CIS-TRANS PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF ABSCISIC ACID

Abstract— An important regulator of numerous physiological processes in higher plants is abscisic acid (ABA), which is photoisomerized from the more biologically active cis isomer to the nearly inactive trans isomer by natural sunlight. It is possible that this photoisomerization is a UV control mechanism in functions regulated by ABA.
The quantum yields of both the cis to trans and trans to cis photoisomerizations were measured by an initial velocities method under various conditions of pH and oxygen concentration at room temperature. The yield for photoisomerization of cis-ABA ranged from 0.25 at pH 3.0 to 0.11 at pH 7.0. Oxygen partially quenched the process. The quantum yield varies only slightly with wavelength.
The quantum yield of photolysis of cis-ABA is reported for pH 3.0 as 0.06. This yield also varies slightly with wavelength and is relatively insensitive to oxygen. This relatively high yield explains the loss of potency of ABA during UV irradiation.
Phosphorescence of cis - and trans-ABA is observed in methanol at 77 K. Onset of the emission is at 350 nm. The emission spectra is the same for both isomers.
From these results a mechanism of UV action on plants based on the photoisomerization of the inactive trans-ABA to the biologically active cis isomer is proposed.