Abscisic acid induction of GTP hydrolysis in maize coleoptile plasma membranes

Abstract

Since receptor-coupled G proteins increase GTP hydrolysis (GTPase) activity upon ligands binding to the receptor, a study was undertaken to determine if abscisic acid (ABA) induced such an effect. Plasma membranes isolated from etiolated maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptiles were enriched in GTPase activity relative to microsomal fractions. Vanadate was included in the assay to inhibit the high levels of vanadate sensitive low affinity GTPases present. Under these conditions, GTPase activity was enhanced by Mg²⁺, stimulated by mastoparan, and inhibited by GTPγS indicating the presence of either monomeric or heterotrimeric G proteins. The combination of NaF and AlCl₃ is expected to inhibit heterotrimeric G protein activity but had little effect on GTPase activity in maize coleoptile membranes. Cholera toxin enhanced basal GTPase activity, confirming the presence of heterotrimeric G proteins in maize plasma membranes. Pertussis toxin also slightly enhanced basal GTPase activity in maize membranes. Abscisic acid enhanced GTPase activity optimally at 5 mmol/L Mg²⁺ in a concentration dependent manner by 1.5-fold at 10 µmol/L and up to three-fold at 100 µmol/L ABA. Abscisic acid induced GTPase activity was inhibited by GTPγS, the combination of NaF and AlCl₃, and pertussis toxin. Overall, these results are typical of a receptor-coupled G protein responding to its ligand.