人蔘 種子形成에 對한 生理化學的 硏究. Ⅱ. 催芽 科程에 있어서의 遊離아미노酸의 消長

Studies on the Physiological Chemistry of Flower Organ and Seed in Ginseng Plant. Ⅱ. Variation of Free Amino Acids during Stratification

Ginseng seeds were sampled every 10 days after humid stratification in sand from August 1, 1972 to February 10, 1973 and changes of free amino acids in the seeds were investigated by thin layer chromatography employing a mixed layer of silicagel and micro-crystalline cellulose. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The quantity and quality of amino acids varied with the stratification period. As a result of the experiment 23 kinds of ninhydrin positive substances were detected. They were (1) 20 amino acids: alanine, valine, leucine, leucine phenylalanine, proline, hydroxyproline, serine, pipecolic acid, histidine, γ-amino butyric acid, threonine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, methionine sulfoxide, lysine, glutamic acid, arginine, β-alanine, cysteic acid and tryptophan; (2) two amides: asparagine and glutamine, and one unknown. 2. During seeding time at the end of November, a greater number of ninhydrin positive substances-(22 kinds excluding β-alanine) than at any other time were observed during the experiment. At this atage alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid were detected in large amounts compared with the other amino acids. If one reflects upon the close relationship of these amino acids with the TCA cycle it would seem as if they play an important role in the embryo development metabolism of ginseng seeds at this stage. 3. Valine increased gradually after stratification especially from the middle of October to the middle of November. On the contrary, tyrosine, which had been more abundant than valine decreased gradually after stratification. 4. Cysteic acid was detected in the largest spot (冊) until the beginning of September but decreased gradually to the smallest spot (+) at the seeding time. At this stage some other main amino acids appeared large spots. 5. Two amides, asparagine and glutamine were detected in large and distinct spots after seeding time. After seeding time aspartic acid and glutamic acid decreased while asparagine and glutamine increased. The other amino acids had little changes. 6. During the stratification period tryptophan was always detected. Since tryptophan is a precursor of auxin further studies of tryptophan related to the growth hormone and on its relation to embryo development are required. 7. The changes of amino acids during the stratification are regarded as physiological interchanges which influence the embryo development. For a study of the metabolism of each amino acid and of the relation of amino acids to the metabolism of the other compounds, further experiments are required.