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Actin and the elongation of plant cells II. The role of divalent ions

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Summary

Because Ca++ and Mg++ ions, which control actin polymerization, were previously found to inhibit auxin-stimulated cell elongation in theAvena coleoptile, and to disrupt actin microfilaments (MFs), a study was made to see if at lower concentrations they actually promote elongation. Both ions do so, with optimum concentrations at about 5 mM. Auxin (IAA) is required and the MFs appear normal. In a survey of other ions, Zn++, Ni++ and vanadate only inhibit, but Co++ clearly promotes growth, by about 30%, with an optimum concentration at 800 μM to 1 mM. Auxin is required, and the MFs appear normal. The results fit with the proposal that cell elongation is causally linked to the polymerization of actin.

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Abbreviations

IAA:

indole acetic acid

MF:

microfilament

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 19104-6085, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    K. V. Thimann & R. Biradivolu

Authors
  1. K. V. Thimann
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  2. R. Biradivolu
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Dedicated to the memory of Professor John G. Torrey

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Thimann, K.V., Biradivolu, R. Actin and the elongation of plant cells II. The role of divalent ions. Protoplasma 183, 5–9 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01276807

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01276807

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