Characterization of the Proteinases Present in Germinating Seeds of Scots Pine, Pinus sylvestris

Methods were developed to determine proteinase activity in germinating seeds of Scots pine. The assays were based on the liberation of TCA-soluble peptides from haemoglobin at pH 3.7 and from casein at pH 5.4 and pH 7.0; the reaction products were determined by the Lowry method. — Endosperms separated from seeds at the time of rapid storage protein mobilization (seedling length between 20 and 50 mm) showed high proteinase activities in all three assays. Experiments with different inhibitors suggested that at least four enzymes were involved. One of the enzymes resembled mammalian and microbial pepsin-like acid proteinases: the pH optimum was 3.7 and the enzyme was inhibited by pepstatin.—Th…