Abstract
Previous studies have identified a set of highly phosphorylated proteins of 23–25 kDa accumulated during normal embryogenesis of Zea mays L. and which disappear in early germination. They can be induced precociously in embryos by abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Here the synthesis and accumulation of this group of proteins and their corresponding mRNAs were examined in ABA-deficient viviparous embryos at different developmental stages whether treated or not with ABA, and in water-stressed leaves of both wild-type and viviparous mutants.
During embryogenesis and precocious germination of viviparous embryos the pattern of expression of the 23–25 kDa proteins and mRNAs closely resembles that found in non-mutant embryo development. They are also induced in young viviparous embryos by ABA treatment. In contrast, leaves of ABA-deficient mutants fail to accumulate mRNA in water stress, yet do respond to applied ABA. In water-stressed leaves of wild type plants the mRNAs are induced and translated into 4 proteins with a molecular weight and isoelectric point identical to those found in embryos.
These results indicate that the 23–25 kDa protein set is a new member of the recently described class or proteins involved in generalized plant ABA responses.
The different pattern of expression for the ABA-regulated 23–25 kDa proteins and mRNAs found in embryo and in vegetative tissues of viviparous mutants is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beardsell MF, Cohen D: Relationship between leaf water status abscisic acid levels and stomatal resistance in maize and sorghum. Plant Physiol 56: 207–212 (1975).
Brenner ML, Burr B, Burr F: Correlation of genetic vivipary in corn with abscisic acid concentration. Plant Physiol 59 (Suppl) 76 (1977).
Davies MJ, Mansfield TA: The role of abscisic acid in drought avoidance. In Addicott FT (ed) Abscisic Acid, pp. 237–268. Praeger, New York (1983).
Finkelstein RR, Teubarge KM, Shumway JE, Crouch ML: Role of ABA in maturation of rapeseed embryos. Plant Physiol 78: 630–636 (1985).
Fong F, Smith JD, Koehler DE: Early events in maize seed development. Plant Physiol 73: 899–901 (1983).
Galau GA, Bijaisoradat N, Hughes DW: Accumulation kinetics of cotton late embryogenesis-abundant mRNAs and storage protein mRNAs coordinate regulation during embryogenesis and the role of abscisic acid. Dev Biol 123: 198–212 (1987).
Goday A, Sanchez-Martinez D, Gomez J, Puigdomenech P, Pages M: Gene expression in developing Zea mays embryos: Regulation by abscisic acid of a highly phosphorylated 23- to 25-kD group of proteins. Plant Physiol 88: 564–569 (1988).
Gomez J, Sanchez-Martinez D, Stiefel V, Rigau J, Puigdomenech P, Pages M: A gene induced by the plant hormone abscisic acid in response to water stress encodes a glycine-rich protein. Nature 334: 262–264 (1988).
Harris MJ, OutlawJr WH, Mertens R, Weiler EW: Water-stress-induced changes in the abscisic acid content of guard cells and other cells of Vicia faba L. leaves as determined by enzyme-amplified immunoassay. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85: 2584–2588 (1988).
Heikkila JJ, Papp JET, Schultz GA, Bewley JD: Induction of heat shock protein messenger RNA in maize mesocotyls by water stress, abscisic acid and wounding. Plant Physiol 76: 270–274 (1984).
Jones RJ, Brenner ML: Distribution of abscisic acid in maize kernel during grain filling. Plant Physiol 83: 905–909 (1987).
Karssen CM, Brinkhorst-van der Swan DLC, Breekland AE, Koornneef M: Induction of dormancy during seed development by endogenous abscisic acid: studies on abscisic acid deficient genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.). Heynh. Planta 157: 158–165 (1987).
King RW: Abscisic acid in developing wheat grains and its relationship to grain growth and maturation. Planta 132: 43–61 (1976).
Koornneef M: Genetic aspects of abscisic acid In Blonstein AD, King PJ (eds) Genetic Approach o Plant Biochemistry, pp. 35–54. Springer-Verlag, Vienna (1986).
Mangelsdorf PC: The inheritance of dormancy and premature germination in maize. Genetics 15: 462–494 (1930).
McDaniel S, Smith JD, Price HJ: Response of viviparous mutant to abscisic acid in embryo culture. Maize Gen Coop Newsl 51: 85–86 (1977).
MarcotteJr WR, Bayley ChC, Quatrano RS: Regulation of a wheat promoter by abscisic acid in rice protoplasts. Nature 335: 454–457 (1988).
Moore R, Smith JD: Growth graviresponsivenes and abscisic acid content of Zea mays seedlings treated with fluoridone. Planta 162: 342–844 (1984).
Mundy J, Chua NH: Abscisic acid and water-stress induce the expression of a novel rice gene. EMBO J 7: 2279–2286 (1988).
Neill SJ, Horgan R, Parry AD: The carotenoid and abscisic acid content of viviparous kernels and seedlings of Zea mays L. Planta 169: 87–96 (1986).
Quatrano RS: Regulation of gene expression by abscisic acid during angiosperm embryo development. Oxford Surveys Plant Mol Cell Biol 3: 467–477 (1986).
Robertson DS: The genetics of vivipary in maize. Genetics 40: 745–760 (1955).
Sanchez-Martinez D, Puigdomenech P, Pages M: Regulation of gene expression in developing Zea mays embryos. Protein synthesis during embryogenesis and early germination of maize. Plant Physiol 82: 543–549 (1986).
Singh NK, LaRosa PCh, Handa AK, Hasegawa PM, Bressan RA: Hormonal regulation of protein synthesis associated with salt tolerance in plant cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84: 739–743 (1987).
Walton DC, Li Y, Neill SJ, Horgan R: Biosyntesis of abscisic acid: a progress report. Curr Top Plant Biochem 4: 111–117 (1985).
Wright ST, Hiron RWP: (+)- Abscisic acid the growth inhibitor in detached wheat leaves following a period of wilting. Nature 224: 719–720 (1969).
Zeevaart JAD, Creelman RA: Metabolism and physiology of abscisic acid. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 39: 439–473 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pla, M., Goday, A., Vilardell, J. et al. Differential regulation of ABA-induced 23–25 kDa proteins in embryo and vegetative tissues of the viviparous mutants of maize. Plant Mol Biol 13, 385–394 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015550
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015550