CHANGES IN THE ACTIVITY AND ISOZYME PATTERNS OF ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASEIN DEVELOPING AND GERMINATING-SEEDS OF YELLOW LUPINE

A relatively high activity of alcohol dehydrogenase was observed in de veloping seeds of yellow lupine, reaching 4 U/seed. Electrophoretic an alysis demonstrated three molecular forms of the enzyme isolated from embryo axes while two forms of the enzyme were present in cotyledons a nd seed coats, corresponding to the two slowly migrating forms from em bryo axes. Pattern of molecular forms in dry seeds and germinating see ds was the same as that in developing seeds: cotyledons contained two forms while embryonal seedling axes contained three forms of the enzym e. The pattern of electrophoretic enzyme forms in cotyledons and axes of seedlings showed no changes within 72 h of germination. However, ch anges were observed in activity of alcohol dehydrogenase during germin ation. In embryonic axes, th activity was increasing, reaching peak va lues in the 24th h of imbibition followed by an abrupt decrease (after seed coat perforation by the axis). In cotyledons the changes in acti vity were insignificant. When coat was removed, a rapid decrease in en zyme activity was observed in axes, associated with increase in the ac tivity in cotyledons. In discussion, it was stressed that ADH form of tile highest electrophoretic mobility is specific for the embryo axis.