Bound Auxin Formation in Growing Stems

The term "bound auxin" is herein used to describe auxin conjugates insoluble in organic solvents which dissolve indoleacetic acid (IAA) and its derivatives, but hydrolyzable by NaOH to release IAA. Bound auxin from pea stems was fractionated into water-soluble, water-insoluble/NaOH-hydrolyzable, and insoluble components. Formation of bound auxin commenced with 15 minutes of applying exogenous labeled IAA, and progressively increased in amount, relative to IAA uptake, over 6 hours. Formation was not restricted to any particular zone of the stem and occurred in both light- and dark-grown stems. A greater quantity of bound auxin was formed in light-grown stems, reaching 4.2 and 7.7%, of the IAA taken up, in the water-soluble and water-insoluble/NaOH-hydrolyzable fractions after 6 hours. The presence of sucrose, during either the IAA treatment or an aging pretreatment had no effect, though 6 hours aging did cause a subsequent increase in the water-insoluble fraction of the bound auxin. Bound auxin formation in light-grown stems was dependent on respiratory metabolism, being reduced by KCN. It was also reduced, compared to total uptake, by inhibitors of RNA, and protein synthesis (6-methylpurine and cycloheximide) but only when the inhibitors preceded auxin addition and were present for a 4-hour period. Addition of inhibitors following auxin had no effect, suggesting an early inductive effect of auxin on bound auxin formation. Inhibitors of cell elongation had no effect. Deoxyglucose, an inhibitor of glucan synthesis, had only a small effect on the water-soluble fraction. Bound auxin is an important auxin product in growing plants. Its function is unknown, but some possibilities are discussed.