title: Isolation and characterization of peanut spherosomes.
abstract: Spherosomes of cotyledons of germinating peanuts (Arachis hypogea L.) were examined by electron microscopy and found to be particles about 1.0 to 2.0 mu in diameter bounded by a limiting membrane. Isolated spherosomes appear similar to spherosomes in situ. The isolated spherosomes are composed of 98.1% total lipids, 0.77% phospholipid and 1.27% protein by dry weight. The amounts of protein and phospholipid associated with the isolated spherosomes are sufficient to account for limiting membranes. Spherosomes amply account for the lipid in a peanut cotyledon. The activity of lipase and fatty acyl-Coenzyme A synthetase is not associated with the isolated spherosomes. This suggests that peanut spherosomes are principal sites of lipid storage but not of lipid degradation.
authors.affiliation: Seed Protein Pioneering Research Laboratory , P. O. Box 19687, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jacks
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yatsu
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Altschul