Abscisic acid

Abscisic acid (ABA or abscisin II^[5]) is a plant hormone. ABA functions in many plant developmental processes, including seed and bud dormancy, the control of organ size and stomatal closure. It is especially important for plants in the response to environmental stresses, including drought, soil salinity, cold tolerance, freezing tolerance, heat stress and heavy metal ion tolerance.^[6]

Abscisic acid

Names
Preferred IUPAC name (2Z,4E)-5-[(1S)-1-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-3-methylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid^[3]
Other names (2Z,4E)-(S)-5-(1-Hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxo-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-methyl-2,4-pentanedienoic acid; Dormic acid;^[citation needed] Dormin^[1]^[2]
Identifiers
CAS Number	21293-29-8^Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
3DMet	B00898
Abbreviations	ABA
Beilstein Reference	2698956
ChEBI	CHEBI:2365^N
ChEMBL	ChEMBL288040^Y
ChemSpider	4444418^Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.040.275
EC Number	244-319-5
MeSH	Abscisic+Acid
PubChem CID	5280896
RTECS number	RZ2475100
UNII	72S9A8J5GW^Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID0036766
InChI InChI=1S/C15H20O4/c1-10(7-13(17)18)5-6-15(19)11(2)8-12(16)9-14(15,3)4/h5-8,19H,9H2,1-4H3,(H,17,18)/b6-5+,10-7-/t15-/m1/s1^Y Key: JLIDBLDQVAYHNE-YKALOCIXSA-N^Y
SMILES OC(=O)\C=C(\C)/C=C/[C@@]1(O)C(C)=CC(=O)CC1(C)C
Properties
Chemical formula	C15H20O4
Molar mass	264.321 g·mol^−1
Appearance	Colorless crystals
Density	1.193 g/mL
Melting point	163 °C (325 °F; 436 K)^[4]
log P	1.896
Acidity (pKa)	4.868
Basicity (pKb)	9.129
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Warning
Hazard statements	H315, H319, H335
Precautionary statements	P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is ^YN ?) Infobox references

Discovery

In the 1940s, Torsten Hemberg, while working at the University of Stockholm, found evidence that a positive correlation exists between the rest period and the occurrence of an acidic ether soluble growth inhibitor in potato tubers.^[7][8]

In 1963, abscisic acid was first identified and characterized as a plant hormone by Frederick T. Addicott and Larry A. Davis. They were studying compounds that cause abscission (shedding) of cotton fruits (bolls). Two compounds were isolated and called abscisin I and abscisin II. Abscisin II is presently called abscisic acid (ABA).^[5]

In plants

Function

ABA was originally believed to be involved in abscission, which is how it received its name. This is now known to be the case only in a small number of plants. ABA-mediated signaling also plays an important part in plant responses to environmental stress and plant pathogens.^[9][10] The plant genes for ABA biosynthesis and sequence of the pathway have been elucidated.^[11][12] ABA is also produced by some plant pathogenic fungi via a biosynthetic route different from ABA biosynthesis in plants.^[13]

In preparation for winter, ABA is produced in terminal buds.^[14] This slows plant growth and directs leaf primordia to develop scales to protect the dormant buds during the cold season. ABA also inhibits the division of cells in the vascular cambium, adjusting to cold conditions in the winter by suspending primary and secondary growth.

Abscisic acid is also produced in the roots in response to decreased soil water potential (which is associated with dry soil) and other situations in which the plant may be under stress. ABA then translocates to the leaves, where it rapidly alters the osmotic potential of stomatal guard cells, causing them to shrink and stomata to close. The ABA-induced stomatal closure reduces transpiration (evaporation of water out of the stomata), thus preventing further water loss from the leaves in times of low water availability. A close linear correlation was found between the ABA content of the leaves and their conductance (stomatal resistance) on a leaf area basis.^[15]

Seed germination is inhibited by ABA in antagonism with gibberellin. ABA also prevents loss of seed dormancy.^{[citation needed]}

