title: Asymmetry, its importance to the action and metabolism of abscisic Acid.
abstract: Unlabeled and (14)C-labeled enantiomorphs of abscisic acid (ABA) were obtained through acetylcellulose chromatography and tested as inducers of abscission, as inhibitors of seed germination, and as antagonists of gibberellic acid-induced synthesis and release of alpha-amylase. The activity of the R isomer was either equal to or less than that of the naturally occurring S form. Greatest differences were in the inhibition of root-related growth. In excised beam axes, although uptake of S-[(14C)]ABA is faster, the internal concentration of R-ABA is higher because of faster conversion of S-ABA to inactive metabolic products. In axes a reversal in chirality is less important to the physiological action of ABA than to its metabolism.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sondheimer
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Galson
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Walton