Inhibition of plasma membrane redox activities and elongation growth of soybean

NADH-ferricyanide oxido-reductase (EC 1,6,99,3) of purified plasma membrane vesicles isolated by aqueous two-phase partition from segments of etiolated soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Williams] hypocotyls was used as a measure of plasma membrane redox activity. Elongation growth of hypocotyl segments floated on the solutions was determined in parallel. Cis -platinum (II) diammine dichloride ( cis -platin), adriamycin and p -nitrophenylacetate, agents known to inhibit cell proliferation and plasma membrane redox activities in mammalian cells inhibited both NADH-ferricyanide oxido-reductase of the isolated membrane vesicles and elongation growth of intact hypocotyl segments. Auxin(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid)-induced growth of the isolated segments was inhibited preferentially at drug concentrations where control growth was affected only slightly. The findings suggest a connection between plasma membrane redox reactions and the control of elongation growth in plants.