Purification and Properties of Cytokinin-Binding Proteins from Tobacco Leaves

A cytokinin-binding protein complex was purified 700-fold fromleaves of tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris). The purification procedureconsisted of four chromatographic steps on columns of DEAE-cellulose,Mono Q, Phenyl Superose and Superose 12, respectively. The purifiedcytokinin-binding protein complex behaved as a 130-kDa globularprotein on gel filtration. This complex contains two proteinspecies whose molecular masses are estimated to be 57 kDa and36 kDa. Binding to benzyl8-¹⁴C]adenine was inhibited by adenine,ATP, zeatin and cAMP but not by indoleacetic acid. Scatchardanalysis indicated the existence of at least two cytokinin-bindingsites in the purified complex. The dissociation constant forthe high-affinity site was 2.1 10^-5 M. (Received October 19, 1992; Accepted February 27, 1993)