National Academies Press: OpenBook

Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91 (2009)

Chapter: SHANG FA YANG

« Previous: ROGER JOHN WILLIAMS
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 332
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 333
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 334
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 335
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 336
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 337
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 338
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 339
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 340
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 341
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 342
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 343
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 344
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 345
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 346
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 347
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 348
Suggested Citation:"SHANG FA YANG." National Academy of Sciences. 2009. Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12776.
×
Page 349

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

SHANG FA YANG November 10, 1932–February 12, 2007 BY KENT J. BRADFORD s hang fa yang will be remembered as the plant biochemist who elucidated the pathway for the biological synthesis of ethylene, a plant growth-regulating hormone. Ethylene, a simple compound containing two carbon and four hydrogen atoms, was known already in the early 20th century to elicit abnormal growth in plants and to hasten the ripening of fruits. This remained somewhat a curiosity associated with leaking gas mains until it was shown in the 1930s that plants produce ethylene and that it is broadly involved in regulat- ing plant growth and development, including seed germi- nation, root and shoot growth, responses to environmental stresses, flowering, fruit ripening, and senescence or death of plant tissues and organs. The fact that ethylene is a gaseous compound made it unique among plant hormones, and it was of considerable interest to understand the mechanism and biochemical pathways by which plants produced the compound. At the time Yang entered the field there was some evidence that the amino acid methionine could be a precursor for ethylene production, and various in vitro systems were being explored to convert this and other potential precursors into ethylene. Yang contributed significantly to these studies, us- ing his knowledge of chemistry to explore different reaction 333

334 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS mechanisms. Eventually, however, it was in vivo studies that led to the breakthrough when Yang’s group supplied apple fruit tissues with 14C-labeled methionine and observed that a labeled compound accumulated under anaerobiosis, a con- dition that prevents ethylene synthesis. They identified the compound as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, or ACC, and showed that it could be readily converted to ethylene by plant tissues under aerobic conditions. This discovery led to the identification of the enzymes responsible for production of ACC from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and for conver- sion of ACC to ethylene, their eventual cloning and charac- terization, and opportunities for the genetic and chemical manipulation of ethylene biosynthesis and action in plants. Yang also discovered that the methylthioribose group from SAM is recycled back into methionine formation following ACC synthesis to sustain high rates of ethylene production, which has been termed the “Yang Cycle.” In addition, he studied cyanide metabolism (after discovering that cyanide is a by-product of ethylene biosynthesis) and the effects of sulfur dioxide on plant cellular processes. The elucidation of the ethylene biosynthetic pathway and the enzymes involved stimulated many studies of how this pathway is regulated in plants by both internal and external factors. The specific roles of different gene family members encoding the ethylene biosynthetic enzymes have been elucidated for a number of important plant growth stages. Yang’s work focused attention on ethylene in plant biology, subsequently resulting in the first identification of a plant hormone receptor and a detailed understanding of the molecular signaling pathways by which ethylene is perceived in plant cells. Yang also contributed to the development of ethylene-releasing compounds that allow the convenient application of ethylene to promote fruit ripening or to fa- cilitate harvest. He helped to develop chemical antagonists

shang fa yang 335 that block ethylene action and are now used commercially to extend the life of cut flowers. This dual focus exemplifies Shang Fa Yang’s scientific contributions: rigorous studies of fundamental mechanisms in plant biochemistry and the si- multaneous application of that knowledge to solve problems in crop production and storage. Shang Fa Yang did not know the exact date of his birth in Taiwan but deduced that it was in late October or early November of 1932; he celebrated his birthday on November 10. He was the youngest child of a large family (five elder brothers and six elder sisters). His father, Chian-Zuai Yang, was a businessman involved in the production of maltose from sugarcane in Tainan City, but the factory was sold in 1936 and his father became a miller. Yang entered primary school when he was seven years old and began to learn Japanese, as Taiwan was under Japanese control at that time. Every morning, students assembled for a speech by the Japanese head of the school, who exhorted them to grow strong to beat the Americans. Yang’s mother died when he was in the fifth grade, and his third eldest sister took care of him afterward. Near the end of 1944 American aircraft began to bomb Taiwan and air raid alarms were frequently heard. Yang noted that he particularly remembered March 1, 1945, when the city was bombed and houses were burning. He took refuge in a bomb shelter with friends and emerged later to discover that a 500-kg bomb had created a crater only about 500 meters from their shelter. He considered himself very lucky to have escaped injury. His family then moved to the countryside but returned to Tainan City after the Japanese surrender in August 1945. However, life was very difficult due to food shortages. Rice was expensive and hard to find, and their main food was radishes. He resumed middle school in 1946, still using Japanese and starting to learn Chinese. Armed soldiers from mainland China were in

