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Ethylene & Brassinosteroids
Ethylene & Brassinosteroids
• Unlike the previous hormones, this is a gaseous hormone. It is very simple: C2H4. By definition,
we said that hormones are synthesized in one place and transported to another place.
However, this hormone acts on the cells where it is produced. It is transported by simple
diffusion (no need for the mechanism of transport). Almost all plant cells can produce it.
Usually, you find the concentration is highest in senescing tissues of leaves and fruits...
It is sometimes called the fruit ripening hormone.
The concentration of the hormone could be around 1 nl/g of fresh weigh//hr. à it acts at a
very low concentration.
• Synthesis:
- The precursor for this hormone is the amino acid methionine (sulfur containing amino
acid).
- The first step involves the reaction between ATP and methionine à S-Adenosyl
methionine is produced (first intermediate). The adenosine part = adenine and ribose is
added to the Sulfur group. S-Adenosyl Methionine = SAM. What is left is Pi and PPi.
The enzyme that is needed is called S-Adenosyl Methionine Synthetase (SAM
synthetase).
- In the next step, an enzyme called ACC synthase will form the compound 1-
Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) (this is the immediate precursor of ethylene).
The remaining part will be 5-Methylthioadenosine which will undergo several reactions
in a cyclic form called Yang cycle to be used in the regeneration of methionine. We’re not
responsible for Yang cycle.
• Inhibitors of ethylene:
There are many inhibitors for ethylene, some inhibit it by binding to the receptors, ex: 1-
Methylcyclopropene (mainly), trans-Cyclooctene, and cis-Cyclooctene.
- If you take unripe fruits, or if you slow the production for ethylene conditions, fruits will
not ripen. And vice versa. This led to the conclusion that ethylene is an important
hormone in the ripening process in most plants. Most of the fruits show climacteric rise,
ex: apple, avocado, banana, figs… (apples and banana produce a lot of ethylene).
Some nonclimacteric fruits are grape, pineapple…
- This ripening process is an active process that includes several biochemical changes:
~ Hydrolysis of stored materials: hence sugars are produced and the fruit becomes
sweeter.
~ Softening of the fruit: pectins in the cell wall will be hydrolyzed à The tissue of the
fruit becomes softer.
~ Changes in pigmentation as the chlorophyll is destroyed (green àred or yellow).
~ Increase in respiration rate
~ Change in flavor compounds.
To do these biochemical changes, we need enzymes, and this is why ripening is
accompanied by the production of new enzymes that were not present earlier: de novo.
So this is an active process. One of the enzymes produced is polygalactouronase that acts
on pectins. Another is cellulase. These are produced due to the action of ethylene.
- How can you prove that these enzymes are synthesized newly?
If we want to synthesize new enzymes, we need mRNA à proteins.
So we use inhibitors of protein synthesis or RNA synthesis at early climacteric stage.
Inhibitor of protein synthesis: cyclohexamide, puromicine.
Inhibitor of RNA synthesis: azaguanine (guanine analog).
2) Leaf Abscission:
Auxin stimulates the production of ethylene at the abscission zone. The level of this
hormone, like many other hormones, is largely affected by the developmental stage of
the plant. Leaf abscission occurs towards the end of the life of the plant, or early in the
life cycle, and so on.
IAA will promote the synthesis of ACC synthase à ethylene production à activation of
cellulase à leaf abscission (2 cells are cemented together by cellulose / main component
of cell wall).
3) Epinasty:
Epinasty is the downward movement of the leaf. IAA stimulates the production of
ethylene, and ethylene is the hormone responsible directly for this effect.
4) Healing wounds:
Ethylene will heal the wounds of the plant because it controls the synthesis of certain
enzymes like PAL (Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase).
PAL leads to the production of phenolic compounds which are involved in wound healing.
5) Flowering:
Though usually ethylene plays inhibitory roles, it might stimulate flowering, example: in
pineapples and mangos.
But in general, it is known to inhibit flowering.
• Inhibition of Ethylene:
- CO2 is a potent inhibitor of ethylene. It is a competitive inhibitor (antagonist) for ethylene.
5-10% of CO2 can inhibit ethylene effects.
To prevent ripening of fruits, you can store fruits in air-tight room which has very high
concentration of CO2 (5-10%) and a very low concentration of O2 (1-3%) and no ethylene.
Then you can monitor the production of ethylene by fruits themselves.
- Silver ions are very potent inhibitors of ethylene. They are applied as silver nitrate AgNO3.
- Ethylene itself can be oxidized with many products: among the products are ethylene
glycol, ethylene oxide, as well as CO2 when it is completely oxidized.
Brassinosteroids
• They were discovered in the pollen grains of a plant called Brassica napus (the rape plant).
This plant is a very common plant, and its oil is very important oil (Canola oil) which contains
lots of unsaturated fat. The rape plant seeds are the major source of the oil. It is a very nice
plant. When you grow the seeds, it will rape all the fields around it.
• This hormone usually promotes growth, synergetic effect to most other hormones. It plays a
role in elongation, and can overcome dwarfism like GA.
• Growth regulators are not restricted to these 6 major classes, but u have other compounds
that can act like hormones.