Polyamines and meristematic activity in Zea mays roots

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA)

OSTI ID:6611117

Schwartz, M; Arzee, T; Cohen, Y ^[1]; Altman, A ^[2]

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1. Tel-Aviv Univ. (Israel)
2. Hebrew Univ., Rehovot (Israel)

Polyamine content and biosynthesis were determined in conjunction with meristematic activity and growth of Zea mays roots. Three types of developmental events were investigated: growth of intact primary roots, formation of lateral root primordia following main root decapitation, and activity of the quiescent center following root cap excision. A low ratio of putrescine/spermidine cotents was found to be salient feature of regions with high meristematic activity, in all 3 experimental systems. Arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activities increased concomitantly with lateral root primordia development and activation of the quiescent center. An increase in the incorporation of arginine and ornithine into spermidine was found in meristematic zones. L-canavanine inhibited primary root elongation and formation of lateral primordia as well as ADC and ODC activity. Similar inhibitory effects were found with MGBG and CHA, both inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis. A parallel study of ODC localization and DNA synthesis (using {alpha}-{sup 14}C-DFMO and {sup 3}H-thymidine microautoradiography, respectively) revealed than root zones with high meristematic activity are characterized by high ODC activity.

• OSTI ID: 6611117
• Journal Information: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA), Journal Name: Plant Physiology, Supplement; (USA) Vol. 89:4; ISSN PPYSA; ISSN 0079-2241
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMINES
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BIOSYNTHESIS
BODY
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON-CARBON LYASES
CARBOXY-LYASES
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CEREALS
DECARBOXYLASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
GRASS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LILIOPSIDA
LYASES
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAIZE
MERISTEMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANT TISSUES
PLANTS
ROOTS
SYNTHESIS
TISSUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS