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A study of the biochemistry and cytochemical localization of β-glycerophosphatase activity in root tips of maize and pea

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Summary

A critical study has been made of the standard lead phosphate precipitation technique for the localization ofβ-glycerophosphatase activity in young root tips. The effects of fixatives on enzyme activity and on the loss of activity during fixation and incubation have been determined. Cytochemical studies showed that the most prominent sites ofβ-glycerophosphatase activity were at particulate sites in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. Good correlation was obtained between frozen section and electron microscope studies although a number of problems were encountered. These particularly concerned the penetration of the staining medium, the loss of activity during incubation and the use of the acetic acid rinse. Recommendations are made for the reliable localization of the enzyme. The use of controls in this method were studied and their validity discussed.

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Author notes

  1. R. Sexton

    Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, England

  2. J. Cronshaw

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, England

    J. Cronshaw & J. L. Hall

Authors
  1. R. Sexton
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  2. J. Cronshaw
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  3. J. L. Hall
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Additional information

The study was supported in part by a National Science Foundation Grant GB 12371 to Dr. J.Cronshaw.

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Sexton, R., Cronshaw, J. & Hall, J.L. A study of the biochemistry and cytochemical localization of β-glycerophosphatase activity in root tips of maize and pea. Protoplasma 73, 417–441 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01273944

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01273944

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