Immunocytochemical Analysis Shows that Glyoxysomes Are Directly Transformed to Leaf Peroxisomes during Greening of Pumpkin Cotyledons

The functional transition of glyoxysomes to leaf peroxisomes occurs during greening of germinating pumpkin cotyledons (Cucurbita sp. Amakuri Nankin). The immunocytochemical protein A-gold method was employed in the analysis of the transition using glyoxysomal specific citrate synthase immunoglobulin G and leaf peroxisomal specific glycolate oxidase immunoglobulin G. The labeling density of citrate synthase was decreased in the microbodies during the greening, whereas that of glycolate oxidase was dramatically increased. Double labeling experiments using different sizes of protein A-gold particles show that both the glyoxysomal and the leaf peroxisomal enzymes coexist in the microbody of the transitional stage indicating that glyoxysomes are directly transformed to leaf peroxisomes during greening.