TRITIATED-WATER ((HHO)-H-3) INDUCED CHANGES IN ENZYMES OF CEREALS DURING GERMINATION

Germination of the cereals barley, wheat and maize in tritiated water ((HHO)-H-3; 1850 kBq ml(-1)) revealed that various enzyme changes occu rred. Whole grain extracts of cereals germinated for 24, 48 and 72 h i n (HHO)-H-3 were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide ge l electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), SDS-PAGE-zymography and native electroph oresis for changes in protein profile, proteolytic and phosphohydrolyt ic activities, respectively. Protein patterns and acid and alkaline ph osphohydrolytic enzymes of all cereals were not affected by the presen ce of tritium during germination for 72 h. In wheat grains a gelatinol ytic activity of approximate to 70 kDa after 24 h and one in maize of approximate to 200 kDa after 72 h of germination were induced by triti um. In contrast, tritium inhibited the appearance of a approximate to 60 kDa proteolytic activity of maize after 24 h and a approximate to 5 0 kDa proteolytic activity of barley after 72 h of germination. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.