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. 1969 Mar;44(3):447–452. doi: 10.1104/pp.44.3.447

Abscission: Role of Cellulase

F B Abeles a
PMCID: PMC396106  PMID: 16657082

Abstract

Cellulase (β-1,4-glucan-glucanohydrolase EC 3.2.1.4) activity increased during abscission and was localized in the cell separation layer of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Red Kidney (bean), Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Acala 4-42 (Cotton) and Coleus blumei Benth. Princeton strain (Coleus) abscission zone explants. Cellulase activity was optimum at pH 7, was reduced by one-half after heating to 55° for 10 min, and was associated with the soluble components of the cell. Explants treated with aging retardants (indoleacetic acid, 6N-benzyladenine, and coumarin), CO2, actinomycin D or cycloheximide had less cellulase activity than untreated controls. Ethylene increased cellulase activity of aged explants after a 3-hr lag period but had no effect on cellulase activity of freshly excised explants. It was concluded that 1 of the roles of ethylene in abscission is to regulate the production of cellulase which in turn is required for cell separation.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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