from excised roots or inhibiting guttation from intactplants. However, it has not been established whether the inhibitionwas due to a reduction in salt transport (J_s) or in permeabilityof the roots to water (L_p). This paper investigates the effectof ABA on L_p and J_s separately. It is shown that L_p increasedin ABA and then fell, but was about the same as in control rootswhen transport was inhibited. The effect of ABA on exudationtherefore appeared to be mainly due to reduction in J_s. Inhibitionof J_s was also present in intact, transpiring plants and sowas not due to reduced water flow. The inhibition of ion releaseto the xylem affected Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and phosphate as wellas the major ion in the exudate, K⁺. It is concluded that ABAinhibits salt transport to the shoot by acting on ion transportinto the xylem, and not by reducing water flow coupled withsalt transport.     

Regulation of the High-Affinity Nitrate Transport System in Wheat Roots by Exogenous Abscisic Acid and Glutamine

Nitrate is a major nitrogen （N） source for most crops. Nitrate uptake by root cells is a key step of nitrogen metabolism and has been widely studied at the physiological and molecular levels. Understanding how nitrate uptake is regulated will help us engineer crops with improved nitrate uptake efficiency. The present study investigated the regulation of the high-affinity nitrate transport system （HATS） by exogenous abscisic acid （ABA） and glutamine （Gin） in wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） roots. Wheat seedlings grown in nutrient solution containing 2 mmol/L nitrate as the only nitrogen source for 2weeks were deprived of N for 4d and were then transferred to nutrient solution containing 50 μmol/L ABA, and 1 mmol/L Gin in the presence or absence of 2 mmol/L nitrate for 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 h. Treated wheat plants were then divided into two groups. One group of plants was used to investigate the mRNA levels of the HATS components NRT2 and NAR2 genes in roots through semi-quantitative RT-PCR approach, and the other set of plants were used to measure high-affinity nitrate influx rates in a nutrient solution containing 0.2 mmol/L ^15N-labeled nitrate. The results showed that exogenous ABA induced the expression of the TaNRT2.1, TaNRT2.2, TaNRT2.3, TaNAR2.1, and TaNAR2.2 genes in roots when nitrate was not present in the nutrient solution, but did not further enhance the induction of these genes by nitrate. Glutamine, which has been shown to inhibit the expression of NRT2 genes when nitrate is present in the growth media, did not inhibit this induction. When Gin was supplied to a nitrate-free nutrient solution, the expression of these five genes in roots was induced. These results imply that the inhibition by Gin of NRT2 expression occurs only when nitrate is present in the growth media. Although exogenous ABA and Gin induced HATS genes in the roots of wheat, they did not induce nitrate influx.     

Abscisic Acid Transport in Human Erythrocytes

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone involved in the response to environmental stress. Recently, ABA has been shown to be present and active also in mammals, where it stimulates the functional activity of innate immune cells, of mesenchymal and hemopoietic stem cells, and insulin-releasing pancreatic β-cells. LANCL2, the ABA receptor in mammalian cells, is a peripheral membrane protein that localizes at the intracellular side of the plasma membrane. Here we investigated the mechanism enabling ABA transport across the plasmamembrane of human red blood cells (RBC). Both influx and efflux of [³H]ABA occur across intact RBC, as detected by radiometric and chromatographic methods. ABA binds specifically to Band 3 (the RBC anion transporter), as determined by labeling of RBC membranes with biotinylated ABA. Proteoliposomes reconstituted with human purified Band 3 transport [³H]ABA and [³⁵S]sulfate, and ABA transport is sensitive to the specific Band 3 inhibitor 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid. Once inside RBC, ABA stimulates ATP release through the LANCL2-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase. As ATP released from RBC is known to exert a vasodilator response, these results suggest a role for plasma ABA in the regulation of vascular tone.     

Spermine Promotes Acclimation to Osmotic Stress by Modifying Antioxidant, Abscisic Acid, and Jasmonic Acid Signals in Soybean

The possible involvement of spermine (Spm) in the acclimation of soybean to osmotic stress was investigated by determining the changes in photosynthetic pigments, antioxidants, and plant hormone levels in response to applied Spm. Plants were exposed to 9 % PEG-induced osmotic stress with or without 0.4 μM Spm. Osmotic stress reduced the relative water content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoid, and protein contents in leaves, and these detrimental effects were alleviated by treatment with Spm. Moreover, the significant increase in the content of abscisic acid and decrease in that of jasmonic acid in plants subjected to osmotic stress was attenuated by treatment with Spm. Osmotic stress caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation when compared to controls, and that was accompanied by a slight reduction in the level of antioxidants and reduced glutathione and in the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase. Spm treatment ameliorated these osmotic stress effects by reducing lipid peroxidation and increasing catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities. These results indicate that application of Spm could be exploited to alleviate a moderate level of osmotic stress through the regulation of stress-related components such as photosynthetic pigments, plant hormones, and antioxidants.     