336 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS the streets and the situation in Taiwan remained dangerous for several more years. When he was in senior high school, Yang also lost his father. Yang entered National Taiwan University in 1952 and studied agricultural chemistry because he wanted to help the farmers and thus promote agriculture in Taiwan. Al- though food remained in short supply and his nutrition was poor, Yang was active as a leader of student organizations. He received his B.S. degree in 1956 after writing a 40-page research report in English, and subsequently completed an M.S. degree, also in agricultural chemistry from the National Taiwan University, in 1958. Although funding for research was limited, Yang was highly motivated and initiated inde- pendent studies with the support of his professors. When he discussed his research with his colleagues and profes- sors, he used a mixed language of Japanese, Taiwanese, and Mandarin. Reference books from Japan were much cheaper than the books from the United States, so he read many bio- chemistry journals in Japanese. Yang remained sufficiently fluent to present seminars in Japanese when he was invited to Japan in his later years. He also was asked to learn Ger- man before he got his M.S. degree. He studied hard and passed his exam, but did not claim to be good in German. He planned to study abroad, and in consequence was also required to undertake four months of basic army training before being allowed to leave. Yang received a scholarship to study in the United States, where he attended Utah State University and worked with G. W. Miller on the effects of fluoride on plant biochemistry and metabolism (Yang and Miller, 1963), receiving his Ph.D. in 1962 in plant biochemistry. He then pursued postdoctoral research with Paul K. Stumpf at the University of California, Davis, where he studied lipid biosynthesis in avocado fruits (Yang and Stumpf, 1965). He then accepted a postdoctoral

shang fa yang 337 fellowship with B. N. LaDu at New York University Medical School in 1963-1964 but determined that he did not like working with animals or living in the city. However, not all was lost, as he met Eleanor Liu, an accounting student at NYU, who subsequently became his wife in September 1965. He returned to California and to plant biochemistry in 1964 as a postdoctoral scientist with Andrew A. Benson at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla. In 1966 Yang was hired as an assistant biochemist in the Department of Vegetable Crops at the University of California, Davis, and immediately began studies of the plant hormone ethylene that would be the focus of his scientific career. Yang was hired to conduct research on the postharvest biochemistry of fruits and vegetables, a topic of considerable importance to the horticultural industry in California, which ships fresh produce long distances to markets in the eastern United States and internationally. He initially shared a labora- tory in the newly constructed Mann Laboratory with Harlan K. Pratt, a pioneering researcher in the ethylene physiology of fruits. The gaseous compound was known to hasten the ripening of fruits and to cause growth distortions in grow- ing plants, and had been shown in 1934 to be produced by ripening fruits. Pratt had constructed a gas chromatograph that could measure the parts-per-million concentrations of ethylene produced by plants and had demonstrated the close relationship between ethylene and fruit ripening. However, little was known about the pathway of ethylene biosynthesis in plants, and Yang set out to apply his biochemical expertise to this aspect of plant ethylene biology. The modern search for the ethylene biosynthetic pathway began in 1965 when Morris Lieberman’s group discovered that both plants and in vitro chemical systems converted methionine into ethylene. Yang’s first paper on ethylene (1966) explored the intricacies of an in vitro model system

