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. 1970 Nov;46(5):660–665. doi: 10.1104/pp.46.5.660

Changes in Nucleic Acids in Phytochrome-dependent Elongation of the Alaska Pea Epicotyl

George E Okoloko a,1, Lowell N Lewis a, Brian R Reid a
PMCID: PMC396657  PMID: 16657526

Abstract

Red light, which produces the physiologically active form of phytochrome (Pfr), inhibited epicotyl elongation in intact dark-grown Alaska pea seedlings. This red light response was detectable 3 hours after the light treatment and became pronounced after 5 hours. The growth inhibition was completely reversed by far red light applied immediately after the red or by pretreatment of the seedlings with the plant hormone gibberellin A3.

Comparison of the total 32P-labeled nucleic acids from control and red light-treated Alaska pea epicotyls on methylated albumin-kieselguhr columns revealed a marked alteration of the pattern of nucleic acid synthesis in this plant material with little or no effect on total isotope incorporation into nucleic acids. A single 5-minute red light perturbation caused a 2-fold stimulation of 32P incorporation into the tRNA fraction while, simultaneously, 32P incorporation into tenaciously bound RNA was reduced to 50% of control levels. Red light treatment had no effect on 32P incorporation into the DNA-RNA, rRNA, or mRNA fractions. Far red light reversed the effect of red light on tRNA synthesis but did not restore tenaciously bound RNA levels to the control value. Gibberellin A3 treatment did not cause reversal of any of the red light effects on RNA synthesis.

These light-induced changes in nucleic acids were measurable before any changes in the physiological response (epicotyl elongation) could be detected. These results are consistent with a phytochrome-mediated differential gene activation mechanism in the Alaska pea epicotyl elongation system.

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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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