Rates of de novo synthesis of malate synthase and albumins during the very early phase of germination.

Malate synthase is synthesized de novo in the very phase of germination. Its molecular and immunological properties do not differ from those of malate synthase from fully developed cotyledons. Radioactive leucine was administered to dry seeds of cucumber, and its incorporation into proteins of cotyledons was examined after 2 days of germination. The specific radioactivity of malate synthase, purified by immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel, was only 1/20 the average value of the total albumin fraction. The minimal incorporation documented by the comparatively low specific activity of isolated malate synthase is discussed in relation to the large pool of malate synthase already present in dry seeds.