Comparative quantitation of abscisic acid in plant extracts by gas-liquid chromatography and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the avidin-biotin system

A Rapid and Simplified Method to Isolate Specific Regulators Based on Biotin-Avidin Binding Affinities in Crops

Transcription factors (TFs) are indispensable components of transcriptional regulatory pathways involved in crop growth and development. Herein, we developed a new method for the identification of upstream TFs specific to genes in crops based on the binding affinities of biotin and avidin. First, we constructed and verified the new biotin and avidin system (BAS) by a coprecipitation assay. Subsequently, the feasibility of DNA-based BAS (DBAS) was further proved by in vivo and in vitro assays. Furthermore, we cloned the promoter of rice OsNRT1.1B and the possible regulators were screened and identified. Additionally, partial candidates were validated by the electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA), yeast one-hybrid, and luciferase activity assays. Remarkably, the results showed that the candidates PIP3 and PIP19 both responded to nitrate immediately and overexpression of PIP3 caused retard growth, which indicates that the candidates are functional and the new DBAS method is useful to isolate regulators in crops.

Physiological and biochemical responses and microscopic structure changes of Populus tomentosa Carr seedlings to 4-BDE exposure

Populus species are very effective in remediation of contaminants. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are commonly used as flame retardants and are known to be persistent environmental pollutants. Numerous studies have shown that PBDEs are rising in human tissues and biota. 4-Monobrominated diphenyl ether (4-BDE), one of the less brominated PBDEs, was served as a model compound for biodegradation of lower brominated congeners. The present study was designed to clarify the effects of 4-BDE stress on morphological, physiological, and biochemical impacts of Populus tomentosa Carr in a tissue culture condition. Different concentrations of 4-BDE (3 and 30 mg L(-1)) were supplied alone or together with 0.5 mg L(-1) IBA in tissue culture media. With the concentration increased, 4-BDE caused negative effects on the microscopic structure of roots, stem, and leaves. The leaf color became shallow in low concentration of 4-BDE treatments and appeared albinism with 4-BDE concentration increased. The chlorophyll content and the leaf mass per area of albino leaves reduced significantly. 4-BDE also caused positive effects on the adventitious root differentiation and the biomass below 30 mg L(-1). With the 4-BDE treatment time increased (23, 47, and 58 days), the peroxidase (POD) activity displayed the decreasing trend. The proline content decreased first and then increased. Exposure to 4-BDE induced the malondialdehyde (MDA) to increase in leaves. Application of 4-BDE affected the endogenous hormone levels of cuttings in their adventitious roots inducing media. Below 0.3 mg L(-1), 4-BDE caused the faint expression of auxin-sensitive DR5::GUS reporter gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. Additionally, P. tomentosa Carr exhibited the better tolerance against 4-BDE in the range of less than 30 mg L(-1).

Immunocytochemical location of endogenous cytokinins in buds of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) during the first hours of in vitro culture

Post-embedding immunocytochemical techniques using peroxidase-antiperoxidase as markers for light microscopy or immunoglobulin G-gold for electron microscopy respectively were used for the localization of cytokinins [9-beta-D-ribofuranosil-N6-(delta2-isopentenil) adenina ([9R]iP), 9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-zeatin ([9R]Z) and 9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-dihydrozeatin ([9R](diH)Z)] in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) meristematic cells of the second nodal segment. Immunolocation at the cellular level was carried out in cells from explants grown during 16 and 72 h in liquid medium. Subcellular immunolocalization was performed in cells from explants grown for 35 d on agar solidified-medium and for 30 min, 4 and 16 h in liquid medium with cellulose plugs as explant support. Taken as a whole, the results obtained for Actinidia deliciosa show that the studied cytokinins change their location during the culture period, although they can always be found to a greater or lesser extent in the nucleus and the cytoplasm. For instance, [9R]Z appears in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus during the first hours of culture and later is the only one that appears located mainly in nucleus. On the other hand, [9R](diH)Z changes from being predominantly located in the nucleus to practically appearing only in the cytoplasm at the end of the culture period. [9R]iP is principally found up to 4 h of culture in the cytoplasm, and at 16 h is evenly distributed in all the subcellular compartments except in the chloroplast. The existence of a large amount of cytokinins in the nucleus during the first hours of culture compared with the immunolabelling density at 35 d is probably due to the activation of cell cycle mechanisms leading to organogenic development at the beginning of culture.

A monoclonal antibody against the plant growth regulator, abscisic acid

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared against the plant growth regulator abscisic acid (ABA) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin through C-4. One of these antibodies was characterized for use in a competition fluorescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (F-ELISA). The antibody detected femtomole quantities of ABA when used in the F-ELISA and showed minimal cross-reactivity with ABA metabolites and structural analogs. Dilution analysis suggested that the F-ELISA could be used to determine the ABA content of methanolic extracts of crude samples of wheat seeds without further purification. The F-ELISA was used to determine the effect of seed priming on ABA levels in wheat seeds. The antibody also was used in a modified noncompetitive indirect ELISA to measure ABA content of wheat caryopses. The noncompetitive ELISA was more sensitive than the F-ELISA, although the F-ELISA had a broader measuring range. When our anti-ABA antibody and a commercially available anti-ABA antibody were compared by indirect ELISA, there were no significant differences between the ABA estimates.

Immunocytochemical localization of cytokinins in Craigella tomato and a sideshootless mutant

Post-embedding immunocytochemical techniques using peroxidase-antiperoxidase or immunoglobulin G-gold as markers were used for the localization of cytokinins (CKs) in two isogenic lines, Craigella (C) and Craigella lateral suppressor (Cls), of tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Terminal buds, nodes, hypocotyl segments and root tips were submitted to a periodate-borohydride procedure, to obtain the coupling of isopentenyladeosine and zeatin riboside to cellular proteins, followed by a fixative step with a paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde mixture. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests performed on ovalbumin-coated microtitration plates have shown that this method was effective for CK riboside and base coupling to proteins. Paraffin-wax- or Spurr's-resin-embedded sections were cleared of wax or resin before incubation with anti-zeatin riboside or anti-isopentenyladenosine antibodies. The procedure was thoroughly investigated and many controls were done in order to eliminate artefacts. The immunostaining patterns observed along the plants showed a basipetally decreasing gradient of CKs along the stem and in the roots. Immunolabelling was higher in the actively growing regions of the stem bud and root apices. Terminal buds of Cls appeared to be less immunoreactive than C, whereas no differences were detected in root-tip immunolabelling. The staining patterns are consistent with the idea that root and bud apices have a different CK metabolism. The absence of axillary bud formation in Cls is correlated with low CK levels in the organogensis sites.

Immunoelectron-microscopy localization of abscisic acid with colloidal gold on Lowicryl-embedded tissues of Chnopodium polyspermum L

Further study on the localization of abscisic acid (ABA) has been undertaken at the ultrastructural level in Chenopodium polyspermum L. Axillary-bud-bearing nodes on the main axis were fixed with soluble 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3 ethyl carbodiimide, then postfixed with paraformaldehyde and embedded in Lowicryl K4M at-20° C. Ultrathin sections mounted on grids were successively incubated with rabbit anti-ABA antibodies and with gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit anti-bodies (40 nm particle size). Control sections treated with preimmune rabbit serum and ABA-preabsorbed antibodies were devoid of label. The background staining was very low with this technique. Quantitative analysis of the immunolabelling showed that two main sites of ABA accumulation could be defined: first, plastids in cortical cells and vascular parenchyma cells associated with sieve elements and xylem vessels; second, the cell cytoplasm and nucleus in the axillary bud tip and in procambial strands. In vascular bundles, the cambial cells showed no immunoreactivity. These observations support the hypothesis for the cytoplasmic synthesis of ABA which is subsequently trapped in plastids as cells mature.