VISUALIZATION OF BARLEY BETA-GLUCAN DEGRADING ISOZYMES AFTER GEL ISOELECTRIC-FOCUSING

A simple method to study the polymorphism of barley (Hovdeum vulgare L .) beta-(1-3,1-4)-glucanases (specific enzymes of barley beta-glucan h ydrolysis) is described. Proteins of a crude extract of germinated bar ley kernels were Separated in an immobilized pH gradient in two pH ran ges (pH 3-10.5 and pH 4-7). beta-glucanases were visualized by contact printing with a polyacrylamide gel containing beta-glucan or lichenan . Patterns of beta-glucanases were revealed by staining with Congo Red with resultant clear zones on a stained background. Various condition s of germination, extraction and visualization were investigated. New isozyme bands could be detected and their nature and origin discussed.