Characterization and localization of the cell wall autolysis substrate in Pisum sativum epicotyls

Abstract

The products released in cell wall autolysis from 4-day-old epicotyls of Pisum sativum elute in gel filtration chromatography (Bio Gel P.2) as two components, mono and polysaccharides, in a practically constant ratio over the time of incubation. The polysaccharides are mainly composed of arabinose and galactose, with smaller amounts of xylose and glucose, whereas the monosaccharide are almost exclusively composed of galactose. The same results were obtained when inactive cell walls were hydrolyzed by the enzymes extracted from the cell wall with LiC1. The hydrolysis of the different cell wall fractions by these enzymes shows that the autolytic substrates are preferentially located on the pectic fractions.