JXB Advance Access originally published online on October 3, 2005
Journal of Experimental Botany 2005 56(421):2935-2948; doi:10.1093/jxb/eri290
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RESEARCH PAPER |
Abscisic acid regulation of heterophylly in Marsilea quadrifolia L.: effects of R-() and S-(+) isomers

1Molecular and Cell Biology Division, Development Center for Biotechnology, 101 Lane 169 Konning Street, Hsichih 22143, Taiwan
2Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, Canada S7N 0W9
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: +886 2 2695 7674. E-mail: lbl{at}mail.dcb.org.tw
The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) induces a developmental switch in the aquatic fern Marsilea quadrifolia, causing the formation of aerial type characteristics, including the elongation of petioles and roots, a change in leaf morphology, the expansion of leaf surface area, and the shortening of the internodes. A number of ABA-responsive heterophylly (ABRH) genes are induced early during the transition. Using optically pure isomers of ABA, it was found that both the natural S-(+)-ABA and the unnatural R-()-ABA are capable of inducing a heterophyllous switch and regulating ABRH gene expression. When dose responses are compared, the unnatural ABA gives stronger morphogenic effects than the natural ABA at the same concentration, it is effective at lower concentrations, and its optimal concentration is also lower compared with the natural ABA. Deuterium-labelled ABA enantiomers were used to trace the fate of applied ABA and to distinguish the applied compound and its metabolites from the endogenous counterparts. In tissues, the supplied (+)-ABA was metabolized principally to dihydrophaseic acid, while the supplied ()-ABA was converted at a slower rate to 7'-hydroxy abscisic acid. Treatment with either enantiomer resulted in increased biosynthesis of ABA, as reflected in the accumulation of endogenous dihydrophaseic acid. Taken together, these results suggest two distinct mechanisms of action for ()-ABA: either ()-ABA is intrinsically active, or its activity is due to the stimulation of ABA biosynthesis.
Key words: Abscisic acid, deuterated analogue, developmental switch, enantiomer, gene regulation, heterophylly, Marsilea quadrifolia, mass spectrometry
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