Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-zzh7m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T16:01:48.681Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Endo-β-mannanase activity and reserve mobilization in excised endosperms of fenugreek is affected by volume of incubation and abscisic acid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

L. Malek  and
J. D. Bewley
L. Malek
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada P7B 5E1
J. D. Bewley*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
*
* Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Galactomannan hydrolysis in isolated endosperms of fenugreek seeds is promoted by the presence of the embryo. Incubation in a large volume in the absence of the axis also results in endosperm mobilization and an increase in endo-β-mannanase activity. This is prevented when endosperms are incubated in a small volume, or when abscisic acid is present in the large volume. Fenugreek endosperms contain abscisic acid which is present in greater concentrations when these tissues have been incubated in a small volume rather than in a large volume. Antibodies prepared against purified tomato endo-β-mannanase detect the fenugreek enzyme on Western blots. Endosperms contain equal amounts of this enzyme whether they are incubated in a large volume, or in a small volume, or in the presence of abscisic acid. Thus, increased enzymic activity may not be related to increased synthesis, but rather to activation or release from the cells into the galactomannan-containing cell walls.

Keywords

endo-β-mannanaseendospermfenugreekgalactomannan
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , March 1991 , pp. 45 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bewley, J.D. and Black, M. (1985) Seeds. Physiology of development and germination, New York, London, Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dulson, J., Bewley, J.D. and Johnston, R.N. (1988) Abscisic acid is an endogenous inhibitor in the regulation of mannanase production by isolated lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Grand Rapids) endosperms. Plant Physiology 87, 660–665.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halmer, P. and Bewley, J.D. (1979) Mannanase production by the lettuce endosperm. Control by the embryo. Planta 144, 333–340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harlow, E. and Lane, D. (1988) Antibodies. A laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.Google Scholar
Jensenius, J.C., Anderson, I., Hau, J., Crone, M. and Koch, C. (1981) Eggs: conveniently packaged antibodies, methods for purification of yolk IgG. Journal of Immunological Methods 46, 63–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khan, A.A. (Ed.)(1982) The physiology and biochemistry of seed development, dormancy and seed germination. Amsterdam, New York. Oxford, Elsevier Biomedical Press.Google Scholar
McCleary, B.V. (1978) A simple assay procedure for β-D-mannanase. Carbohydrate Research 67, 213–221.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meier, H. and Reid, J.S.G. (1982) Reserve polysaccharides other than starch in higher plants. in Loewus, F.A. and Tanner, W. (Eds) Encyclopedia of plant physiology, New series 13A, Plant carbohydrates I. 418–471. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. Springer.Google Scholar
Mertens, R., Dues-Neuman, B. and Weiler, E.W. (1983) Monoclonal antibodies for the detection and quantitation of the endogenous plant growth regulator, abscisic acid. FEBS Letters 160, 269–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Farrell, P.H. (1975) High resolution two dimensional electrophoresis of proteins. Journal of Biological Chemistry 250, 4007–4021.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pressey, R. (1989) Endo-β-mannanase in tomato fruit. Phytochemistry 28, 3277–3280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raikhel, N.A., Hughes, D.W. and Galau, G.A. (1987) An enzyme-immunoassay for quantitative analysis of abscisic acid in wheat. in Molecular biology of plant growth control.197–207, New York, USA, A. Liss.Google Scholar
Reid, J.S.G. (1985) Cell wall storage carbohydrate in seeds: biochemistry of the seed ‘gums and hemicelluloses’. Advances in Botanical Research 11, 125–155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reid, J.S.G. and Bewley, J.D. (1979) A dual role for the endosperm and its galactomannan reserves in the germinative physiology of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum, L.), an endospermic leguminous seed. Planta 147, 145–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reid, J.S.G. and Meier, H. (1972) The function of the aleurone layer during galactomannan mobilization in germinating seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and lucern (Medicago saliva L.): a correlative biochemical and ultra-structural study. Planta (Berl.) 106, 44–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reid, J.S.G., Davies, C. and Meier, H. (1977) Endo-β-mannanase, the leguminous aleurone layer and the storage galactomannan in germinating seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Planta 133, 219–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spyropoulos, C.G. and Reid, J.S.G. (1985) Regulation of α-galactosidase activity and the hydrolysis of galactomannan in the endosperm of the fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed. Planta 166, 271–275.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spyropoulos, C.G. and Reid, J.S.G. (1988) Water stress and galactomannan breakdown in germinated fenugreek seeds. Stress affects the production and the activities in vivo of galactomannan-hydrolysing enzymes. Planta 174, 473–478.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Uebelmann, G. (1978) Germination of the fenugreek seed: uptake by the embryo of sugars released on breakdown of the storage galactomannan in the endosperm. Zeitschrift Pflanzenphysiologie 88, 235–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zambou, K. and Spyropoulos, C.G. (1989) D-Mannose uptake by fenugreek cotyledons. Planta 179, 403–408.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed