α-Aminoisobutyric acid : A probable competitive inhibitor of conversion of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid to ethylene

Abstract

Of 16 compounds related to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), αaminoisobutyric acid (AIB) inhibited the production of endogenous ethylene in the cotyledonary segments of cocklebur (Xanthium pennsylvanicum Wallr.) seeds most strongly. AIB at 4 mM inhibited the formation of ethylene by about 50%, although the O2 uptake of the segments was not affected even at 20 mM. AIB also inhibited ethylene formation in the stem segments of etiolated pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) seedlings. Kinetic analysis with cell free extracts from etiolated pea shoots revealed that AIB competitively inhibits the conversion of ACC into ethylene.