The ACC Synthase Genes and Polypeptides

自本世纪初以来，乙烯已被植物用作调节各种发育过程和胁迫反应的信号分子，包括种子萌发，叶和花衰老，果实成熟，细胞伸长，结瘤和伤口以及病原体反应。近年来，乙烯反应的多样性和特异性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， ACC是乙烯和甲基硫代腺苷的前体。本课题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。它的合成受到多种诱导剂的调控。清楚地描述合成过程中所涉及的多肽将具有基础和实际的重要性。

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.