Uncoupling of Auxin-induced Protein Synthesis and Water Uptake by Kinetin

Abstract

IT is generally recognized that water uptake, synthesis of protein, and respiration are intimately related activities by which the growth of cells and tissues are controlled. Protein synthesis has been implicated in the mechanism of water uptake, and it has been shown that substances which inhibit protein synthesis also inhibit water uptake¹. Evidence has also been presented that auxin-induced increases in growth and water uptake are not only accompanied by a net increase in protein content^2,3, but are also dependent on the continual synthesis of new protein⁴. Kinetin has been shown to inhibit increases in longitudinal growth⁵ and in water uptake⁶ caused by auxin in etiolated pea stem sections; however, it causes marked thickening of the sections. This report presents evidence to support the thesis that protein synthesis is even more intense during this kinetin inhibition of auxin-induced growth.