title: Peroxisomal enzyme activities in attached senescing leaves.
abstract: Recently it has been demonstrated that detached leaves show glyoxysomal enzyme activities when incubated in darkness for several days. In this report glyoxylate-cycle enzymes have been detected in leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum durum L.) from either naturally senescing or dark-treated plants. Isolated peroxisomes of rice and wheat show isocitrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.1), malate synthase (EC 4.1.3.2) and β-oxidation activities. Leaf peroxisomes from dark-induced senescing leaves show glyoxylic-acid-cycle enzyme activities two to four times higher than naturally senescing leaves. The glyoxysomal activities detected in leaf peroxisomes during natural foliar senescence may represent a reverse transition of the peroxisomes into glyoxysomes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia delle Piante Agrarie, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 23, I-56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pistelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Bellis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alpi