Several ABA-mutant Arabidopsis thaliana plants have been identified and are available from the Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre - both those deficient in ABA production and those with altered sensitivity to its action. Plants that are hypersensitive or insensitive to ABA show phenotypes in seed dormancy, germination, stomatal regulation, and some mutants show stunted growth and brown/yellow leaves. These mutants reflect the importance of ABA in seed germination and early embryo development.^{[citation needed]}

Pyrabactin (a pyridyl containing ABA activator) is a naphthalene sulfonamide hypocotyl cell expansion inhibitor, which is an agonist of the seed ABA signaling pathway.^[16] It is the first agonist of the ABA pathway that is not structurally related to ABA.^{[citation needed]}

Homeostasis

Biosynthesis

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an isoprenoid plant hormone, which is synthesized in the plastidal 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway; unlike the structurally related sesquiterpenes, which are formed from the mevalonic acid-derived precursor farnesyl diphosphate (FDP), the C₁₅ backbone of ABA is formed after cleavage of C₄₀ carotenoids in MEP. Zeaxanthin is the first committed ABA precursor; a series of enzyme-catalyzed epoxidations and isomerizations via violaxanthin, and final cleavage of the C₄₀ carotenoid by a dioxygenation reaction yields the proximal ABA precursor, xanthoxin, which is then further oxidized to ABA. via abscisic aldehyde.^[11]

 

Abamine has been designed, synthesized, developed and then patented as the first specific ABA biosynthesis inhibitor, which makes it possible to regulate endogenous levels of ABA.^[17]

Locations and timing of ABA biosynthesis

• Synthesized in nearly all plant tissues, e.g., roots, flowers, leaves and stems
• Stored in mesophyll (chlorenchyma) cells where it is conjugated to glucose via uridine diphosphate-glucosyltransferase resulting in the inactivated form, ABA-glucose-ester ^[18]
• Activated and released from the chlorenchyma in response to environmental stress, such as heat stress, water stress, salt stress^[18]
• Released during desiccation of the vegetative tissues and when roots encounter soil compaction.^[19]
• Synthesized in green fruits at the beginning of the winter period
• Synthesized in maturing seeds, establishing dormancy
• Mobile within the leaf and can be rapidly translocated from the leaves to the roots (opposite of previous belief) in the phloem
• Accumulation in the roots modifies lateral root development, improving the stress response
• ABA is synthesized in almost all cells that contain chloroplasts or amyloplasts

Inactivation

ABA can be catabolized to phaseic acid via CYP707A (a group of P450 enzymes) or inactivated by glucose conjugation (ABA-glucose ester) via the enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucosyltransferase (UDP-glucosyltransferase). Catabolism via the CYP707As is very important for ABA homeostasis, and mutants in those genes generally accumulate higher levels of ABA than lines overexpressing ABA biosynthetic genes.^[20] In soil bacteria, an alternative catabolic pathway leading to dehydrovomifoliol via the enzyme vomifoliol dehydrogenase has been reported.

Effects

• Antitranspirant - Induces stomatal closure, decreasing transpiration to prevent water loss.^[21]
• Promotes root growth during periods of low humidity.^[22]
• Inhibits fruit ripening
• Responsible for seed dormancy by inhibiting cell growth – inhibits seed germination
• Inhibits the synthesis of Kinetin nucleotide^[23]
• Downregulates enzymes needed for photosynthesis.^[24]
• Acts on endodermis to prevent growth of roots when exposed to salty conditions^[25]
• Promotion of plant antiviral immunity^[26][27]

Signal cascade

 

ABA signal pathway in plants

In the absence of ABA, the phosphatase ABI1-INSENSITIVE1 (ABI1) inhibits the action of SNF1-related protein kinases (subfamily 2) (SnRK2s). ABA is perceived by the PYRABACTIN RESISTANCE 1 (PYR1) and PYR1-like membrane proteins. On ABA binding, PYR1 binds to and inhibits ABI1. When SnRK2s are released from inhibition, they activate several transcription factors from the ABA RESPONSIVE ELEMENT-BINDING FACTOR (ABF) family. ABFs then go on to cause changes in the expression of a large number of genes.^[6] Around 10% of plant genes are thought to be regulated by ABA.^{[citation needed]}

