The Glyoxylate Cycle in Maize Scutellum

Abstract

When acetate-2-C14 was fed to maize scutella approximately 32% of the incorporated C14 was recovered in the soluble sugars and in the carbohydrate of the residue. Furthermore the enzymes isocitric lyase and malate synthetase, the distinctive enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, were found in amounts comparable to fat-storing tissue. These results show that a net synthesis of sugars from storage lipids is possible. The accumulation of acetate-carbon in glutamic acid and sugars indicate that both the TCA and glyoxylate cycles are active in maize scutella.