The changing sensitivity to auxin of the plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPase: Relationship between plant development and ATPase content of membranes.

The auxin sensitivity of the plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPase from tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) depends on the physiological state of the plant (Santoni et al., 1990, Plant Sci. 68, 33-38). Results based on the study of auxin sensitivity according to culture conditions which accelerate or delay tobacco development demonstrate that the highest auxin sensitivity is always associated with the end of the period of induction to flowering. Auxin stimulation of H(+)-translocation activity corresponds to an increase of the apparent ATPase affinity for ATP. The plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPase content, measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a specific anti-H(+)-ATPase antibody, varies according to plant development, and was found to increase by 100% during floral induction. The specific molecular ATPase activity also changes according to plant development; more particularly, the decrease in molecular ATPase activity upto and during the floral-induction period parallels the increase of sensitivity to indole-3-acetic acid.