338 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS for the generation of ethylene from methionine, and he utilized both in vitro and in vivo approaches to explore po- tential intermediates of and mechanisms for the conversion of methionine to ethylene (1972; Baur and Yang, 1969). He also studied the mechanism of formation of ethylene from 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in plant tissues (Yang, 1969; Yamaguchi et al., 1971). This compound, under the generic name of ethephon, enabled the commercial application of ethylene for agricultural purposes, as it is taken up by plants and converted into ethylene. It has been widely used as a fruit-ripening agent, to loosen fruits for harvest and for de- foliation of cotton before harvest. Continuing studies on the biogenesis of ethylene showed that methionine was converted to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and that SAM was a precursor of ethylene. In addi- tion, under anaerobic conditions that prevented ethylene formation, a labeled compound accumulated in tissues sup- plied with 14C-SAM (1977). This discovery stimulated active competition among various groups to identify the unknown intermediate between SAM and ethylene. This intensive effort culminated in the identification of 1-aminocyclopropane-1- carboxylic acid (ACC) as the immediate in vivo precursor of ethylene (1979[1]). Yang quickly developed a sensitive assay for ACC via its chemical conversion to ethylene (1979[2]), which facilitated wide-ranging studies by his group on the regulation of ACC and ethylene biosynthesis in plant growth, fruit ripening, and stress responses (1980[1,2]; Hoffman and Yang, 1980; Yang et al., 1980). With the identification of the two key steps in ethylene biosynthesis, the conversion of SAM to ACC and of ACC to ethylene, Yang turned his attention to the identification of the enzymes responsible for them. His group and that of Hans Kende at Michigan State University soon reported the isolation of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylate synthase,

shang fa yang 339 the enzyme responsible for the conversion of SAM to ACC (1979[4]; Boller et al., 1979). Isolation of the ethylene- forming enzyme, or ACC oxidase, was a more difficult task, and many studies of ACC metabolism were conducted in conjunction with this search. Yang’s group determined that ACC could be malonylated and that this pool of conjugated ACC was largely unavailable for conversion to ethylene (1982[1]). Light, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water stress all influenced the conversion of ACC to ethylene (reviewed in 1984[1]). The conversion of ACC to ethylene was also stereospecific, as demonstrated by the differential conversion of stereoisomers of 1-amino-2-ethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid to 1-butene (1982[2]). This provided an important test for the enzymatic conversion of ACC to ethylene versus non- specific chemical conversion (McKeon and Yang, 1983) that was important in the subsequent isolation of ACC oxidase (1992). Additionally, Yang’s group demonstrated that cyanide was a by-product during the enzymatic conversion of ACC to ethylene (1984[2], 1988). Under conditions involving high rates of ethylene synthesis, such as following induction by auxin or during fruit ripening, the cyanide detoxification enzyme L-3-cyanoalanine synthase removes cyanide resulting from the oxidation of ACC, thereby maintaining a safe level of cyanide in these tissues (1988). These metabolic studies also revealed that methionine pools were too low in plant tissues to sustain the observed rates of ethylene synthesis. Yang’s group demonstrated that after ACC is released from SAM, the methylthioribose moi- ety from the remaining methylthioadenosine is recycled to replenish methionine levels and sustain ethylene biosynthesis (Miyazaki and Yang, 1987). Some had speculated that the methylthio group would simply be attached to an existing homocysteine molecule to form a new methionine molecule, thus recycling only the methylthio group. Yang’s research

