Auxin acids

The mode of action is by inhibiting 5-enolpymvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase. Roundup shuts down the production of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophane (30). Whereas all these amino acids are essential to the survival of the plant, tryptophane is especially important because it is the progenitor for indole-3-acetic acid, or auxin, which plays an important role in growth and development, and controls cell extension and organogenesis. 

Other auxin-like herbicides (2,48) include the chlorobenzoic acids, eg, dicamba and chloramben, and miscellaneous compounds such as picloram, a substituted picolinic acid, and naptalam (see Table 1). Naptalam is not halogenated and is reported to function as an antiauxin, competitively blocking lAA action (199). TIBA is an antiauxin used in receptor site and other plant growth studies at the molecular level (201). Diclofop-methyl and diclofop are also potent, rapid inhibitors of auxin-stimulated response in monocots (93,94). Diclofop is reported to act as a proton ionophore, dissipating cell membrane potential and perturbing membrane functions. 

Abscisin II is a plant hormone which accelerates (in interaction with other factors) the abscission of young fruit of cotton. It can accelerate leaf senescence and abscission, inhibit flowering, and induce dormancy. It has no activity as an auxin or a gibberellin but counteracts the action of these hormones. Abscisin II was isolated from the acid fraction of an acetone extract by chromatographic procedures guided by an abscission bioassay. Its structure was determined from elemental analysis, mass spectrum, and infrared, ultraviolet, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Comparisons of these with relevant spectra of isophorone and sorbic acid derivatives confirmed that abscisin II is 3-methyl-5-(1-hydroxy-4-oxo-2, 6, 6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-l-yl)-c s, trans-2, 4-pen-tadienoic acid. This carbon skeleton is shown to be unique among the known sesquiterpenes. 

Auxins, scopoletin, hydrocyanic acid, glucosides, glucosides, unidentified ninhydrin-positive compounds, unidentified soluble proteins, reducing compounds, ethanol, glycinebetaine, inositol and myo-inositol-like compounds, Al-induced polypeptides, dihydroquinone, sorgoleone... 

Auxins Derivative of tryptophan - e.g. indole acetic acid. Controls H+/K+ balance and growth... 

FRET-based nanosensors have been successfully used to monitor steady state levels of metabolites, nutrients, and ions in mammalian cells [74, 87], Recently FRET-based glucose, sucrose, and amino acid nanosensors have been developed to study the metabolism of glucose, sucrose, and amino acid uptake and metabolism in plant cells [80,89, 91]. The enormous potential of these nanosensors will be crucial for understanding ion (e.g., calcium), metabolite (e.g., sugars), hormone (e.g., auxins, gibberellins etc.), and nutrient (e.g., nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus) requirements and homeostasis in living plant tissues. 

Scheme 1. Molecular structure of the plant growth hormone auxin (indoleacetic acid, IAA). Extremely small amounts (nanomolar) can be detected by the auxin standard test 5 mm long segments of pea shoots elongate faster in the presence of exogenous auxin, which can be taken as a sensitive assay...

Another area in which Arabidopsis genetics is proving to be useful is the study of the proposed role of flavonoids in regulating auxin transport. Several years ago, Jacobs and Rubery published the first evidence that flavonoids could specifically compete with naphthylphthalamic acid for binding to the auxin efflux carrier in etiolated zucchini hypocotyls.35 This finding was somewhat controversial, however, and no additional evidence for the connection between flavonoids and auxin transport was reported for some time. Brown et al. have now used Arabidopsis flavonoid mutants to generate new evidence in support of a role for flavonoids in the regulation of polar auxin movement.6 These experiments took... 

Figure 8.4 Glucosinolate and IAA pathways. IAA indole-3-acetic acid IAN indole-3-acetonitrile IAOx indole-3-acetaldoxime. A loss of function of CYP83B drives the IAOx to IAA and an auxin-overproducing phenotype is the result.

FIGURE 1.5 Structures of auxin and abscisic acid derivatives of cytokinin. 

Indole-3-acetic acid is a natural plant auxin and is used as a control in research on plant growth. 

Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) is primarily used as a postemergence broadleaf herbicide, which interferes with normal plant auxin function, subsequently causing uncontrolled growth and the inhibition of the phototropic and geotropic function. Cumulative response results in plant death. The success of auxinic analogues such as Dicamba and 2,4-dichloropheno-xyacetic acid in weed control has led to widespread manufacturing and use. Estimated U.S. production for Dicamba was 5 million kg in 1990 [391]. 

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