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Plant cyclic AMP comes in from the cold

Nature volume 390, pages 657–658 (1997)Cite this article

Whether or not plant cells contain the growth factor cyclic AMP has been a source of controversy for over 25 years. Now, characterization of an enzyme that produces cAMP and mediates the action of the plant hormone auxin marks a decisive defeat for the majority view.

Cyclic AMP is a key growth factor and signalling molecule. Produced by the enzyme adenylyl cyclase, it mediates the action of many other growth factors and hormones. Yet despite the numerous growth regulators in plant cells — and an evident need for growth regulation during development — it has been dogma for 25 years that higher plants do not possess adenylyl cyclase, do not use cAMP and are, thus, unique among living organisms.

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Figure 1: Transduction sequences of auxins and cytokinins.

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  1. the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh, Kings Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JH, UK

    Anthony J. Trewavas

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  1. Anthony J. Trewavas
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Trewavas, A. Plant cyclic AMP comes in from the cold. Nature 390, 657–658 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/37720

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