The Conversion of 1-(Malonylamino)cyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid to 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid in Plant Tissues

Since 1-(malonylamino)cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (MACC), the major conjugate of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in plant tissues, is a poor ethylene producer, it is generally thought that MACC is a biologically inactive end product of ACC. In the present study we have shown that the capability of watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br) stem sections and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaf discs to convert exogenously applied MACC to ACC increased with increasing MACC concentrations (0.2-5 millimolar) and duration (4-48 hours) of the treatment. The MACC-induced ethylene production was inhibited by CoCl(2) but not by aminoethoxyvinylglycin, suggesting that the ACC formed is derived from the MACC applied, and not from the methionine pathway. This was further confirmed by the observation that radioactive MACC released radioactive ACC and ethylene. A cell-free extract, which catalyzes the conversion of MACC to ACC, was prepared from watercress stems which were preincubated with 1 millimolar MACC for 24 hours. Neither fresh tissues nor aged tissues incubated without external MACC exhibited enzymic activity, confirming the view that the enzyme is induced by MACC. The enzyme had a K(m) of 0.45 millimolar for MACC and showed maximal activity at pH 8.0 in the presence of 1 millimolar MnSO(4). The present study indicates that high MACC levels in the plant tissue can induce to some extent the capability to convert MACC to ACC.