Mobilization of seed protein reserves.

The mobilization of seed storage proteins upon seed imbibition and germination is a crucial process in the establishment of the seedling. Storage proteins fold compactly, presenting only a few vulnerable regions for initial proteolytic digestion. Evolutionarily related storage proteins have similar three-dimensional structure, and thus tend to be initially cleaved at similar sites.

New serine carboxypeptidase in mung bean seedling cotyledons.

Two serine carboxypeptidases (EC 3.4.16.

Effect of embryonic axis removal and exogenous calcium on carboxypeptidase I of mung bean seedling cotyledons.

Removal of the embryonic axis prevents the normal decline of carboxypeptidase (Cpase) I in mung bean seedling cotyledons. Cpase I activity and protein, the latter manifested on western blots, almost completely disappear about 24 h before the cotyledon abscises. Of the 3 proteolytic enzyme patterns, only that of Cpase I can be restored by an exogenous supply of 10 mM CaCl2 in the agar growth medium.