Protein synthesis in ripening pea seeds. 2. Development of embryos and seed coats

Abstract

Cotyledons and seed coats of Pisum sativum at 4 different stages of development were analyzed. As ripening progresses, the nitrogenous materials from the seed coats (including the endosperm) are absorbed by the cotyledons. The study of N distribution in the cotyledons corroborates the evidence obtained from studies of whole peas, to the effect that protein synthesis proceeds through various stages which include peptides and "proteoses" In cotyledons amide N is incorporated gradually but completely into the protein; the relationship of this finding to current views of amide metabolism in plants is discussed.