In fungi

Like plants, some fungal species (for example Cercospora rosicola, Botrytis cinerea^[28] and Magnaporthe oryzae) have an endogenous biosynthesis pathway for ABA. In fungi, it seems to be the MVA biosynthetic pathway that is predominant (rather than the MEP pathway that is responsible for ABA biosynthesis in plants). One role of ABA produced by these pathogens seems to be to suppress the plant immune responses.^[29]

In animals

ABA has also been found to be present in metazoans, from sponges up to mammals including humans.^[30] Currently, its biosynthesis and biological role in animals is poorly known. ABA has recently been shown to elicit potent anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects in mouse models of diabetes/obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis and influenza infection.^[31] Many biological effects in animals have been studied using ABA as a nutraceutical or pharmacognostic drug, but ABA is also generated endogenously by some cells (like macrophages) when stimulated. There are also conflicting conclusions from different studies, where some claim that ABA is essential for pro-inflammatory responses whereas other show anti-inflammatory effects. Like with many natural substances with medical properties, ABA has become popular also in naturopathy. While ABA clearly has beneficial biological activities^{[citation needed]} and many naturopathic remedies will contain high levels of ABA (such as wheatgrass juice, fruits and vegetables), some of the health claims made may be exaggerated or overly optimistic. In mammalian cells ABA targets a protein known as lanthionine synthetase C-like 2 (LANCL2), triggering an alternative mechanism of activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma).^[32] LANCL2 is conserved in plants and was originally suggested to be an ABA receptor also in plants, which was later challenged.^[33]

Measurement of ABA concentration

Several methods can help to quantify the concentration of abscisic acid in a variety of plant tissue. The quantitative methods used are based on HPLC and ELISA. Recently, 2 independent FRET probes have been developed that can measure intracellular ABA concentrations in real time in vivo.^[34][35]

