title: Involvement of brassinosteroids in the gravitropic response of primary root of maize.
abstract: Exogenously applied brassinolide (BL, 10(-9)-10(-5) M) increased gravitropic curvature in maize (Zea mays) primary roots. The BL-enhanced gravitropic curvature was clearly promoted in the presence of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 10(-10)-10(-8) M), indicating that BL is interactive with IAA during the gravitropic response. The interactive effect between BL and IAA was completely diminished by treatment of p-chlorophenoxy isobutric acid, an auxin action antagonist. The activation of the gravitropic response by BL in the absence and in the presence of IAA was nullified by application of 2, 3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, a polar auxin transport inhibitor. The data indicate that brassinosteroids (BRs) might be involved in auxin-mediated processes for the gravitropic response. Gas chromotography-selected ion-monitoring analysis revealed that maize primary roots contained approximately 0.3 ng g(-1) fresh weight castasterone as an endogenous BR. Exogenously applied castasterone also increased the gravitropic response of maize roots in an IAA-dependent manner. This study provides the first evidence, to our knowledge, for occurrence and gravitropic activity of BRs in plant roots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D060406:Brassinosteroids; D002777:Cholestanols / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D018522:Gravitropism / Q000502:physiology*; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000502:physiology*; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D003313:Zea mays / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D060406:Brassinosteroids; D002777:Cholestanols; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D013260:Steroids, Heterocyclic; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; C030737:indoleacetic acid; C083545:castasterone; C052968:2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid; C023623:brassinolide