Activation of Morphogenesis and Proliferation by Low Specificity Chemical Effectors

E. G. Smirnova^1*, G. S. Muromtsev¹, A. V. Osipenko², E. E. Khavkin¹, and L. S. Yaguzhinsky²

¹Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, ul. Timiryazevskaya 42, Moscow, 127550 Russia; fax: (095) 977-0947; E-mail: emil@agrobio.msk.su

²Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899 Russia

³ Data from the Heterosis Laboratory, Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences under supervision of M. A. Fedin and T. A. Kuznetsova were used.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received December 22, 1997; Revision received May 20, 1998

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Activation of highly specific biochemical processes by simple chemical agents is demonstrated for morphogenesis (anlage and development of female gametophyte in cereal) and mitosis (in cell cultures and animal and plant tissues). The effects of these agents are tissue-specific. Structure--activity relationship is analyzed in this group of compounds. Thus, the phenomenon reveals the exact pathways of the influence of allelopathic and anthropogenic chemical agents on evolution of plant biocenoses.

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KEY WORDS: gametocides, chemical stress, sex hormones, structure and activity, morphogenesis, mitosis, apoptosis

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