Indole-3-acetic acid
Indole-3-acetic acid
Indole-3-acetic acid (pronunciation: /ɪnˈdoʊl 3 ˈæsɪt ˈæsɪd/), often abbreviated to IAA, is the most common, naturally occurring, plant hormone of the auxin class. It is the best known of the auxins, and has been the subject of extensive studies by plant physiologists.
Etymology
The term "indole" comes from the Greek word indikon, meaning "Indian", as it was first isolated by treatment of the indigo plant. The "3-acetic acid" part of the name refers to the compound's chemical structure, which includes an acetic acid group attached to the third carbon of the indole ring.
Function
IAA plays a key role in virtually every aspect of plant growth and development, including cell division, cell elongation, flowering, and root growth. It is also involved in the plant's response to light (phototropism) and gravity (gravitropism).
Synthesis and Metabolism
IAA is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan in a two-step process. First, tryptophan is converted to indole-3-pyruvic acid by the enzyme tryptophan aminotransferase. Then, indole-3-pyruvic acid is converted to IAA by the enzyme indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase.
IAA is metabolized in plants by a variety of processes, including conjugation to sugars and amino acids, oxidation, and degradation to simpler compounds.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Indole-3-acetic acid
- Wikipedia's article - Indole-3-acetic acid
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