The ACC Synthase Genes and Polypeptides

自本世纪初以来，乙烯一直被植物作为一种信号分子来调节各种发育过程和逆境反应，包括种子萌发、叶片和花的衰老、果实成熟、细胞伸长、结瘤以及伤口和病原菌反应。在过去的几年里，乙烯反应的多样性和特异性已经变得明显地反映在其生物合成和感知的复杂性上。1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)合成酶将S-腺苷蛋氨酸转化为ACC(乙烯的前体)和甲硫腺苷。该方案的具体目的是启动和研究拟南芥ACC多肽的生化特性，并通过RNA杂交分析或微阵列技术来表征其表达模式。乙烯是一种独特的植物信号分子。它的合成受到一系列不同诱导剂的调控。显然，对合成过程中涉及的多肽进行表征将具有基础性和实际意义。

Ethylene has been known since the beginning of the century to be used by plants as a signaling molecule for regulating a variety of developmental processes and stress responses, including seed germination, leaf and flower senescence, fruit ripening, cell elongation, nodulation and wound and pathogen responses. In the last few years, it has become evident that the diversity and specificity of the ethylene responses are reflected in the complexity of its biosynthesis and perception. The enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic(ACC) synthase converts S-adenosylmethionine to ACC, the precursor of ethylene, and methylthioadenosine. The specific aims of this proposal are to initiate and study the biochemical characterization of the Arabidopsis ACC polypeptides and characterize their expression patterns by RNA hybridization analysis or microarray technology.Ethylene is a unique plant signaling molecule. Its synthesis is regulated by a diverse array of inducers. Clearly characterization of the polypeptides involved in that synthesis will have both fundamental and practical importance.