EFFECT OF 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETIC ACID ON PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF RED KIDNEY BEAN PLANTS

Abstract

The proteolytic activity of the leaf, stem and root tissue of red kidney bean plants treated with 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and non-treated plants was determined using hemoglobin, glycylglycine, L-cystinyldiglycine, L-cystinyldiglycyldiglycine and chloroacetyl-L-tyrosine substrates. With hemoglobin, glycylglycine and L-cystinyldiglycine substrates, the proteolytic activity of the non-treated leaves was almost double that of the treated leaves. The activity of the treated stems was approximately twice the activity of the non-treated stems whereas the proteolytic activity of the treated roots was slightly less than the control roots. Enzyme prepns. of leaf, stem and root tissue did not hydrolyze chloroacetyl-L-tyrosine and L-cystinyldiglycyldiglycine. When the N components of the treated and non-treated stem tissues were partially fractionated, the major portion of the increased N content of the treated stems was found in the protein fraction.