EFFECT OF HEAVY-METALS ON NITRATE AND PROTEIN-METABOLISM IN SUGAR-BEET

Nitrate content, activities of nitrate reductase and glutamine synthet ase, soluble protein content, and proportion of ribulose-1,5-bisphosph ate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) protein in total proteins were meas ured in leaves of Beta vulgaris L. plants affected by nickel, cadmium, and molybdenum in concentrations of 10(-4), 10(-2) and 1 mM. The most harmful effect on the above mentioned parameters had Cd, less harmful Ni, whereas Mo stimulated the investigated parameters. The proportion of RuBPCO protein showed a high tolerance to heavy metals.