Abstract
Ethylene is the plant hormone involved in diverse physiological and developmental processes ranging seed germination to organ senescence. It is also known that ethylene plays a critical role in stress responses and pathogen-induced systemic activation of defense genes. Genetic analyses had suggested antagonistic interaction between ethylene and glucose that is another global regulator of plant growth and development. Recently, we revealed the molecular mechanism for cross-talk between ethylene and glucose signaling (1). Ethylene enhanced the stability of EIN3, a key transcription factor in ethylene signaling, while glucose promoted EIN3 degradation. Based on our finding, we will discuss the mutual regulation by environmental stress signaling and endogenous nutrient metabolism, which determines plant growth and development.
1. Yanagisawa, S., Yoo, S.-D., Sheen, J. (2003) Nature, 425, 521-525.
