Effects of abscisic acid on nucleic acid metabolism in maize coleoptiles.

Following treatment with ABA an inhibition of total RNA synthesis was observed after 30 hours. Total soluble ribonuclease activity did not change during the first 8 hours, after which an increase could be observed.Separation of nucleic acids with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that synthesis of soluble RNA was less inhibited by ABA than synthesis of ribosomal RNA.Effects of 5-FU and ABA on ribosomal RNA precursor were investigated. It could be shown that 5-FU did not inhibit ribosomal precursor synthesis, but that ABA did so.