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Methionine metabolism and ethylene formation in etiolated pea stem sections

Journal Article · · Plant Physiol.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.63.4.639· OSTI ID:5504200

Stem sections of etiolated pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) were incubated overnight on tracer amounts of L-(U-/sup 14/C)methionine and, on the following morning, on 0.1 millimolar indoleacetic acid to induce ethylene formation. Following the overnight incubation, over 70% of the radioactivity in the soluble fraction was shown to be associated with S-methylmethionine (SMM). The specific radioactivity of the ethylene evolved closely paralleled that of carbon atoms 3 and 4 of methionine extracted from the tissue and was always higher than that determined for carbon atoms 3 and 4 of extracted SMM. Overnight incubation of pea stem sections on 1 millimolar methionine enhanced indoleacetic acid-induced ethylene formation by 5 to 10%. Under the same conditions, 1 millimolar homocysteine thiolactone increased ethylene synthesis by 20 to 25%, while SMM within a concentration range of 0.1 to 10 millimolar did not influence ethylene production. When unlabeled methionine or homocysteine thiolactone was applied to stem sections which had been incubated overnight in L-(U-/sup 14/C)methionine, the specific radioactivity of the ethylene evolved was considerably lowered. Application of unlabeled SMM reduced the specific radioactivity of ethylene only slightly.

Research Organization:
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-02-1338
OSTI ID:
5504200
Journal Information:
Plant Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 63:4; ISSN PLPHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English