References

1. O'Neil, Maryadele J; Heckelman, PE; Koch, CB; Roman, KJ (2006). The Merck Index, 14th.
2. 21293-29-8
3. "Abscisic Acid - Compound Summary". PubChem Compound. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. 16 September 2004. Identification and Related Records. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
4. "ChemSpider database - Abscisic acid - Properties". Retrieved 27 December 2012. The melting point is decided by experimental data by Tokyo Chemical Industry Ltd.
5. Davis, L. A.; Addicott, F. T. (April 1972). "Abscisic Acid: correlations with abscission and with development in the cotton fruit". Plant Physiology. 49 (4): 644–648. doi:10.1104/pp.49.4.644. ISSN 0032-0889. PMC 366021. PMID 16658017.
6. Finkelstein, Ruth (2013-11-01). "Abscisic Acid Synthesis and Response". The Arabidopsis Book / American Society of Plant Biologists. 11: e0166. doi:10.1199/tab.0166. PMC 3833200. PMID 24273463.
7. Hemberg, Torsten (January 1949). "Significance of Growth-Inhibiting Substances and Auxins for the Rest-Period of the Potato Tuber". Physiologia Plantarum. 2 (1): 24–36. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.1949.tb07645.x. ISSN 0031-9317.
8. Dörffling, Karl (2015-12-01). "The Discovery of Abscisic Acid: A Retrospect". Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. 34 (4): 795–808. doi:10.1007/s00344-015-9525-6. ISSN 1435-8107. S2CID 253856375.
9. Zhu, Jian-Kang (2002). "Salt and Drought Stress Signal Transduction in Plants". Annual Review of Plant Biology. 53: 247–73. doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.53.091401.143329. PMC 3128348. PMID 12221975.
10. Seo, M; Koshiba, T (2002). "Complex regulation of ABA biosynthesis in plants". Trends in Plant Science. 7 (1): 41–8. doi:10.1016/S1360-1385(01)02187-2. PMID 11804826.
11. Nambara, Eiji; Marion-Poll, Annie (2005). "Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis and Catabolism". Annual Review of Plant Biology. 56: 165–85. doi:10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144046. PMID 15862093.
12. Milborrow, B.V. (2001). "The pathway of biosynthesis of abscisic acid in vascular plants: A review of the present state of knowledge of ABA biosynthesis". Journal of Experimental Botany. 52 (359): 1145–64. doi:10.1093/jexbot/52.359.1145. PMID 11432933.
13. Siewers, V.; Smedsgaard, J.; Tudzynski, P. (2004). "The P450 Monooxygenase BcABA1 is Essential for Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis in Botrytis cinerea". Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 70 (7): 3868–76. Bibcode:2004ApEnM..70.3868S. doi:10.1128/AEM.70.7.3868-3876.2004. PMC 444755. PMID 15240257.
14. Wang, Dongling; Gao, Zhenzhen; Du, Peiyong; Xiao, Wei; Tan, Qiuping; Chen, Xiude; Li, Ling; Gao, Dongsheng (2016). "Expression of ABA Metabolism-Related Genes Suggests Similarities and Differences Between Seed Dormancy and Bud Dormancy of Peach (Prunus persica)". Frontiers in Plant Science. 6: 1248. doi:10.3389/fpls.2015.01248. ISSN 1664-462X. PMC 4707674. PMID 26793222.
15. Steuer, Barbara; Thomas Stuhlfauth; Heinrich P. Fock (1988). "The efficiency of water use in water stressed plants is increased due to ABA induced stomatal closure". Photosynthesis Research. 18 (3): 327–336. Bibcode:1988PhoRe..18..327S. doi:10.1007/BF00034837. ISSN 0166-8595. PMID 24425243. S2CID 30298332.^{[citation needed]}
16. Park, Sang-Youl; P. Fung; N. Nishimura; D. R. Jensen; H. Fuiji; Y. Zhao, S. Lumba; et al. (May 2009). "Abscisic acid inhibits type 2C protein phosphatases via the PYR/PYL family of START proteins". Science Signaling. 324 (5930): 1068–1071. Bibcode:2009Sci...324.1068P. doi:10.1126/science.1173041. PMC 2827199. PMID 19407142.
17. US 7098365, Yoshida, Shigeo & Asami, Tadao, "Abscisic acid biosynthesis inhibitor", published 2006-08-29, assigned to Riken 
18. Zhang, Y., et al. (2021) ABA homeostasis and long-distance translocation are redundantly regulated by ABCG ABA importers. Science Advances.[1]
19. DeJong-Hughes, J., et al. (2001) Soil Compaction: causes, effects and control. University of Minnesota extension service
20. Finkelstein, Ruth (November 2013). "Abscisic Acid Synthesis and Response". The Arabidopsis Book. 11: e0166. doi:10.1199/tab.0166. PMC 3833200. PMID 24273463.
