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Chromosomal proteins of conifers
Author(s) -
PITEL J. A.,
DURZAN D. J.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1980.tb04440.x
Subject(s) - imbibition , histone , chromatin , biology , biochemistry , germination , amino acid , energy charge , storage protein , phosphorylation , arginine , adenylate kinase , botany , dna , receptor , gene
During imbibition and germination of jack pine seeds, the composition of the total extractable chromatin varied. Relative to DNA, the histone levels decreased as the nonhistone chromosomal proteins (NHCP) increased. New chromosomal proteins were synthesized after 2 days of imbibition as judged by recovery of 14 C‐amino acids from the major protein fractions. Phosphorylation of histones from 32 P‐phosphoric acid was detected before the incorporation of 14 C‐amino acids. In the seed the synthesis and relative changes of chromatin coincided with a fall in total soluble protein and free arginine N. By contrast, adenylate energy charge, free glutamine N and in vitro template activity of chromatin increased during chromatin protein synthesis. When seeds had germinated for 4 days after the start of imbibition more radioactivity, derived from free 14 C‐amino acids, was recovered from the NHCP than from the histones. The percentage amino acid composition of most histone fractions remained stable, whereas the composition of NHCP changed more with time. The phosphorylation of NHCP was 8‐ to 41‐fold greater than that of the histones. Phosphorylation of histone H4 was not detected at any stage of germination. Correlations between recovery of radioactivity ( 32 P and 14 C) from chromosomal proteins and higher adenylate energy charge were positive.