ACTIVATION OF GLYOXALASE-I DURING THE CELL-DIVISION CYCLE AND ITS HOMOLOGY WITH AUXIN-REGULATED GENES

In several plant systems increase in glyoxalase I activity has been co rrelated with cell proliferation. Cell cycle studies of tobacco protop lasts indicate a rise in glyoxalase I activity prior to G(2)/M phase. Further, synthetic auxin, NAA, induced glyoxalase I activity and cell division significantly. This induction was specific in response to aux in only. Cytokinins alone do not induce cell division or increase enzy me activity. Analysis of glyoxalase I cDNA sequence from soybean shows significant homology with auxin inducible genes particularly Nt107 an d limited but strong similarity with identified plant mitotic cyclins, implicating glyoxalase I in possible relationship with certain cell d ivision regulating factors. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.