Resolving binding pathways and solvation thermodynamics of plant hormone receptors

Plant hormones are small molecules that regulate plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. They are specifically recognized by the binding site of their receptors. In this work, we resolved the binding pathways for eight classes of phytohormones (auxin, jasmonate, gibberellin, strigolactone, brassinosteroid, cytokinin, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid) to their canonical receptors using extensive molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, we investigated the role of water displacement and reorganization at the binding site of the plant receptors through inhomogeneous solvation theory. Our findings predict that displacement of water molecules by phytohormones contributes to free energy of binding via entropy gain and is associated with significant free energy barriers for most systems analyzed. Also, our results indicate that displacement of unfavorable water molecules in the binding site can be exploited in rational agrochemical design. Overall, this study uncovers the mechanism of ligand binding and the role of water molecules in plant hormone perception, which creates new avenues for agrochemical design to target plant growth and development.

Different Roles of Auxins in Somatic Embryogenesis Efficiency in Two Picea Species

The effects of auxins 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) or picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid; 9 µM) and cytokinin BA (benzyloadenine; 4.5 µM) applied in the early stages of somatic embryogenesis (SE) on specific stages of SE in Picea abies and P. omorika were investigated. The highest SE initiation frequency was obtained after 2,4-D application in P. omorika (22.00%) and picloram application in P. abies (10.48%). NAA treatment significantly promoted embryogenic tissue (ET) proliferation in P. abies, while 2,4-D treatment reduced it. This reduction was related to the oxidative stress level, which was lower with the presence of NAA in the proliferation medium and higher with the presence of 2,4-D. The reduced oxidative stress level after NAA treatment suggests that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) acts as a signalling molecule and promotes ET proliferation. NAA and picloram in the proliferation medium decreased the further production and maturation of P. omorika somatic embryos compared with that under 2,4-D. The quality of the germinated P. abies embryos and their development into plantlets depended on the auxin type and were the highest in NAA-originated embryos. These results show that different auxin types can generate different physiological responses in plant materials during SE in both spruce species.

Isolation and Purification of Potent Growth Inhibitors from Piper methysticum Root

Piper methysticum (kava) root is known to possess promising weed suppressing activity. The present study was conducted to search for potent plant growth inhibitors from the root of this medicinal pepper plant. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract exhibited the strongest reduction on growth of Raphanus sativus (radish) (IC₅₀ shoot and root growth = 172.00 and 51.31 µg/mL respectively) among solvent extracts. From this active extract, nine potent growth inhibitors involved in the inhibitory activities of P. methysticum root were isolated, purified and characterized by column chromatography (CC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The six fractions purified by CC included two flavanones: 5-hydroxy-4′,7-dimethoxyflavanone (C1) and 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavanone (matteucinol, C2) and six kavalactones: 5,6-dehydro-kavain (C3), a mixture of kavain and yagonin (C4), yagonin (C5) and dihydro-5,6-dehydrokavain, 7,8-dihydrokavain, dihydromethysticin and methysticin (C6). The amounts of 5-hydroxy-4′,7-dimethoxyflavanone, matteucinol, 5,6-dehydrokavain and yangonin were 0.76, 2.50, 2.75 and 2.09 mg/g dry weight (DW), respectively. The two flavanones C1 and C2 exhibited the strongest inhibition on shoot elongation (IC₅₀ = 120.22 and 248.03 µg/mL, respectively), whilst the two kavalactone mixtures C4 and C6 showed the highest suppression on root growth of R. sativus (IC₅₀ = 7.70 and 15.67 µg/mL, respectively). This study was the first to report the purification and inhibitory activities of the two flavanones 5-hydroxy-4′,7-dimethoxyflavanone and matteucinol in P. methysticum root. The isolated constituents from P. methysticum root including the flavanones C1 and C2 and the mixtures C4 and C6 may possess distinct modes of action on plant growth. Findings of this study highlighted that the combinations of hexane-ethyl acetate by 9:1 and 8:2 ratios successfully purified flavanones and kavalactones in P. methysticum root.

[Effects of plant growth regulators on cutting propagation of Rosa laevigata]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the optimal plant growth regulator and its suitable concentration for the cutting propagation of Rosa laevigata.

METHODS

The cuttings were dealt with 6 kinds of plant growth regulators (IAA,IBA, NAA, PP333, 2, 4-D and ABT) at different concentrations (100, 200 and 500 mg/L) for 50 seconds. After 30 days growth, by analysis of variance and multiple comparisons,the most suitable cutting propagation method for Rosa laevigata was found.

RESULTS

Under the same condition, different concentration of different kinds of plant growth regulators had different effects on cutting propagation of Rosa laevigata. Generally speaking,cuttings soaked with 200 mg/L PP333 for 50 seconds was the best,with the high multiple effectiveness index and average root number (12.42); Cuttings soaked with 200 mg/L IBA for 50 seconds also had significant effects, with the second high multiple effectiveness index and the highest survival rate (96.67%).

CONCLUSION

200 mg/L PP333 can promote cutting propagation of Rosa laevigata best.

