Some enzyme activities associated with the chlorophyll containing layers of the immature barley pericarp

Abstract

Some photosynthetic and biochemical properties of the chlorophyl containing layers of the pericarp of developing barley have been investigated. The tissue changes from pale green to bright green early in development, chlorophyll disappearing only at the later stages of maturity. It contains chloroplasts and probably amyloplasts and starch bearing chloroplasts. It is capable of high rates of light dependent oxygen evolution. It has been shown that the enzyme phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) is present in the pericarp and is 100 times as active in carbon dioxide fixation as ribulose diphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39). Other enzymes present in the pericarp are phosphoenol pyruvate synthetase, pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1), malate NAD and NADP dehydrogenases (EC 1.1.1.37), malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40), and fructose 1,6 diphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11).