Peroxidases of Papaver somniferum

Extracts of Papaver somniferum that had peroxidase activity were ineffective in catalysing oxidation of reticuline. Two peroxidases were purified from young seedlings and their properties examined. Only one of them was active toward indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).     

Development of auxin autotrophy in Nicotiana tabacum callus cultures

Changes of auxin and ethylene metabolism of Nicotiana tabacum var. Xanthi callus were investigated in relation to auxin-independent growth. During the habituation process, changes occur progressively in hormone metabolism in auxin-heterotrophic tissues: the potential for the destruction of indoleacetic acid (IAA) increases, the IAA level in the cultures rises slightly, and the auxin sensitivity of the callus becomes modified. Preceding the onset of habituation, ethylene production is enhanced although the tissues retain their ability to undergo regeneration.
Gradual changes in auxin metabolism and ethylene production confirm the epigenetic character of the habituation process.     

Inhibition of enzymic oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid by metabolites of the insecticide carbofuran

Metabolites of carbofuran, a carbamate insecticide, inhibit the enzymic oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid. The metabolites differ in stability and effectiveness. 2,2-Dimethyl-7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran represents one type which is broken down in the IAA oxidation reaction; thus the induced inhibition is limited by depletion of the the inhibitor. 2,2-Dimethyl-3-keto-7-hydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran represents the other type which is stable in the reaction; thus the inhibition is persistent. With both types of inhibitors the inhibition is reversible by higher substrate concentrations, but the Lineweaver-Burk plot is curvilinear suggesting the complex nature of competitive inhibition.     

Ethylene from alcohol lamps and natural gas burners: Effects on cotton ovules cultured in vitro

Summary In a transfer hood having positive pressure via flow of filtered air, momentary flaming of flask mouths via an alcohol lamp or natural gas burner introduced variable and often large amounts of ethylene into these culture vessels. Amounts of ethylene introduced depended upon where flask mouths were placed within the flame. Most ethylene diffused out of flasks within 2 hr if adequate fresh air exchange was provided, permitting cotton ovules to respond to hormones in ways reported in previous literature. However, it was concluded that flask-flaming could occasionally account for some variability in hormonal responses of cultured cotton ovules. Specifically, ethylene (assumed to be the most abundant and harmful substance admitted to the flasks via flaming) caused excessive ovular callus formation in combination with GA₃ and decreased the percentage of ovules forming fibers in response to IAA. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation Grant PCM 75-03944.     

Metabolic significance of indoleacetylaspartic acid in developing cotton leaves

The formation of indoleacetylaspartic acid (IAAsp) and its metabolic significance were studied in the developing cotyledons and primary two leaves of cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L. cv. Giza 68, long staple). Levels of indoleacetic acid (IAA), IAAsp, bound IAA and degradation of tryptophan (Trp)-carboxyl-[¹⁴C] by enzyme extracts were estimated from leaf emergence to full expansion. The patterns were also followed in the two cotyledons before and after germination. The results suggest synthesis of IAAsp in response to either active Trp-conversion or hydrolysis of bound IAA. Ester IAA accumulating during leaf expansion, or other bound forms of IAA initially stored in the cotyledons may be the substances hydrolysed. IAAsp appears to be accumulated during phases of low demand and to be exhausted during phases of high demand on IAA. Synthesis and hydrolysis of the conjugate may, therefore, influence the steady state concentration of the hormone during leaf development.     

Rch10启动子引导iaaL基因在转基因烟草中的表达导致花器官发育的变异

来源于丁香假单孢杆菌 ( Pseudomonas syringae subsp.savastanoi)的吲哚乙酰胺赖氨酸酯合成酶基因 ( iaa L )与来自水稻 ( Oryza sativa)的在花器官中具有高水平表达的启动子 ( Rch1 0 )融合后导入烟草( N icotiana tabacum)。在转基因烟草中研究了这种嵌合基因的表达特性 ,并测定了各个器官内源生长素的水平。结果表明 :Rch1 0启动子能引导 iaa L基因在转基因植株的幼嫩花序、花器官及幼嫩果实中表达 ,并导致了各器官内源生长素水平不同程度的降低。转基因植株当代的花序或花器官的发育出现了明显的表型变异 :开花后顶端优势减弱、花序正常发育受阻、果实发育不良等。这些 Rch1 0 - iaa L的转基因植株可为进一步研究 IAA在生殖器官发育中的一些生理作用提供有价值的材料     

猕猴桃Aux/IAA基因家族的鉴定与表达

在猕猴桃全基因组范围内鉴定生长素/吲哚乙酸(Aux/IAA)基因家族,利用生物信息学方法分析其理化性质、结构特征及共线性关系等,并采用实时荧光定量PCR分析Aux/IAA家族基因在不同组织及部分家族成员在外源激素胁迫下的表达模式,为揭示该家族基因在猕猴桃发育过程中的功能奠定基础。结果表明:(1)猕猴桃基因组含有50个Aux/IAA家族基因,编码氨基酸序列介于125~391 aa,蛋白分子量介于14.06~42.48 kD,等电点介于4.33~9.51;Aux/IAA家族基因不均匀的分布于21条不同染色体上,且分布最多的23号染色体上含有11个基因;聚类分析将其分为9个亚族。(2)大部分Aux/IAA家族基因含有4个不同的保守结构域,多数成员均含有Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ结构域,部分基因缺失Ⅰ结构域;基因结构分析表明该家族基因包含1~5个内含子;基因组内序列分析发现该家族基因含有23对重复基因对,包括20对片段重复和3对串联重复;与拟南芥的组间共线性分析发现有36个基因与拟南芥基因存在共线性关系。(3)亚细胞预测显示该家族基因大部分定位于细胞核;启动子顺式作用元件分析发现该家族启动子包含光、激素以及响应生物与非生物胁迫等相关作用元件。(4)实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,Aux/IAA家族基因有组织表达特异性,各成员对外源激素响应的时间和强度不同,绝大多数基因在激素处理的早期下调表达,而AcIAA1a和AcIAA18a相对表达量呈现上调表达,响应模式的差异也说明了Aux/IAA家族各个基因在调控猕猴桃发育过程中功能上的差异性。研究认为,猕猴桃Aux/IAA家族基因具有功能多样性,且存在基因复制现象的基因部分表现出组织表达模式相似性,推测在功能上可能有冗余,在进化过程中该基因可能受到环境胁迫而导致序列的缺失或基因复制。     

A specific enzyme hydrolyzing 6-O(4-O)-indole-3-ylacetyl-β-d-glucose in immature kernels of Zea mays

The purification of 6-O(4-O)-indole-3-ylacetyl-beta-D-glucose (IAGlc) hydrolase from immature kernels of maize (Zea mays) was undertaken to separate this enzyme from 1-O-IAGlc hydrolase and beta-glucosidase. Partially purified 6-O(4-O)-IAGlc hydrolase was found to be the specific enzyme catalyzing hydrolysis of stable esters of IAA and glucose. Among a range of ester conjugates tested as substrates, only 6-O(4-O)-IAA-glucose and IBA-glucose isomers were effectively hydrolyzed. No activity against p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, a synthetic substrate for beta-glucosidase, was detected in the enzyme preparation. The enzyme is probably involved in the regulation of the IAA levels by the target release of free auxin from ester-linked conjugates, its inactive storage forms.