Hypoxic and Anoxic Induction of Alcohol Dehydrogenase in Roots and Shoots of Seedlings of Zea mays (Adh Transcripts and Enzyme Activity)

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is one of a number of enzymes of glycolysis and fermentation known to be synthesized preferentially under low O2 conditions. We examined levels of Adh1 transcripts and of ADH activity in 5-mm root tips, root axes (the remainder of the seminal root), and shoots of maize (Zea mays L. cv TX 5855) seedlings. Seedlings with roots averaging about 60-mm long were transferred from fully aerobic conditions (solutions sparged with 40% [v/v] O2) to anaerobic (O2-free) conditions, or to an intermediate O2 concentration. There was no prior acclimation to low O2. In root tips, anoxia induced Adh1 transcripts and enzyme activity at 6 h, but this was followed by a rapid decline so that at 12 to 18 h neither were detectable and the root tips were dead. In contrast, higher levels of Adh1 transcripts and enzyme activity were maintained for at least 48 h in root axes and shoots. When induction at 6 h was measured over a wide range of O2 concentrations, a peak in ADH activity occurred in all tissues at 4% (v/v) O2. Maximum levels of transcripts, however, were in the range of 0 to 4% O2, depending on the tissue. The time course of hypoxic induction (at 4% O2) in root tips showed a peak in transcript levels at 6 h, whereas ADH activity continued to rise throughout the 24-h experiment. These results show that in root tips, ADH induction by anoxia was small and transient relative to induction by hypoxia.