Axial control of protease development in cotyledons of horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum lam.) Seeds during germination

An intact axis was found to be essential for the maximal rates of increase in protease activity, protein degradation and amino acid utilization in the cotyledons of horse gram during germination. Inhibition of protease activity by cyctoheximide was suggestive of de novo synthesis of the enzyme, Gibberellic acid and benzyladenine did not replace the effect of the axis on protease. The amino acid content increased continuously in detached cotyledons though the protease development was lower. Casein hydrolysate inhibited the protease development and its withdrawl from the medium stimulated the activity. The results suggest that the axis acts as a sink for the products of hydrolysis and in the absence of the axis, the amino acids accumulate restricting further enzyme activity.