Multiresidue analysis of multiclass plant growth regulators in grapes by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A selective and rapid multiresidue analysis method is presented for simultaneous estimation of 12 plant growth regulators (PGRs), namely, auxins (indol-3-acetic acid, indol-3-butyric acid, and naphthyl acetic acid), cytokinins (kinetin, zeatin, and 6-benzyladenine), gibberellic acid (GA3), abscisic acid, and synthetic compounds, namely, forchlorfenuron, paclobutrazole, isoprothiolane, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in bud sprouts and grape berries at the development stages of 2-3 and 6-8 mm diameters, which are the critical phases when exogenous application of PGRs may be necessary to achieve desired grape quality and yield. The sample preparation method involved extraction of plant material with acidified methanol (50%) by homogenization for 2 min at 15000 rpm. The pH of the extract was enhanced up to 6 by adding ammonium acetate, followed by homogenization and centrifugation. The supernatant extract was cleaned by SPE on an Oasis HLB cartridge (200 mg, 6 cc). The final extract was measured directly by LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization in positive mode, except for 2,4-D, GA3, and abscisic acid extracts, which required analysis in negative mode. Quantification by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was supported with full-scan mass spectrometric confirmation using "information-dependent acquisition" triggered with MRM to "enhanced product ionization" mode of the hybrid quadrupole-ion trap mass analyzer. The LOQ of the test analytes varied between 1 and 10 ng/g with associated recoveries of 80-120% and precision RSD <25% (n = 8). Significant matrix-induced signal suppression was recorded when the responses for pre- and postextraction spikes of analytes were compared; this could be resolved by using matrix-matched calibration standards. The method could successfully be applied in analyzing incurred residue samples and would, therefore, be useful in precisely deciding the necessity and dose of exogenous applications of PGRs on the basis of measured endogenous levels.

[Strigolactones, a novel class of plant hormones controlling branching]

Plant architecture is a major trait for plant survival and plant fitness and has a huge influence on the agronomical value for most crops. The classical theory of apical dominance based on decapitation experiments suggested that two major plant hormones, auxin and cytokinins, were acting antagonistically on bud outgrowth to promote or repress branching. However this theory was challenged in the late 1930's by Snow who suggested the existence of a second messenger to auxin, as auxin was not acting directly to repress branching. The use of branching mutants in pea, Arabidopsis and rice led to the discovery of a new carotenoid-derived signal repressing branching. Genes involved in synthesis (RMS1, RMS5) as well as in response (RMS4) to this new signal have been identified and have given rise to a new model of the branching control. Two independent group have recently shown, one on pea, the other on rice, that strigolactones correspond to this novel signal which represses branching and to the secondary messenger in the theory of apical dominance. Strigolactones have been first identified for their role in germination of parasitic plants like Striga or Orobanche. They also play a critical role in the widespread association between 80% of plants and fungi, the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, as they are necessary for interaction between certain plants and fungi in the rhizosphere.

A method for profiling classes of plant hormones and their metabolites using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: an analysis of hormone regulation of thermodormancy of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds

A highly selective and sensitive method for the simultaneous analysis of several plant hormones and their metabolites is described. The method combines high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with positive and negative electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) to quantify a broad range of chemically and structurally diverse compounds. The addition of deuterium-labeled analogs for these compounds prior to sample extraction permits accurate quantification by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Endogenous levels of abscisic acid (ABA), abscisic acid glucose ester (ABA-GE), 7'-hydroxy-abscisic acid (7'-OH-ABA), phaseic acid (PA), dihydrophaseic acid (DPA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-aspartate (IAAsp), zeatin (Z), zeatin riboside (ZR), isopentenyladenine (2iP), isopentenyladenosine (IPA), and gibberellins (GA)1, GA3, GA4, and GA7 were determined simultaneously in a single run. Detection limits ranged from 0.682 fmol for Z to 1.53 pmol for ABA. The method was applied to the analysis of plant hormones and hormonal metabolites associated with seed dormancy and germination in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids), using extracts from only 50 to 100 mg DW of seed. Thermodormancy was induced by incubating seeds at 33 degrees C instead of 23 degrees C. Germinating seeds transiently accumulated high levels of ABA-GE. In contrast, thermodormant seeds transiently accumulated high levels of DPA after 7 days at 33 degrees C. GA1 and GA3 were detected during germination, and levels of GA1 increased during early post-germinative growth. After several days of incubation, thermodormant seeds exhibited a striking transient accumulation of IAA, which did not occur in seeds germinating at 23 degrees C. We conclude that hormone metabolism in thermodormant seeds is surprisingly active and is significantly different from that of germinating seeds.

Phosphorelay signal transduction: the emerging family of plant response regulators

Homologs of bacterial two-component signal transduction elements are emerging as key players in eukaryotic signaling systems. The recent identification of a large gene family in Arabidopsis that is similar to two-component response regulators emphasizes the importance of this signaling mechanism in plants. The understanding of the function of these response regulator genes is only rudimentary but the transcriptional induction of a subset by cytokinin suggests a role for some of these regulators in the response to this important plant hormone.

Receptors and signalling components of plant hormones

Recent advances in understanding plant hormonal signalling has resulted in the identification of a variety of signalling components including receptor kinases with homology to the bacterial two component system as well as serine/threonine kinases and protein phosphatases. In addition, the existence of MAP kinase pathways in plants indicates a similar role of these signalling cascades in the relay of exogenous signals into the nucleus as has been disclosed in animal cells. The emerging signalling pathways of the plant hormone abscisic acid and ethylene are presented.