340 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS confirmed that both the methylthio group and ribose carbons from methylthioadenosine became part of the newly formed methionine. The reactions of this recycling pathway (Yang et al., 1990) were known in other systems (bacteria, yeast, rat liver extracts), but Yang’s group was the first to demonstrate that it was active in plants, and it has been christened the “Yang Cycle” in plant biochemistry textbooks. As the tools became available for cloning and character- izing the genes responsible for the steps in ethylene biosyn- thesis, Yang contributed to many studies of the regulation of those genes in fruit ripening, plant growth, wounding, and stress responses (1991; 1994; Yip et al., 1992; Shiu et al., 1998; Yang and Oetiker, 1998). Particularly noteworthy were his studies of the active sites and mechanisms of action of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase (1990; Li et al., 1996; Shaw et al., 1996; Zhou et al., 1999; Charng et al., 2001). Yang wrote numerous highly cited reviews and book chapters that defined ethylene biosynthesis and its role in plant biology for a generation of students and researchers (Yang, 1980, 1984[1], 1985). While most widely known for his work on ethylene bio- synthesis and action, Yang also maintained active research programs in other areas of plant growth and metabolism, including on auxin metabolism and action (1979[3]; Aha- roni and Yang, 1983), cytokinin action (Lau and Yang, 1973; Chen et al., 2001), and the biological effects of sulfite and sulfur dioxide (Peiser and Yang, 1979, 1985). In all his work Yang continually linked his discoveries to practical applications in postharvest biology and plant growth regulation. He applied his knowledge of chemistry and physiology to learn more about ethylene biosynthesis, and he utilized this information to improve postharvest storage conditions and product quality (Hyodo et al., 1978; Yang, 1987; Yang and Oetiker, 1998). His knowledge of the literature

shang fa yang 341 related to ethylene and plant hormones was encyclopedic, and he was continually testing and retesting fundamental mechanisms and interactions as new data became available. Yang was a rigorous but positive mentor and role model to his graduate students and postdoctoral associates and actively encouraged and assisted them in obtaining positions and advancing their careers. Shang Fa Yang traveled extensively, including sabbatical leaves in Germany, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Japan. He figured prominently at many national and international research conferences and served on the editorial boards of leading journals and as a member of several professional and scientific societies. He won many awards and honors, including the Campbell Award of the American Institute of Biological Sciences in 1969, a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1982, the International Plant Growth Substances Association Research Award in 1985, and the Outstanding Researcher Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science in 1992. Yang was named the University of California, Davis, Faculty Research Lecturer in 1992, the highest honor given by this institution for excellence in research. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1990 and to the Aca- demia Sinica in Taiwan in 1992. In 1991 Yang received the prestigious international Wolf Prize in Agriculture, often con- sidered to be the “Nobel Prize” for agricultural research. After an outstanding career as professor and biochemist at the University of California, Davis, Yang took early retire- ment in 1994 to accept a Distinguished Professorship at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where he established an active plant research group in the Department of Biology. He continued his work on ethylene, particularly on the characterization of the structure and function of ACC synthase (2000; Li et al., 1996; Zhou et al., 1999). He also coedited a book on Discoveries in Plant

342 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS Biology with his colleague S. D. Kung at HKUST (Kung and Yang, 1998). In 1995 Yang was recognized as a Distinguished Research Fellow by the Institute of Botany of the Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan. He returned to Taiwan in 1996 to serve as the director of the Institute of Botany and sub- sequently as vice president of Academia Sinica from 1996 to 1999. In this position he directed its numerous research institutes, including the establishment of the new Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (subsequently renamed the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center). He also served as the first chief director of the National Science and Tech- nology Program for Agricultural Biotechnology, which funds and oversees research and development projects related to agricultural biotechnology in Taiwan. Yang played important leadership roles in advancing plant biology and agricultural biotechnology in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Following his service with Academia Sinica, Yang retired to Davis, California, although he continued to publish additional scientific work. Shang Fa Yang passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from complications of pneumonia on February 12, 2007, at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, and two sons, Albert and Bryant, who have pursued careers in engi- neering and chemistry, respectively. Prior to his death, Yang was planning to endow a program to foster greater scien- tific exchange between the University of California and the Academia Sinica. This initiative was continued by Eleanor, Albert, and Bryant, and culminated in the establishment of the Shang Fa and Eleanor Yang Scholarly Exchange Endow- ment in October 2007. This endowment will support visits of scholars in the agricultural, biological, and chemical sciences between the University of California, Davis, and Academia Sinica, Taiwan, two institutions that Shang Fa Yang loved and served with distinction.

