ACTIVITY AND UTILITY OF ABSCISIC-ACID HAVING A 3'-THIOETHER LINKER ARM

Abscisic acid (ABA) was functionalized at the 3'-position by reaction of its alpha-2',3'-epoxide with 1,4-butanedithiol to afford the corres ponding derivative having a six-atom linker arm containing a terminal sulphhydryl group. This derivative was coupled with epoxy activated Se pharose 6B affording a gel containing ca 1.4 mg of (+)-ABA ml(-1). Thi s gel was shown to bind specifically an anti-ABA antibody from hybrido ma culture broth, and its binding capacity was determined. The (+)-ABA analogue possessing the thiol linker arm was also derivatized by reac tion with a fluorescent derivatizing agent and these compounds were sh own to inhibit cress seed germination. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd