cytokinine

Cytokinine is not a term widely recognized in established scientific literature. In most contexts, it appears to be a misspelling or conflation of two different classes of signaling molecules: cytokinins, a group of plant hormones, and cytokines, proteins involved in cell signaling in animals and other organisms. There is no widely accepted chemical entity named “cytokinine” in major databases.

If the author meant cytokinins: Cytokinins are adenine-derived plant hormones that regulate cell division and various developmental processes. They promote shoot initiation, delay leaf senescence, and interact with auxins to influence root and shoot architecture. They are synthesized mainly in root tips and young organs and transported through the xylem. Common examples include zeatin, kinetin, and benzylaminopurine. Cytokinin signaling involves receptor histidine kinases and a phosphorelay that ultimately affects gene expression and growth responses.

If the author meant cytokines: Cytokines are small secreted proteins that mediate communication between cells, especially within the immune system. They include interleukins, interferons, chemokines, and tumor necrosis factors. Cytokines regulate inflammation, hematopoiesis, and tissue repair through autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine modes. Their activities are highly context-dependent, and they can have pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects.

In scientific writing, using the correct term helps avoid confusion. See cytokinins for plant hormone functions and cytokines for immune signaling.