Hormonal Control of Proteinase Activity in Squash Cotyledons

A crude proteolytic enzyme preparation which hydrolyzes casein was isolated from the cotyledons of squash seedlings. The presence of ethylene diamine tetraacetate or cysteine did not appreciably affect the activity of the preparation. During the course of germination, the level of proteolytic activity increased in the cotyledons of intact embryos through the third day and then decreased. The presence of the embryonic axis during the first 32 hours of germination was a prerequisite for the development of maximum proteolytic activity.The presence of a cytokinin, such as benzyladenine, kinetin, BTP [6-(benzylamino)-9-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)-9H-purine], or phenyladenine, in the culture solution could reproduce the effect of the embryonic axis. Other growth regulators did not produce this stimulation. High concentrations (1 mm) of all growth regulators examined were inhibitory. Various combinations of growth regulators failed to produce any synergistic effects. 6-Methylpurine inhibited the development of proteinase activity, and this inhibition was only partially restored by benzyladenine.A proteinase was partially purified from the cotyledons of 2-day-old squash seedlings and its synthesis was shown to be under the control of the embryonic axis.