Abstract
The time-course of galactomannan and stachyose (digalactosyl-sucrose) deposition in the fenugreek seed endosperm has been determined, and correlated with standard parameters of seed development. During, and only during, the period of galactomannan deposition, endosperm homogenates are capable of catalysing the transfer of labelled d-mannosyl residues from guanosine 5′-diphosphate d-[U-14C]mannose to a soluble polysaccharide product indistinguishable from galactomannan. The mannosyltransferase activity peaks twice, once at the beginning of galactomannan deposition, and again in the middle of the most rapid phase of galactomannan deposition. The enzyme in the later peak sediments with grossly particulate material (1,000 g pellet), whereas the earlier peak contains a considerable proportion of a particulate enzyme sedimenting at 100,000 g. These observations are discussed in the light of existing information on the ultrastructural aspects of galactomannan deposition. The mannosyltransferase is clearly involved in galactomannan formation in vivo, but the status of an accompanying galactosyltransferase is less clear.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- GDP:
-
guanosine 5′-diphosphate
- UDP:
-
uridine 5′-diphosphate
References
Albersheim, P., Nevins, D.T., English, P.D., Karr, A. (1967) A method for the analysis of sugars in plant cell-wall polysaccharides by gas-liquid chromatography. Carbohydr. Res. 5, 340–345
Anderson, E. (1949) Endosperm mucilages of legumes. Ind. Eng. Chem. 41, 2887–2890
Chrisp, J.D. (1969) Galactomannan gum gels for explosive compositions and for textile or paper sizing. US patent No. 3,301, 723. Chem. Abstr. 67, 92485w
Dea, I.C.M., Morrison, A. (1975) Chemistry and interactions of seed galactomannans. Adv. Carbohydr. Chem. Biochem. 31, 241–312
Dure, L.S. III (1975) Seed formation. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 26, 259–278
Hart, R. (1930) Carob-seed gum. Its use for the detection and estimation of boric acid and borates. Ind. Eng. Chem. 2, 329–331
Hough, L., Jones, J.K.N., Wadman, W.H. (1950) Quantitative analysis of sugars by the method of partition chromatography. V: Improved methods for the separation and detection of sugars and their methylated derivatives on the paper chromatogram. J. Chem. Soc. 1702–1706
Leung, D.W.M., Bewley, J.D., Reid, J.S.G. (1981) Mobilisation of stored reserves in the embryo of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Leguminosae) and correlated enzyme activities. Planta 153, 95–100
Meier, H. (1960) Studies on glucomannans from Norwegian spruce. III. Partial hydrolysis. Acta Chem. Scand. 14, 749–756
Meier, H., Reid, J.S.G. (1977) Morphological aspects of galactomannan formation in the endosperm of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Leguminosae). Planta 133, 243–248
Nadelmann, H. (1890) Über die Schleimendosperme der Leguminosen. Pringsheims Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. 21, 1–83
Reid, J.S.G. (1971) Reserve carbohydrate metabolism in germinating seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Leguminosae). Planta 100, 131–142
Reid, J.S.G., Bewley, J.D. (1979) A dual role for the endosperm and its galactomannan reserves in the germinative physiology of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), an endospermic leguminous seed. Planta 147, 145–150
Reid, J.S.G., Meier, H. (1970a) Chemotaxonomic aspects of the reserve galactomannan in leguminous seeds. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 62, 89–92
Reid, J.S.G., Meier, H. (1970b) Formation of reserve galactomanan in the seeds of Trigonella foenum-graceum. Phytochemistry 9, 513–520
Reid, J.S.G., Meier, H. (1972) The function of the aleurone layer during galactomannan mobilisation in germinating seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.): a correlative biochemical and ultrastructural study. Planta 106, 44–60
Reid, J.S.g., Meier, H. (1973a) Enzyme activities and galactomannan mobilisation in germinating seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Leguminosae). Secretion of α-galactosidase and β-mannosidase by the aleurone layer. Planta 112, 301–308
Reid, J.S.G., Meier, H. (1973b) Formation of the endosperm galactomannan in leguminous seeds: preliminary communications. Caryologia [Suppl.] 25, 219–222
Reid, J.S.G., Davies, C., Meier, H. (1977) Endo-β-mannanase, the leguminous aleurone layer and the storage galactomannan in germinating seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Planta 133, 219–222
Roe, J.H., Epstein, J.H., Goldstein, N.P. (1949) A photometric method for the determination of inulin in plasma and urine. J. Biol. Chem. 178, 839–845
Saeman, J.F., Buhl, J.L., Harris, E.E. (1945) Quantitative saccharification of wood and cellulose. Ind. Eng. Chem. Anal. Ed. 17, 35–37
Trevelyan, W.E., Procter, D.P., Harrison, J.S. (1950) Detection of sugars on paper chromatograms. Nature (London) 166, 444–445
Van Wauwe, J.P., Loontiens, F.G., De Bruyne, C.K. (1973) Interaction of Ricinus communis hemagglutinin with polysaccharides and low molecular weight carbohydrates. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 313, 99–105
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Campbell, J.M., Reid, J.S.G. Galactomannan formation and guanosine 5′-diphosphate-mannose: galactomannan mannosyltransferase in developing seeds of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L., leguminosae). Planta 155, 105–111 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392539
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392539