Possible effects of organelle charge and density on cell metabolism.
To respond to gravity a biological system must:  First, perceive the stimulus; and, second transduce the stimulus into an appropriate response.  This laboratory has studied a system of perception and transduction involving the gravity-induced asymmetric distribution of a plant growth hormone.  From these studies we have developed a working theory which states as its postulates that:  a) The perception of the gravitational stimulus involved a perturbation of the plant's bio-electric field; and b) that the transduction of the stimulus involved voltage-gating of hormone movement from the plant's vascular tissue into the hormone responsive growing tissue.  These studies may provide the simplest system for studying [correction of studing] the mechanism whereby the gravity signal is translated into a biological response.
Bandurski
R S
RS
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
Schulze
A
A
Domagalski
W
W
D001692:Biological Transport; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D006112:Gravitation; D018466:Gravity Sensing / Q000502:physiology; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D015388:Organelles / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D003313:Zea mays / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; C030737:indoleacetic acid