THE LIPOXYGENASE ISOZYMES IN SOYBEAN [GLYCINE MAX(L) MERR] LEAVES - CHANGES DURING LEAF DEVELOPMENT, AFTER WOUNDING, AND FOLLOWING REPRODUCTIVE SINK REMOVAL

The levels of individual lipoxygenase isozymes in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] leaves were assessed during leaf development, after mechanical wounding, and in response to reproductive sink removal. Native isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting was employed to examine individual lipoxygenase isozymes. In leaves of all ages, two distinct classes of lipoxygenase isozymes were detected. One class of lipoxygenase isozymes had nearly neutral isoelectric points (pls) ranging from pH 6.8 to 7.2. The other class of lipoxygenase isozymes had acidic pls ranging from pH 4.7 to 5.6. During leaf development, all of the neutral lipoxygenase isozymes and most of the acidic isozymes were present in greatest abundance in the youngest leaves examined and declined in amount as leaf age increased. However, four acidic lipoxygenase isozymes (pl = 4.70, 4.80, 4.90, 4.95) were more abundant in intermediate-age leaves than in either the youngest or oldest leaves examined. Following mechanical wounding of leaves, these same four acidic isozymes also increased in abundance both locally and systemically in leaves from wounded plants. Unlike the specific effects of wounding on the lipoxygenase isozymes in leaves, reproductive sink removal stimulated a general increase in most of the acidic lipoxygenase isozymes in leaves.