Oxidative Enzyme and Protein Changes in Outgrowth Induced on Carrot Phloem by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Abstract

A comparative study was made of protein content, dia-phorase, NADH-cytochrome c reductase, and cytochrome c oxidase activities in host and crown-gall tumor tissue of carrot and in unino-culated controls. Eighteen days after inoculation the tumor tissue typically showed increased protein and increased enzyme activities compared with control or host tissues (per g wet weight), while protein and enzyme activities of host tissue were generally lower than the control. However, on a protein basis, the cytochrome c oxidase activity was consistently about 20% lower in tumor and host tissue than in the control. This decreased activity and changes in protein content may be considered as representing a difference between normal and crown-gall tissue.