shang fa yang 343 Shang Fa Yang’s contributions to plant biology, including his discovery of the pathway for ethylene biosynthesis, the elucidation of the Yang Cycle and his work on auxin, sulfur, and cyanide metabolism, are described in more than 225 journal articles and book chapters that he published during his career. He has earned a significant and enduring place in the modern history of plant biochemistry. His humor and humanity endeared him to students, colleagues, and friends, who also appreciated and benefitted from his remarkable intelligence. His untimely death prematurely ended a life devoted to scholarship, teaching, and service. The author is grateful to Eleanor, Albert, and Bryant Yang for sharing personal information and reviewing this contribution for accuracy. Yee-Yung Charng, Neil E. Hoffman, John H. Miyazaki, Galen D. Peiser, and Wing Kin Yip reviewed the draft and contributed additional information to the final document. Details from Yang’s early life in Taiwan were translated from Chinese by Lianhai Fu from The Collec- tions in Commemoration of Dr. Shang Fa Yang’s Retirement prepared in 1999 by the Institute of Plant Research of the Academia Sinica and edited by Yu Qin Huang.

344 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS REFERENCES Aharoni, N., and S. F. Yang. 1983. Auxin-induced ethylene produc- tion as related to auxin metabolism in leaf discs of tobacco and sugar beet. Plant Physiol. 73:598-604. Baur, A. H., and S. F. Yang. 1969. Precursors of ethylene. Plant Physiol. 44:1347-1349. Boller, T., R. C. Herner, and H. Kende. 1979. Assay for and enzymatic formation of an ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-car- boxylic acid. Planta 145:293-303. Charng, Y., S. J. Chou, W. T. Jiaang, S. T. Chen, and S. F. Yang. 2001. The catalytic mechanism of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 385:179-185. Chen, L. F. O., J. Y. Hwang, Y. Y. Charng, C. W. Sun, and S. F. Yang. 2001. Transformation of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) with isopentenyltransferase gene via Agrobacterium tumefaciens for post- harvest yellowing retardation. Molec. Breed. 7:243-257. Hoffman, N. E., and S. F. Yang. 1980. Changes of l-aminocyclopro- pane-l-carboxylic acid content in ripening fruits in relation to their ethylene production rates. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 105:492-495. Hyodo, H., H. Kuroda, and S. F. Yang. 1978. Induction of phenylala- nine ammonia-lyase and increase in phenolics in lettuce leaves in relation to the development of russet spotting caused by ethylene. Plant Physiol. 62:31-35. Kung, S. D., and S. F. Yang, eds. 1998. Discoveries in Plant Biology, vol. 2. Singapore: World Scientific. Lau, O., and S. F. Yang. 1973. Mechanism of a synergistic effect of kinetin on auxin-induced ethylene production—suppression of auxin conjugation. Plant Physiol. 51:1011-1014. Li, N., S. Huxtabel, S. F. Yang, and S. D. Kung. 1996. Effects of N- terminal deletions on 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate synthase activity. FEBS Lett. 378:286-290. McKeon, T. A., and S. F. Yang. 1983. A comparison of the conversion of l-amino-2-ethylcyc1opropane-l-carboxylic acid stereoisomers to 1-butene by pea epicotyls and by a cell free system. Planta 160:84- 87. Miyazaki, J. H., and S. F. Yang. 1987. Metabolism of 5-methylthiori- bose to methionine. Plant Physiol. 84:277-281. Peiser, G. D., and S. F. Yang. 1979. Ethylene and ethane production from sulfur dioxide-injured plants. Plant Physiol. 63:142-145.

