Plasma membrane phospholipid and sterol synthesis in soybean hypocotyl segments undergoing auxin-induced elongation

Summary Auxin-induced cell elongation necessitates plasma membrane enlargement. The effect of auxin (10 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) treatment on amount, composition, and rate of synthesis of plasma membrane lipids was examined. Auxin-treated and control soybean (Glycine max L.) hypocotyl segments were incubated with [¹⁴C]acetate for times ranging from 0.5 to 18 h, prior to isolation of plasma membrane by aqueous two-phase partitioning. The composition of individual plasma membrane lipids in elongating segments did not differ from the composition in treatment time-matched control segments, except that after longer auxin treatments, phospholipids had more unsaturated fatty acids. Plasma membrane phospholipid and free sterol content both increased in elongating segments. The relative proportion of sterols and phospholipids in the plasma membrane primarily depended on time after segment excision, for both auxin-treated and control segments. Auxin enhanced the rate of lipid incorporation into the plasma membrane by 6 h, and stimulated the synthesis of some phospholipids and sterols.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - ER endoplasmic reticulum - GC gas chromatography - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - PA phosphatidic acid - PC phosphatidylcholine - PE phosphatidylethanolamine - PG phosphatidylglycerol - PI phosphatidylinositol - PM plasma membrane - PS phosphatidylserine