Metabolic changes associated with the germination of corn. II. Nucleic acid metabolism.

Abstract

Maize kernels contained little reserve nucleic acid. The increase in nucleotide and nucleic-acid material in the growing axis observed with germination was due to de novo synthesis. Large increases in total ribonuclease (A and B enzymes) and 3''ribonucleotidase activities occurred in axis, scutellum, and endosperm. Ribonuclease-B occurred primarily in the axis, with trace amounts in the scutellum. In contrast, the endosperm contained only ribonuclease-A. Tissues containing meris-tematic cells were found to have low enzymatic activities and a low ratio of total ribonuclease to RNA relative to tissue containing older mature cells.