Enantio-diffferential approach to identify the target cell for glucosyl jasmonate-type leaf-closing factor, by using fluorescence-labeled probe compounds

Potassium beta-D-glucopyranosyl 12-hydroxyjasmonate (1) is a leaf-closing factor of Albizzia plants that induces nyctinastic leaf closure. In this paper, we synthesized probe 3 and its congener 4 by using a pair of enantiomerically pure methyljasmonate that was prepared by using optical resolution, and carried out fluorescence studies using 3 and 4 to identify the target cell of 1. The probe 3 bound to the motor cells of two Albizzia plants, whereas it could not bind to the motor cells of plants belonging to other genus. On the other hand, probe 4 did not bind to the motor cell at all. These results suggested that a specific receptor for I is involved in the motor cell of Albizzia plants. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.