Abstract
The reaction converting 1‐aminocyclopropane 1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) to ethylene in plants is independent of cell or membrane integrity. Both intact and detergent‐solubilised membrane fractions can readily convert ACC to ethylene. The reaction catalysed by the solubilised enzyme is inhibited by 100 μM 2,4‐dinitrophenol. ATP, even at very low concentrations, totally inhibits the reaction. The results would appear to invalidate a previously hypothesised model for this reaction.