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Factors affecting endo-β-mannanase activity in the endosperms of fenugreek and carob seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Fanouris Kontos
Affiliation:
Institute of General Botany, Department of Biology, University of Athens, 157 84 Athens. Greece
Caroline G. Spyropoulos*
Affiliation:
Institute of General Botany, Department of Biology, University of Athens, 157 84 Athens. Greece
Alison Griffen
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
J. Derek Bewley
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
*
*Correspondence

Abstract

Endosperms of fenugreek and carob which have been leached following their isolation exhibit increased activity of endo-β-mannanase, part of which is released into the surrounding incubation medium. This activity was suppressed by the addition to the endosperms of abscisic acid or endosperm/seed coat leachate. The leachate from carob inhibited the increase of endo-β-mannanase activity in fenugreek and that from fenugreek inhibited enzyme activity in carob but more weakly; neither of these leachates inhibited the production of α-amylase in wheat endosperm. Polyethylene glycol-induced stress on non-leached endosperms inhibited endo-β-mannanase production, but not when the stress was applied following endosperm leaching. However, the stress did reduce the amount of enzyme released into the surrounding incubation medium. Several isoenzymes of mannanase could be detected on isoelectric focusing activity gels in the endosperms of both fenugreek and carob, but their pis differed between the two species. When activity was suppressed by ABA or leachate, all pl forms declined equally.

Type
Physiology and Biochemistry
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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