title: Polyamines and plant stress: activation of putrescine biosynthesis by osmotic shock.
abstract: The putrescine content of oat leaf cells and protoplasts increases up to 60-fold within 6 hours of exposure to osmotic stress (0.4 to 0.6 molar sorbitol). Barley, corn, wheat, and wild oat leaves show a similar response. Increased arginine decarboxylase activity parallels the rise in putrescine, whereas ornithine decarboxylase remains unchanged. DL-alpha-Difluoromethylarginine, a specific irreversible inhibitor of arginine decarboxylase, prevents the stress-induced rise in increase in arginine decarboxylase activity and putrescine synthesis, indicating the preferential activation of this pathway.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Galston