Protein metabolism was studied during germination and early seedling growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare) sown in water, and 50% and 100% heavy water (D.O). A concentration dependent interference by D2O in i) hydrolysis of reserve proteins in the endosperm, ii) movement of these hydrolysed proteins out of endosperm and iii) synthesis of proteins in the developing embryo has been observed.
