The Age of the Proteome

compounds have a homologous function in plants. In amine, serotonin, and histamine were known to be pres-itself, the title, Neurotransmitters in Plant Life, is mis-ent in plants, and ample evidence existed that they affect leading, since it leaves the impression that plants have plant growth and physiology, then why were they not nerves. To date, a nervous system has not been de-studied using a molecular approach, as were hormones tected in plants. As such, it would have been more ap-in the late 1980s through the present? Perhaps there propriate to retain the title of the previous edition written wasn't a critical mass of researchers interested in this in Russian: Biomediators in Plants. Acetylcholine and field to expand this work using a molecular approach Biogenic Amines (published by the Biological Center of in some of the model plant systems such as Arabidopsis, USSR, 1991). The older title is more consistent with the maize, and tomato? Even some important plant hor-content of the book. mones, which were known by plant physiologists to Are these neurotransmitters, which are also found in cause dramatic effects on plant development, fell plants, involved in signaling in plants? Or are they simply through the cracks of mainstream research. One such intermediates along a biochemical pathway? Are they " forgotten " hormone was brassinosteroid, which was storage or breakdown products? Or, are these com-implicated in a variety of responses, including internode pounds produced for defense against predators? A elongation. Brassinosteroid was only " rediscovered " large body of evidence is provided in the text for all these upon cloning the Arabidopsis mutant, det2, which has possibilities, and more. For instance, stinging nettles among other phenotypes, a dwarf stature. DET2 en-contain high levels of acetylcholine, histamine, and sero-codes a reductase in the first step of the brassinosteroid tonin in their needles as a probable (and painful) adapta-biosynthetic pathway. Since then, many of the key sig-tion against predators (or the casual hiker). In a different naling intermediates and the potential receptor in a bras-system, acetylcholine activates ion channels and photo-sinosteroid signaling pathway have been uncovered in phosphorylation in isolated pea chloroplasts, sug-Arabidopsis. Likewise, perhaps future mutants isolated gesting acetylcholine plays a role as a regulator of cell in Arabidopsis, maize, and tomato will reveal the role of signaling. In yet another system, when applied to the these " neurotransmitters " in plants. stigma prior to pollination, acetylcholine antagonists The vast …