Fluorescence studies on nyctinasty using fluorescence labeled cis-p-coumaroylagmatine, a leaf-opening substance of Albizzia plants: existence of genus-specific receptor for leaf-movement factor

We developed fluorescent probes (1 and 2) based on the structure of cis-p-coumaroylagmatine (3), a leaf-opening substance of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. These probes were effective for the leaf-opening of A. julibrissin, and specifically bind to the motor cell of this plant. Moreover, binding of the fluorescent probe was specific to the plant motor cell contained in the plants belonging to the Albizzia genus. These results showed that the binding of a probe compound with a motor cell is specific to the plant genus and suggested that the genus-specific receptor molecule for the leaf-movement factor on a motor cell would be involved in nyctinasty.