In order to study the rate control step in the protein metabolic course of the chlorophyll formation, the transaminase activities which are obtained freely in the extracts of cotyledons of germinating peas at the light and the dark places, are measured in Beckman mopel D.U, spectrophoto meter at 490 mu.
In this case, of two enzymatic reaction products; oxalacetic acid and pyruvic acid, the former is converted to pyruvic acid by aniline citrate and after each pyruvate phenyl hydrazones are extracted by toluenes: when this is treated with strong alcoholic alkali, a colored hydrazone is formed and it is measured by above apparatus.
The estimated G.O.T. and G.P.T. in the germinated cotyledons at dark and light places considerably differ in their activities; G.O.T. and G.P.T. activities which are formed at the light are more increased than at the dark and also they differ in their rates through germination, though G.O.T. activity increment is smoothly but that of G.P.T. is more sharply, and they are considered to be directly affected to the chlorophyll formation and indirectly to the growth.
G.O.T. and G.P.T. in each fractions of cell in the cotyledons should be formed by dissociation of zymogens in the microsomal fractions and it seems to promoted by light.
In the formation of the chlorophyll, the protein metabolism occurred mainly in the microsomal fractions and the rate determining step is found at the point where the zymogene that is able to produce G.P.T. is activated, and this activation is promoted by light as noted above.
|