Enzymes Associated with Protein Bodies Isolated from Ungerminated Barley Seeds

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Abstract
Protein bodies were isolated intact from dormant barley seeds, Hordeum vulgare, var. Kenia, by a combination of buffer extractions and centrifugations over a sucrose gradient. Examination of the protein bodies pellet in the electron microscope shows 2 types of protein bodies in a wide variation of sizes. The majority of them stain evenly with osmium, are contained within a single membrane, and have no other structural components. The other type, mostly the larger particles, has a fine structure of orderly dark and light-stained layers attached to the protein bodies. Two acid hydrolases are associated with these particles: acid phosphatase activity, specific for sodium phytate but inactive on β-glycerol phosphate, glucose 1-phosphate, fructose 1,6-diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate; and acid protease activity.