| Abstract: | During germination and early growth the general immuno-electrophoretic pattern of soluble proteins of two wheat species showed similar changes. Several of the antigenie proteins detected, including the esterase and peroxidase, did not appear to be modified up to 13 days from the start of germination. Others decreased in quantity or disappeared altogether. In contrast to the esterase and peroxidase, the amylolytic enzymes exhibited marked changes. The antigenic β-amylases existing in electrophoretically different forms in the mature wheat seeds appeared to change to an electrophoretically more homogeneous form in germinated seeds. The (β-amylase in germinated wheat seeds retained its antigenic resemblance to the forms of the mature seeds but differed in other aspects from these isozymes. The antigenic α-amylase of germinated seeds was shown to be absent from the mature seeds, even as an inactive-form. Its increase in activity during germination was ascribed to a synthesis rather than activation of a precursor or proenzyme. |
