METABOLISM OF AMINO-ACIDS IN GERMINATING YELLOW LUPIN SEEDS - II - PATHWAY OF CONVERSION OF ASPARTATE TO ALANINE DURING THE IMBIBITION

The incorporation of C-14-aspartate during the imbibition of yellow lu pin seeds resulted in the production of C-14-alanine and (CO2.)-C-14 O n the basis of tracer and enzymatic assays, conducted in vitro on the extract obtained from lupin. seeds, ii is postulated that aspartate ca n be converted to oxaloacetate, then, by phosphoenolopyruvate and pyru vate to alanine. This pathway can be catalyzed by the following enzyme s: aspartate aminotransferase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, pyru vate kinase and alanine aminotransferase.