EXTRA MATERIAL FROM CHAPTER 31

Plant Hormones: Animal Hormones:

- small organic molecules - peptides, proteins, small molecules
- synthesized throughout the plant - synthesizes in specialized glands/cells
- acts local or distant - acts distant; transported
- diverse effects - often specific effects
- decentralized regulation - regulated by central nervous system


Chemistry of Auxin:
- pKa= - logKa
- auxin pKa=4.75, meaning this is the pH at which half of the acid is turned into conjugate
base. At ph> 4.75, H+ will begin to dissociate more readily from the hydroxyl group. At pH <
4.75, the hydroxyl group will keep H+ due to higher H+ concentration
- auxin is ionized within apical cells at pH 7, it is transported out at the basal end through
auxin transport protein
- once in the extracellular space, auxin becomes protonated and neutral at pH 5
- low extracellular pH activates expansins, enzymes that cleave cross-linking
polysaccharides in the cell wall

Gibberellins:
- plant seeds absorb water by osmosis beginning germination
- with the swelling caused by water, GA is released by the embryonic plant
- from the embryo GA diffuses to the aleurone layer
- once a-amylase is synthesized, starch in the seed is hydrolyzed to maltose, then to glucose,
and embryo ATP synthesis increases
- when GA concentrations is very low, DELLA proteins inhibit gene expression by binding a
transcription factor for the Myb promoter
- as GA concentration rises, GA binds to a receptor called GlD1
- the GA-GlD1 complex then binds to DELLA and promotes its ubiquitinylation and
hydrolysis by proteolytic enzymes in the proteasome.
- in the absence of inhibition of transcription factors by DELLA protein, Myb transcription
occurs, and Myb is a transcription factor for a-amylase mRNA
MAJOR THEME: removing inhibitions or inhibiting an inhibitor

Gibberellins REVIEW:
1. With the swelling caused by water, GA is released by the embryonic plant. From the
embryo GA diffuses to the aleurone layer
2. When GA concentration is very low, DELLA proteins inhibit gene expression by
binding a transcription factor for the Myb promoter, but as GA concentration rises
3. GA binds to a receptor called GlD1
4. The GA-GlD1 complex then binds to DELLA and
5. Promotes its ubiquitinylation and hydrolysis by proteolytic enzymes in the
proteasome. In the absence of inhibition of transcription factors by DELLA protein
6. Myb transcription occurs, and Myb is a transcription factor for a-amylase mRNA




Ethylene:
- ethylene is synthesized from the amino acid L-methionine
- its synthesis is activated by several environmental stresses as well as fruit ripening
- ethylene activates a signaling cascade involving ethylene-response genes, which are
regulated by the transcription factor EIN3, ethylene causes rapid increase in EIN3
- the mechanism is through an inhibitory pathway
- EIN3 is synthesized and degraded, ethylene blocks the degradation pathway, allowing
EIN3 to accumulate
- if the ASK1 kinase is mutated, EIN3 uniquitinylation doesnt occur, and ElN3
concentration accumulates
- ethylene must normally inhibit the activity of this kinase

Phytochromes:
- phytochromes are proteins with an S-linked pigment, the chromophore, that absorbs
light in the red and far-red regions of the light spectrum
- the light that is not absorbed is reflected, giving them blue/green color
- functional phytochromes have 2 identical proteins, each with a chromophore and each
with a kinase activity either off or on