Analysis of gene expression and enzymatic activity of ascorbate peroxidase in aleurone layers treated with gibberellic acid, abscisic acid and salicylic acid hormones

Aleurone layer which is a thin layer in cereal seeds plays a key role in seed germination. The barley (Hordeum vulgare) aleurone layer can be separated from the other seed tissues and maintained in culture medium, allowing the researchers to study different plant signals at molecular level. In the present study the expression of genes encoding ascorbate peroxidase (Apx), Apx1 and Apx2, was analyzed in aleurone layer treated with GA, ABA and salicylic acid incubated in different time points 6, 12, 18, 24, 48 and 72 hours. In addition the soluble protein was extracted from aleurone layers treated with these hormones and the activity of Apx was studied. The results show that the expression of genes Apx1 and Apx2 were not affected by hormones. However the Apx activity in aleurone layer treated with GA between 24-72 hours were decreased which was completely diffenet with aleurone layer incubated with other hormoned or medium without hormone.