DIFFERENCES IN COMPOUNDS RELEASED BY EMBRYOGENIC AND NONEMBRYOGENIC SUSPENSION-CULTURES OF EUPHORBIA-PULCHERRIMA

Media from embryogenic and non-embryogenic cell suspension cultures we re analysed for protein content, electrophoretic protein patterns, gly coproteins and activity of peroxidases and beta-glucosidases in order to characterize the physiological status of the cultures. On a dry mas s basis the amount of extracellular proteins per cell was greater in e mbryogenic suspensions than in non-embryogenic suspensions. Non-embryo genic suspensions contained unidentified slimy compounds which were no t present in embryogenic cultures. The extracellular Concanavalin A-sp ecific glycoproteins gave different isoelectric focussing patterns and thus enabled embryogenic and non-embryogenic cultures to be different iated. The extracellular peroxidase activity per cell dry mass was far greater in embryogenic than in nonembryogenic cultures. The isoenzyme s differed in number and composition of the anionic bands. beta-glucos idases were found in the same range of activity in both culture types, but the time course of enzyme activity during cultivation was signifi cantly different. In the embryogenic culture the activity was correlat ed with dry mass increase, whereas in the non-embryogenic suspension t he activity reached maximum during the linear growth phase. Polyphenol oxidase which was recently recognized as an intracellular marker for e mbryogenic stages was not released into culture media.