ABA is a plant hormone involved in processes like seed dormancy and germination, as well as responses to environmental stresses. It was first isolated in 1965 from cotton fruit and given different names before being termed abscisic acid. ABA is a sesquiterpene compound composed of three isoprene residues and a cyclohexane ring. It is synthesized from carotenoids in chloroplasts and transported throughout the plant. ABA signaling involves membrane and cytosolic receptors that regulate ion transport and gene expression changes related to closing stomata and inhibiting growth under drought conditions.
2. HISTORY
AND
DISCOVERY
Liu and Carns (1965) isolated a substance in crystalline form, from mature cotton fruit which
stimulated abscission of deblated cotton petioles and it was called abscisin1
3. Okhuma and calleagues isolated another similar
substance from young cotton fruit and termed at as
abscisin 2.
Eagles and Wareing published a study on extraction of an inhibitor
that accumulated in birch leaves (Betula pubescens), a deciduous
plant) held under short day conditions they termed it as Dormin.
Okuma and colleagues (1955) proposed the
chemical structure of abscisin 2.
Conforth and its colleagues isolated dormin in pure form
from methaonilic extract of sycamore leaves
Later to eliminate the confusion caused by different
names of the same substance the principle scientist
decided to term it as abscissic acid
4. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ABA is a 15-C Sesquiterpene
compound
Composed of three isoprene
residues
Cyclohexane ring with keto, one hydroxyl
group, a side chain with a terminal
carboxylic group
5.
6. The orientation of carboxylic
group at carbon 2 determines
the cis and trans isomers of
ABA
Cis-Abscisic acid (biologically
active)
Trans-Abscisic acid (biologically
inactive) Nearly all the naturally
occurring ABA is in the cis form
7. OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION
ABA is a ubiquitous plant hormone in vascular plants
In bryophytes it has been found in mosses but not in liverworts.
Some fungi synthesize ABA as secondary metabolite A 15-C compound called
lunularic acid has been found in algae and liverworts
ABA is synthesized in all types of cells that contain chloroplasts or other
plastids It occurs predominantly in mature green leaves
ABA has been detected in all major organs or living tissues from root caps to
Apical buds
Phloem sap, xylem sap and in nectar
8. ABA TRANSPORT IN PLANT
Externally applied ABA-distributed in all directions
Cell to cell transport is slow
ABA synthesized in root cap transported to central vascular tissue
Transported mostly in its free form
Transported in a conjugated form as ABA-B-D-glucosyl ester
Redistribution of ABA-pH gradient
At low pH protonated or un-dissociated form (ABAH)
At high pH dissociated form ABA
9.
10. Initial stages occur in the plastids, where
isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) is converted
to the Cao Xanthophyll – zeaxanthin.
Zeaxanthin is further modified to 9-cis neoxanthin,
which is cleaved by the enzyme NCED (9-cis
epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase) to form the C15
inhibitor, xanthoxal (previously called xanthoxin).
Xanthoxal is finally converted to ABA in the
cytosol via two oxidation steps catalysed by
the enzymes aldehyde oxidases involving
xanthoxic acid as intermediates.
The enzymes aldehyde
oxidases require Mo as
cofactor
13. Blue light stimulates hydrogen ion and ATP Proton pump providing the membrane potential
needed for guard cell to import potassium ion and sugar as a result water enter by Osmosis by
aquaporin channel the water soil in guard cell separate opening the pores
14. At night or under condition of water stress that stimulate ab production potassium ion other
solid exit guard cells. this cause water to leave deflating guard cells and closing the pore
15.
16. ABA SIGNAL
TRANSDUCTION PATHWAY
Abscisic acid elicits two response
1. Rapid response
2. Gradual responses
These fast and slow responses use different receptors
There are multiple ABA receptors which are soluble and membrane bound
Three classes of ABA receptors
1. Plasma membrane localized (G proteins)
2. Plastid localized enzyme
3. Cytosolic ligand binding proteins (START domain superfamily)
17. Soluble START proteins are principle ABA receptors that function in stomatal
Closing and germination
First experiment perform in Arabidopsis
PY (pyrabactin) is a synthetic compound similar to ABA
Genes conferred insensitivity to PY cloned called PYR1
In Arabidopsis PYR and PYL are START domain proteins and ABA dependent
inhibitors of one class protein phosphatase type 2(PP2C)
ABI1 and ABI2 member of PP2C
20. Inhibit stomatal opening.
Stress hormones
Root and shoot growth-ABA Promotes Root Growth and Inhibits Shoot Growth at
Low Water Potentials
Dormancy and germination (inhibit GA)
Hydraulic conductivity
ABA Promotes Leaf Senescence independent of ethylene.
ABA Accumulates in Dormant Buds
ABA Promotes Desiccation Tolerance in the Embryo 9. ABA exhibit vivipary-the precocious germination of
seeds in the fruit while still
Attached to the plant. Vivipary is a feature of many ABA-deficient seeds.
Function