Cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase in Gymnosperms

Sixteen species of Gymnosperms have been screened for cytosolic ascorbate p eroxidase by means of native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This analy sis shows that a single form of the enzyme is the most common situation. Th e enzyme reveals a similar electrophoretic mobility in species belonging to the same genus and sometimes to different genera. In some Pinaceae, two ba nds of activity were observed. The presence in the archaic spermatophyte Gi nkgo biloba, as well as in the more advanced monocotyledons, of three isofo rms of ascorbate peroxidase, might suggest that three different cytosolic a scorbate peroxidase genes were already present in this archaic species.