葡萄果肉细胞脱落酸的区隔化

以处于不同发育时期的红富士葡萄 (VitisviniferaL .×VitislabruscaL .)果实为试材 ,采用胶体金免疫电镜定位技术对果肉细胞脱落酸 (ABA)的区隔化及其动态进行了研究。结果表明 :在果实发育前期 ,ABA主要存在于细胞核和胞质溶胶中 ;随着果实的进一步发育成熟 ,ABA转为主要分布在叶绿体和细胞核中。与处于第Ⅰ期、始熟期以及第Ⅲ期果实的果肉细胞ABA含量相比 ,处于第Ⅱ期的前期果实的果肉细胞ABA含量最低。这些事实说明在果实发育成熟的任一时期 ,果肉细胞ABA均呈区隔化分布 ,其在不同区隔之间的浓度差异随着果实的发育成熟而发生变化 ,即发生了再分配     

Osmotic Stress and Ion-Specific Effects on Xylem Abscisic Acid and the Relevance to Salinity Tolerance in Poplar

We designed two experiments to investigate the osmotic stress and ion-specific effects on xylem abscisic acid (ABA) and the relevance to salinity tolerance in one-year-old seedlings of Populus euphratica Oliv. (a salt-resistant genotype) and one-year-old rooted cuttings of P. 'popularis 35-44' (P. popularis) (a salt-sensitive genotype). Net photosynthetic rates (Pn) and unit transpiration rates (TRN) of the two genotypes were significantly decreased upon osmotic shock caused by PEG 6000 (osmotic potential = -0.24 MPa) or iso-NaCl (50 mM). Shoot xylem ABA concentrations in both genotypes increased rapidly after the onset of PEG stress, resulting from a decreased water flow. NaCl-treated trees of P. euphratica maintained considerably greater concentrations of ABA than PEG-treated plants in a longer term, whereas salinized P. popularis exhibited a transient accumulation of ABA in the shoot. TRN was greatly enhanced in both genotypes when pressure (0.24 MPa) was applied to counteract the osmotic suction of 50 mM NaCl. Pressurizing of root systems diluted solutes in the root xylem, but the dilution effect was more pronounced in P. popularis. Root xylem ABA concentrations in P. euphratica steadily increased with salt stress although pressurization lowered its levels. In contrast, there were no observed changes in ABA response to salinity in pressured P. popularis. Therefore, we concluded that the salt-tolerant P. euphratica had a greater capacity to synthesize ABA under saline conditions, which may partially result from specific salt effects. In addition, P. euphratica exhibited a higher capacity for salt (Na+ and Cl-) transport control under salt stress, compared with P. popularis. The possible association between ABA and salt transport limitation, and the relevance to salinity tolerance were discussed.     

Osmotic Stress and Ion-Specific Effects on Xylem Abscisic Acid and the Relevance to Salinity Tolerance in Poplar

We designed two experiments to investigate the osmotic stress and ion-specific effects on xylem abscisic acid (ABA) and the relevance to salinity tolerance in one-year-old seedlings of Populus euphratica Oliv. (a salt-resistant genotype) and one-year-old rooted cuttings of P. 'popularis 35-44' (P. popularis) (a salt-sensitive genotype). Net photosynthetic rates (Pn) and unit transpiration rates (TRN) of the two genotypes were significantly decreased upon osmotic shock caused by PEG 6000 (osmotic potential = -0.24 MPa) or iso-NaCl (50 mM). Shoot xylem ABA concentrations in both genotypes increased rapidly after the onset of PEG stress, resulting from a decreased water flow. NaCl-treated trees of P. euphratica maintained considerably greater concentrations of ABA than PEG-treated plants in a longer term, whereas salinized P. popularis exhibited a transient accumulation of ABA in the shoot. TRN was greatly enhanced in both genotypes when pressure (0.24 MPa) was applied to counteract the osmotic suction of 50 mM NaCl. Pressurizing of root systems diluted solutes in the root xylem, but the dilution effect was more pronounced in P. popularis. Root xylem ABA concentrations in P. euphratica steadily increased with salt stress although pressurization lowered its levels. In contrast, there were no observed changes in ABA response to salinity in pressured P. popularis. Therefore, we concluded that the salt-tolerant P. euphratica had a greater capacity to synthesize ABA under saline conditions, which may partially result from specific salt effects. In addition, P. euphratica exhibited a higher capacity for salt (Na+ and Cl-) transport control under salt stress, compared with P. popularis. The possible association between ABA and salt transport limitation, and the relevance to salinity tolerance were discussed.