IDENTIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROFILIN IN TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON-ESCULENTUM MILL)

Profilin is a G-actin monomer-binding protein which has been shown to participate in actin-based tip-growth of animal eels. The abundance of profilin in pollen and its occurrence in several vegetable foods rais es the question of-the role of profilin in plants. First, its distribu tion throughout various parts of the plant needs to be determined. Thi s paper describes observations on the presence of profilin in the toma to plant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The distribution of profilin in flower buds, stems, leaves, roots, and fruits of tomato was determ ined by immunoblotting and by tissue printing, showing that profilin i s present in most if not all parts of the tomato plant.