The formation of glycoproteins in tissues of higher plants. Specific labelling with d-[l-14C]glucosamine

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Abstract
1. Radioactivity from d-[l-14C]glucosamine is incorporated into ethanol-insoluble compounds of high molecular weight in a number of plant tissues, including roots of corn (Zea mays), callus cells of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), axenic cultures of duckweed (Lemna minor) and germinating seedlings of corn, broad bean (Vicia faba) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). 2. Except in the case of Lemna, where some of the radioactivity was recovered in glucose, hydrolysis of these ethanol-insoluble materials with acid released [14C]glucosamine as the major radioactive product. 3. The labelled compounds isolated from Zea roots and the Acer cells are believed to be glycoproteins rather than polysaccharides on the basis of their solubility properties, their charge characteristics and their susceptibility to hydrolysis by 0.5m-potassium hydroxide and by the proteases trypsin and Pronase. Further, radioactive peptides were isolated and purified after Pronase treatment and shown to contain glucosamine as well as a number of amino acids. 4. The experiments therefore indicate that d-[14C]glucosamine can be used as a specific precursor of the amino sugar units of plant as well as animal glycoproteins.