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The changes of calmodulin levels, calmodulin-binding proteins, and Ca^(2+)/calmodulin-dependent glutamate decarboxylase during the growth of tobacco suspension cells were investigated. Tobacco cells exhibited a typical growth curve, including an exponential growth phase between 3 and 5 days after inoculation, and an apparent stationary phase occurring after 5 day. Although slight changes were observed from sample to sample, calmodulin protein levels remained similar during the phases of culture growth. Several Ca^(2+)-dependent calmodulin-binding proteins including 56, 46, 36, and 32-kDa proteins were detected in tobacco cell extracts. The 56-kDa protein was identified as glutamate decarboxylase by Western-blot analysis using an anti-GAD monoclonal antibody. The levels of GAD protein and the specific activity of GAD enzyme were highest during the middle exponential phase of the culture growth cycle. These data suggest that Ca^(2+)/calmodulin-dependent glutamate decarboxylase is modulated during the growth of tobacco suspension cells.
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