21. Zhang, Jianhua; Schurr, U.; Davies, W. J. (1987). "Control of Stomatal Behaviour by Abscisic Acid which Apparently Originates in the Roots". Journal of Experimental Botany. 38 (7): 1174–1181. doi:10.1093/jxb/38.7.1174.
22. Ralls, Eric (2023-06-27). "Plant leaves send signals to their roots on dry days telling them to keep digging deeper for water". www.msn.com/. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
23. Miernyk, J. A. (1979). "Abscisic Acid Inhibition of Kinetin Nucleotide Formation in Germinating Lettuce Seeds". Physiologia Plantarum. 45: 63–6. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.1979.tb01664.x.
24. Chandler, P M; Robertson, M (1994). "Gene Expression Regulated by Abscisic Acid and its Relation to Stress Tolerance". Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology. 45: 113–41. doi:10.1146/annurev.pp.45.060194.000553.
25. Duan, Lina; D. Dietrich; C. H. Ng; P. M. Y. Chan; R. Bhalerao; M. J. Bennett; J. R. Dinneny. (Jan 2013). "Endodermal ABA Signaling Promotes Lateral Root Quiescence during Salt Stress in Arabidopsis Seedlings". The Plant Cell. 25 (1): 324–341. doi:10.1105/tpc.112.107227. PMC 3584545. PMID 23341337.
26. Pasin, Fabio; Shan, Hongying; García, Beatriz; Müller, Maren; San León, David; Ludman, Márta; Fresno, David H.; Fátyol, Károly; Munné-Bosch, Sergi; Rodrigo, Guillermo; García, Juan Antonio (2020-09-14). "Abscisic Acid Connects Phytohormone Signaling with RNA Metabolic Pathways and Promotes an Antiviral Response that Is Evaded by a Self-Controlled RNA Virus". Plant Communications. 1 (5): 100099. doi:10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100099. ISSN 2590-3462. PMC 7518510. PMID 32984814.
27. Alazem, Mazen; Lin, Na-Sheng (2017). "Antiviral Roles of Abscisic Acid in Plants". Frontiers in Plant Science. 8: 1760. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.01760. ISSN 1664-462X. PMC 5641568. PMID 29075279.
28. Sievers, Verena; Kokkelink, Leonie; Smedsgaard, Jørn; Tudzynski, Paul (July 2006). "Identification of an Abscisic Acid Gene Cluster in the Grey Mold Botrytis cinerea". Appl Environ Microbiol. 72 (7): 4619–4626. Bibcode:2006ApEnM..72.4619S. doi:10.1128/AEM.02919-05. PMC 1489360. PMID 16820452.
29. Lievens, Laurens; Pollier, Jacob; Goossens, Alain; Beyaert, Rudi; Staal, Jens (2017). "Abscisic Acid as Pathogen Effector and Immune Regulator". Frontiers in Plant Science. 8: 587. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.00587. ISSN 1664-462X. PMC 5395610. PMID 28469630.
30. Na-Hang, Li; Rui-Lin, Hao; Shan-Shan, Wu; Peng-Cheng, Guo; Can-Jiang, Chen; Li-Ping, Pan; He, Ni (2011). "Occurrence, function and potential medicinal applications of the phytohormone abscisic acid in animals and humans". Biochemical Pharmacology. 82 (7): 701–712. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.042. PMID 21763293.
31. Bassaganya-Riera, J; Skoneczka, J; Kingston, DG; Krishnan, A; Misyak, SA; Guri, AJ; Pereira, A; Carter, AB; Minorsky, P; Tumarkin, R; Hontecillas, R (2010). . Current Medicinal Chemistry. 17 (5): 467–78. doi:10.2174/092986710790226110. PMID 20015036. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
32. Bassaganya-Riera, J.; Guri, A. J.; Lu, P.; Climent, M.; Carbo, A.; Sobral, B. W.; Horne, W. T.; Lewis, S. N.; Bevan, D. R.; Hontecillas, R. (2010). "Abscisic Acid Regulates Inflammation via Ligand-binding Domain-independent Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 286 (4): 2504–16. doi:10.1074/jbc.M110.160077. PMC 3024745. PMID 21088297.
33. Chen, JG; Ellis, BE (2008). "GCR2 is a new member of the eukaryotic lanthionine synthetase component C-like protein family". Plant Signal Behav. 3 (5): 307–10. Bibcode:2008PlSiB...3..307C. doi:10.4161/psb.3.5.5292. PMC 2634266. PMID 19841654.
34. Waadt, R; Hitomi, K; Nishimura, N; Hitomi, C; Adams, SR; Getzoff, ED; Schroeder, JI (2014). "FRET-based reporters for the direct visualization of abscisic acid concentration changes and distribution in Arabidopsis". eLife. 3: e01739. doi:10.7554/eLife.01739. PMC 3985518. PMID 24737861.
35. Jones, AM; Danielson, JA; Manjokumar, SN; Laquar, V; Grossmann, G; Frommer, WB (2014). "Abscisic acid dynamics in roots detected with genetically encoded FRET sensors". eLife. 3: e01741. doi:10.7554/eLife.01741. PMC 3985517. PMID 24737862.