Effects of anoxia on sucrose degrading enzymes in cereal seeds

Abstract

Summary We report here data on the effects of anaerobic conditions on the status of cytosolic sucrose degrading enzymes. The activities of sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) and cytosolic alkaline invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) were studied in rice ( Oryza sativa L.), maize ( Zea mais L.), wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), and barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds and seedlings subjected to air-anoxia transition or directly sown under anaerobic conditions. The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) is also reported, to allow comparison with a typical anaerobic polypeptide. The data, discussed and compared with the other available reports on this subject, indicate sucrose synthase induction at the transcriptional level also in maize seedlings, and suggest that sucrose synthase is the major sucrose-degrading enzyme in cereal seeds directly sown under anaerobic conditions.