Protein Synthesis in Dormant and Afterripened Agrostemma githago L. Embryos

Abstract

Cotyledons of both dormant and afterripened Agrostemma githago embryos have about the same rate of protein synthesis up to 48 h after the start of imbibition. The synthesis in the dormant axes remains constant, but in the afterripened axes the protein synthesis increases and is considerably higher at 24 and 48 h after the start of imbibition than in the dormant axes. The embryos have an active uptake of the applied amino acids. The uptake is higher in the afterripened embryos. The pattern of the synthesized proteins after isoelectric focussing is for the main part the same up to 48 h after imbibition in the dormant and afterripened axes and cotyledons. However two clear differences were found: one protein band disappears in the afterripened axes long before germination and in the afterripened cotyledons after germination. Secondly, a compound which is present at all stages shows a considerably increase in the dormant cotyledons after 48 h of imbibition.