shang fa yang 345 Peiser, G., and S. F. Yang. 1985. Biochemical and physiological effects of SO2 on nonphotosynthetic processes in plants. In Sulfur Dioxide and Vegetation, eds. W. E. Winner, H. A. Mooney, and R. A. Gold- stein, pp. 148-161. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press. Shaw, J. P., Y. S. Chou, R. C. Chang, and S. F. Yang. 1996. Character- ization of the ferrous ion binding sites of apple l-aminocyclopro- pane-l-carboxylate oxidase by site-directed mutagenesis. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 225:697-700. Shiu, O. Y., J. H. Oetiker, W. K. Yip, and S. F. Yang. 1998. Promoter of LE-ACS7, an early flooding-induced l-aminocyclopropane-l-carbox- ylate synthase gene of the tomato, is tagged by a So/3 transposon. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95:10334-10339. Yamaguchi, M., C. W. Chu, and S. F. Yang. 1971. The fate of 14C (2- chloroethyl) phosphonic acid in summer squash, cucumber, and tomato. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 96:606-609. Yang, S. F. 1969. Ethylene evolution from 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid. Plant Physiol. 44:1203-1204. Yang, S. F. 1980. Regulation of ethylene biosynthesis. Hortscience 15:238-243. Yang, S. F. 1985. Biosynthesis and action of ethylene. Hortscience 20:41-45. Yang, S. F. 1987. Regulation of biosynthesis and action of ethylene. Acta Hortic. 201:53-59. Yang, S. F., D. O. Adams, C. Lizada, Y. Yu, K. J. Bradford, A. C. Cameron, and N. E. Hoffman. 1980. Mechanism and regulation of ethylene biosynthesis. In Plant Growth Substances 1979, ed. F. Skoog, pp. 219-229. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Yang, S. F., and G. W. Miller. 1963. Biochemical studies on the ef- fect of fluoride on higher plants. 1. Metabolism of carbohydrates, organic acids and amino acids. Biochem. J. 88:505-509. Yang, S. F., and J. H. Oetiker. 1998. Molecular biology of ethylene biosynthesis and its application in horticulture. J. Japan. Soc. Hort. Sci. 67:1209-1214. Yang, S. F., and P. K. Stumpf. 1965. Fat metabolism in higher plants. 21. Biosynthesis of fatty acids by avocado mesocarp enzyme systems. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 98:19-26. Yang, S. F., W.-K. Yip, S. Satoh, J. H. Miyazaki, X. Jiao, Y. Liu, L.-Y. Su, and G. D. Peiser. 1990. Metabolic aspects of ethylene biosynthesis. In Plant Growth Substances 1988, eds. R. P. Pharis and S. Rood, pp. 291-299. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.

346 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS Yip, W.-K., T. Moore, and S. F. Yang. 1992. Differential accumulation of transcripts for four tomato 1-aminocyc1opropane-1-carboxylate synthase homologs under various conditions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 89:2475-2479. Zhou, H. Q., H. W. Wang, K. Zhu, S. F. Sui, P. L. Xu, S. F. Yang, and N. Li. 1999. The multiple roles of conserved arginine 286 of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase. Coenzyme binding, substrate binding, and beyond. Plant Physiol. 121(3):913-919.

shang fa yang 347 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1966 With H. S. Ku and H. K. Pratt. Ethylene production from methionine as mediated by flavin mononucleotide and light. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 24:739-743. 1972 With A. H. Baur. Methionine metabolism in apple tissue in relation to ethylene biosynthesis. Phytochemistry 11:3207-3214. 1976 With O. L. Lau. Inhibition of ethylene production by cobaltous ion. Plant Physiol. 58:114-117. 1977 With D. O Adams. Methionine metabolism in apple tissue. Implica- tion of S-adenosylmethionine as an intermediate in the conversion of methionine to ethylene. Plant Physiol. 60:893-896. 1979 [1] With D. O. Adams. Ethylene biosynthesis: Identification of l- aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid as an intermediate in the conversion of methionine to ethylene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 76:170-174. [2] With M. C. C. Lizada. A simple and sensitive assay for l-aminocy- clopropane-l-carboxylic acid. Anal. Biochem. 100:140-145. [3] With Y. B. Yu. Auxin-induced ethylene production and its inhi- bition by aminoethoxyvinylglycine and cobalt ion. Plant Physiol. 64:1074-1077. [4] With Y. B. Yu and D. O. Adams. l-aminocyclopropanecarboxylate synthase, a key enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 198:280-286. [5] With A. C. Cameron, C. A. L. Fenton, and D. O. Adams. Increased production of ethylene by plant tissues treated with l-aminocyclo- propane-l-carboxylic acid. Hortscience 4:178-180.

