Separation and Identification of Soluble Nucleotides from Etiolated Corn Seedlings as Function of Growth

Abstract

The acid soluble nucleotides from etiolated corn seedlings were isolated and identified using ion-exchange chromatography, paper chromatography, paper electrophoresis, spectral analysis, and chemical analysis. Positive identifications of AMP, ADP, ATP, DPN, CMP, CTP, UMP, UDP, UTP, GMP, and GTP from corn seedlings were made. The presence of GDP and TPN was indicated. In addition to the identification of the commonly occurring nucleotides a new compound (Cpd XI) was isolated but not identified. Although this compound absorbs ultraviolet light it is not a nucleotide. Changes in nucleotide content (per 10 gm dry weight) as a function of growth were determined. Total nucleotide content increased in a curvilinear manner when plotted per unit of dry material (10 gm), but was linear when plotted on basis of content/100 seedlings. The content of the new compound (Cpd XI) per unit of dry material increased 15 fold from 1 to 4 days of germination with no apparent increase following subsequent seedling growth. The ratios of mono- di- and triphosphate nucleotides indicate a gradual shift from the high energy di- and triphosphate nucleotides to the monophosphate nucleotides with germination of the etiolated seedlings.