1-MCP Theme

Mechanism of Action of 1-Methylcyclopropene

1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a cyclic hydrocarbon compound containing double bonds. It exists in a gas state at room temperature, is colorless and odorless, and has a boiling point of about 12°C. It is not very stable in the liquid state. Both 1-MCP and ethylene can attract electrons from metal ions in the ethylene acceptor and pair with them, but the combination of the two is competitive. Under normal circumstances, ethylene combines with the metal atoms in the receptor in the body, causing the receptor structure to change, and then falling off the receptor, the ethylene receptor is activated. 1-MCP is a highly strained molecule. After binding to the acceptor metal by its own double bond, it has high strain and strong receptor inhibition effect, which can make 1-MCP firmly bind to the receptor site, and block the receptor without dissociation for a long time to prevent the binding of ethylene to its receptor. This binding state of 1-MCP and the receptor can also prevent plants from forming physiologically active substances, which can disrupt the signal transduction of ethylene, and inhibit the play of the physiological effects of ethylene.

It can act irreversibly on ethylene receptors, thereby blocking the normal binding with ethylene and inhibiting a series of physiological and biochemical reactions induced by it after fruit ripening, extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by more than 50~200%. Compared with traditional ethylene inhibitors such as (STS), 2,5-norbornene and (AVG), 1-MCP has the advantages of non-toxicity, low amount and high efficiency.