Abstract
The ability of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) to alter ion absorption, respiration, carbon metabolism, and the permeability of the cell membranes of excised barley roots has been examined. Roots pretreated in either H(2)O, KCl, or TIBA followed by treatment in KCl, TIBA, or KCl and TIBA demonstrated that inhibition of ion uptake due to TIBA was reversible. These studies also suggest that ions already accumulated within the vacuole remain sequestered after the addition of TIBA, whereas cytoplasmic ions leak out into the external medium. A 20-minute lag period was present prior to the onset of inhibition of O(2) consumption by TIBA. A b-type cytochrome from corn that is apparently associated with the plasmalemma and possibly involved in respiration or ion uptake, or both, was unaffected by TIBA. The addition of TIBA to treatment solutions resulted in the synthesis and accumulation of ethanol. Analysis of organic acids showed that only the malate concentration was affected by treatment with TIBA. A reduction of 26% was noted for malate in the presence of 2 micromolar TIBA. These combined results suggest that the inhibitory action of TIBA in barley roots involves an alteration of mitochondrial respiration and not a direct depolarization of the plasmalemma.