title: Inhibition of beta-amylase activity, starch degradation and sucrose formation by indole-3-acetic acid during banana ripening.
abstract: In order to observe the effect of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on carbohydrate metabolism, unripe banana (Musa acuminata AAA, cv. Nanicão) slices were infiltrated with the hormone and left to ripen under controlled conditions. The climacteric respiration burst was reduced by the action of IAA, and starch degradation and sucrose formation were delayed. Sucrose synthase (SuSy; EC 2.4.1.13) and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.4.1.14) activities and transcript levels were not affected, indicating that prevention of sucrose accumulation was not related to sucrose-metabolizing enzymes. Impairment of sucrose synthesis could be a consequence of lack of substrate, since starch degradation was inhibited. The increase in activity and transcript level of beta-amylase was delayed, indicating that this enzyme could be important in starch-to-sucrose metabolism in bananas and that it might be, at least partially, controlled at the transcriptional level. This is the first report showing that IAA can delay starch degradation, possibly affecting the activity of hydrolytic enzymes such as beta-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, FCF Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Caixa Postal 66083, CEP 05389-970, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Purgatto
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lajolo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Cordenunsi
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D019862:Zingiberales / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D001614:beta-Amylase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013395:Sucrose; C030737:indoleacetic acid; D013213:Starch; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C022699:sucrose synthase; C022698:sucrose-phosphate synthase; D001614:beta-Amylase