348 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 1980 [1] With K. J. Bradford. 1980. Xylem transport of l-aminocyclopro- pane-l-carboxylic acid, an ethylene precursor, in waterlogged tomato plants. Plant Physiol. 65:322-326. [2] With Y. B. Yu. Biosynthesis of wound ethylene. Plant Physiol. 66:281-285. 1981 With A. Apelbaum. Biosynthesis of stress ethylene induced by water deficit. Plant Physiol. 68:594-596. 1982 [1] With N. E. Hoffman and T. McKeon. Identification of 1-(malo- nylamino) cyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid as a major conjugate of l-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid, an ethylene precursor in higher plants. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 104:765-770. [2] With N. E. Hoffman, A. Ichihara, and S. Sakamura. Stereospecific conversion of 1-aminocyc1opropane-carboxylic acid to ethylene by plant tissue: Conversion of stereoisomers of 1-amino-2-ethylenecyc1o- propanecarboxylic acid to 1-butene. Plant Physiol. 70:195-199. [3] With C. H. Kao. Light inhibition of the conversion of 1-amino- cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid to ethylene in leaves is mediated through carbon dioxide. Planta 155:261-266. 1984 [1] With N. E. Hoffman. Ethylene biosynthesis and its regulation in higher plants. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 35:155-189. [2] With G. D. Peiser, T. Wang, N. E. Hoffman, H. Liu, and C. T. Walsh. Formation of cyanide from carbon 1 of l-aminocyc1opro- pane-l-carboxylic acid during its conversion to ethylene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 81:3059-3063. [3] With E. C. Sisler. Anti-ethylene effects of cis-2-butene and cyclic olefins. Phytochemistry 23:2765-2768. 1987 With J. H. Miyazaki. The methionine salvage pathway in relation to ethylene and polyamine biosynthesis. Physiol. Plant. 69:366-370.

shang fa yang 349 1988 With W.-K. Yip. Cyanide metabolism in relation to ethylene produc- tion in plant tissues. Plant Physiol. 88:473-476. 1990 With W.-K. Yip, J.-G. Dong, J. W. Kenny, and G. A. Thompson. Characterization and sequencing of the active site of 1-aminocy- c1opropane-1-carboxylate synthase. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 87:7930-7934. 1991 With J.-G. Dong, W. T. Kim, W. K. Yip, G. A. Thompson, L. Li, and A. B. Bennett. Cloning of a cDNA encoding 1-aminocyc1opropane- 1-carboxylate synthase and expression of its mRNA in ripening apple fruit. Planta 185:38-45. 1992 With J.-G. Dong and J. C. Fernandez-Maculet. Purification and char- acterization of 1-aminocyc1opropane-1-carboxylate oxidase from apple fruit. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 89:9789-9793. 1994 With W. T. Kim. Structure and expression of cDNAs encoding l- aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylate oxidase homologs isolated from excised mung bean hypocotyls. Planta 194:223-229. 2000 With L. Ge, J. Z. Liu, W. S. Wong, W. L. W. Hsiao, K. Chong, S. D. Kung, and N. Li. Identification of a novel multiple environmental factor-responsive 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene, NT-ACS2, from tobacco. Plant Cell Environ. 23:1169-1182.

Next: VERNON ROBERT YOUNG »
Biographical Memoirs: Volume 91 Get This Book
×
Buy Hardback | $107.00 Buy Ebook | $84.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

Biographic Memoirs Volume 91 contains the biographies of deceased members of the National Academy of Sciences and bibliographies of their published works. Each biographical essay was written by a member of the Academy familiar with the professional career of the deceased. For historical and bibliographical purposes, these volumes are worth returning to time and again.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!