Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
17:35
A Microplate Assay to Assess Chemical Effects on RBL-2H3 Mast Cell Degranulation: Effects of Triclosan without Use of an Organic Solvent
Published on: November 1, 2013
38.9K
All-trans-farnesol: a naturally occurring antitranspirant?
A R Wellburn1, A B Ogunkanmi, R Fenton
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, Lancaster, UK.
Planta
|January 21, 2014
Summary
Water stress in Sorghum sudanese increases a sesquiterpenoid, all-trans-farnesol, which closes stomata. This compound, all-trans-farnesol, acts similarly to abscisic acid (ABA) in regulating plant water loss.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Water stress is a major environmental factor affecting plant growth and survival.
- Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key plant hormone regulating stomatal closure in response to drought.
- Identification of novel compounds involved in plant stress responses is crucial for understanding plant adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize plant compounds involved in stomatal closure under water stress.
- To investigate the role of a novel sesquiterpenoid in regulating plant water status.
- To compare the efficacy of the identified compound with abscisic acid (ABA).
Main Methods:
- Lipid extraction from Sorghum sudanese under varying water stress conditions.
- Purification of the active compound using preparative gas-liquid chromatography.
- Structural elucidation using infra-red, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry.
- Bioassay on isolated Commelina communis epidermis to assess stomatal closure activity.
Main Results:
- A sesquiterpenoid, identified as all-trans-farnesol, accumulated in Sorghum sudanese with increasing water stress.
- All-trans-farnesol was confirmed to induce stomatal closure in isolated epidermis.
- The stomatal closure activity of all-trans-farnesol was comparable to, and slightly faster than, abscisic acid (ABA) at similar molar concentrations.
- Trans-nerolidol showed moderate stomatal closure activity, but less than all-trans-farnesol.
Conclusions:
- All-trans-farnesol is a novel plant hormone that regulates stomatal closure in response to water stress.
- This finding expands our understanding of plant hormone signaling pathways involved in drought tolerance.
- All-trans-farnesol represents a potential target for developing strategies to enhance crop water-use efficiency.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:15Antifungal Agents
119
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to...
119
01:30Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors
9.0K
G Protein–Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to various stimuli. GPCRs regulate critical physiological pathways and are excellent drug targets for treating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, or Alzheimer's. Nearly 35% of approved drugs implement their therapeutic effects by selectively interacting with specific GPCRs.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical,...
GPCRs are also called heptahelical,...
9.0K
01:18Surface Membrane Barriers
3.0K
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
3.0K