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The cationic isozyme of peroxidase isolated from suspension cultures of peanut cells is a heme-containing and calcium-dependent glycoprotein having four covalently attached oligosaccharide chains. Attempts were made to crystallize the glycoprotein for X-ray diffraction analysis, and these have met with some success. Crystals have now been grown that are suitable for a full three-dimensional structural analysis. The crystals are thin plates and we have shown them to be of the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 48.1, b = 97.2, c = 146.2 A. The crystals diffract to beyond 2.8 A resolution, appear to be stable to lengthy X-ray exposure, and contain two molecules of 40,000 daltons each in the asymmetric unit.

Comparison of the stability of five plant peroxidases (horseradish, royal palm tree leaf, soybean, and cationic and anionic peanut peroxidases) was carried out under acidic conditions favorable for synthesis of polyelectrolyte complexes of polyaniline (PANI). It demonstrates that palm tree peroxidase has the highest stability. Using this peroxidase as a catalyst, the enzymatic synthesis of polyelectrolyte complexes of PANI and poly(2-acrylamido-3-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) was developed. The template polymerization of aniline was carried out in aqueous buffer at pH 2.8. Varying the concentrations of aniline, PAMPS, and hydrogen peroxide as reagents, favorable conditions for production of PANI were determined. UV-vis-NIR absorption and EPR demonstrated that PAMPS and PANI formed the electroactive complex similar to PANI doped traditionally using low molecular weight sulfonic acids. The effect of pH on conformational variability of the complex was evaluated by UV-vis spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy showed that a size of the particles of the PANI-PAMPS complexes varied between 10 and 25 nm, depending on a concentration of PAMPS in the complex. The dc conductivity of the complexes depends also on the content of PAMPS, the higher conductivity being for the complexes containing the lower content of the polymeric template.

The cationic peanut peroxidase has been studied in detail, not only with regard to its peptide structure, but also to the sites and role of the three moieties linked to it. Peanut peroxidase lends itself well to a close examination as a potential example for other plant peroxidase studies. It was the first plant peroxidase for which a 3-D structure was derived from crystals, with the glycans intact. Subsequent analysis of peroxidases structures from other plants have not shown great differences to that of the peanut peroxidase. As the period of proteomics follows on the era of genomics, the study of glycans has been brought back into focus. With the potential use of peroxidase as a polymerization agent for industry, there are some aspects of the overall structure that should be kept in mind for successful use of this enzyme. A variety of techniques are now available to assay for these structures/moieties and their roles. Peanut peroxidase data are reviewed in that light, as well as defining some true terms for isozymes. Because a high return of the enzyme in a pure form has been obtained from cultured cells in suspension culture, a brief review of this is also offered.

The influence of phenol and its derivatives on the kinetics of oxidation of aryldiamines (indicator-substrates) catalyzed by novel plant peroxidase-cationic peanut peroxidase-was studied. The character of influence of phenols on the kinetics of enzymatic oxidation of benzidine, o-dianisidine, and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) with hydrogen peroxide was found to depend on a correlation between redox properties of phenols and the indicator-substrate of peroxidase. Thus, the catalytic activity of peanut peroxidase is inhibited by phenols with redox potentials higher than that of aryldiamines mentioned above, whereas phenols with potentials below those of aryldiamines, play the role of second substrates of the enzyme. The enzymatic procedures for the determination of numerous phenols on the level of their concentrations 0.05-80 muM were developed using the reactions of benzidine, o-dianisidine, and TMB oxidation. Different analytical signals-the indicator reaction rate and the induction period duration-were used for the determination of phenols, belonging to various groups-the inhibitors and second substrates of the enzyme, respectively.

Peanut peroxidase has been diffracted. The location of its heme and calcium moieties have been shown and their role demonstrated. However, the structure and role of its glycans is only now being elucidated. The role of three N-linked complex glycans on cationic peroxidase (cPrx) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L cv. Valencia), as expressed by prxPNC1 in transgenic tobacco, was analyzed by site-directed replacement of each of the three glycosylation sites, N-60, N-144, and N-185 with Q, individually. The mutant prxPNC1 cDNAs with a 3' histidine-tag were expressed in transgenic tobacco. The effect on the catalytic ability, thermal stability, and unfolding properties of the mutant peroxidases, isolated from the medium of transgenic tobacco cell suspension cultures were compared with those of the wild cPrx from peanut. It was found that the ablation of the glycans at N-60 and N-144 influences the full expression of the cPrx catalytic ability. The glycan at N-185 is important for the thermostability, as is the removal of the carbohydrate chain at N-185, resulting in rapid enzymatic decrease at temperatures of 50 degrees C. All three glycans appeared to influence the folding of the protein.

The major cationic peanut (Arachis hypogaea) peroxidase, secreted into the extracellular space, is a glycoprotein with three N-linked glycans (polysaccharides) which are connected to the peptide backbone at Asn-60, Asn-144 and Asn-185. In this report, a C-terminal histidine-tagged cationic peanut peroxidase gene was expressed in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Tissue of the transgenic tobacco was cultured in suspension culture and the his-tagged peroxidase was purified in large quantities from 14-day-old suspension culture. The number of glycans, glycosylation sites and the chemical nature of glycan moieties attached to cationic peanut peroxidase expressed in transgenic tobacco were examined. Cationic peanut peroxidase isolated from the above transgenic tobacco had the identical number of complex glycans, attached at the same glycosylation sites as on cationic peanut peroxidase isolated from peanut suspension culture. Monosaccharide components of these glycans are N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), mannose (Man), fucose (Fuc), xylose (Xyl) and galactose (Gal), the same sugars as found in native cationic peanut peroxidase.

The cationic peanut peroxidase is a complex enzyme consisting of a heme group, two calcium ions and three complex carbohydrate chains at positions Asn60, 144 and 185. Details of the heme and calcium ligation, necessary for oxidation, have recently been revealed from the three-dimensional structure of the peroxidase. However, the three glycans that may be important for the stability of the enzyme as well as its activity were not resolved. In order to determine the configuration of one of these glycans, PNGase A was used to cleave the glycan from the enzyme at Asn-144. This glycan was studied by two dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy to identify the sugar linkages. The results indicated a glycan structure comprising a Man alpha1-6(Xyl beta1-2)Man beta1-4GlcNAc beta1-4(Fuc alpha1-3)GlcNAc beta core but with an additional Man alpha1-3 appendage linked to Man3. The glycan also appeared to be heterogeneous as was noted from a single terminating galactose being linked to approximately 20-25% glycan.

An amperometric flow system combined with a glucose oxidase-mutarotase reactor was optimized and used to determine aromatic amines and phenols using peroxidase-modified graphite electrodes. An increase in currents upon injection of the analyzed substrate was shown to be approximated by a Michaelis-Menten type dependence. The detection limit was calculated as 3 times the noise, and the sensitivity was calculated as Imax/K(m)app. Commercially available horseradish peroxidase was compared with tobacco anionic and peanut cationic peroxidases for determination of aromatic amines and phenols. Detection limits of 10 nM for determination of o-aminophenol and o- and p-phenylenediamine achieved with a tobacco peroxidase-modified electrode give a promise for further improvements in sensitivities and detection limits of biosensors.

Plant peroxidases are composed of a peptide and associated heme, calcium and glycans. The 3D structure of the major cationic peanut peroxidase has revealed the sites of the heme and calcium. But the diffraction of the glycans was not sufficient to show their structure. This review presents research that has been executed to obtain putative glycans and their binding sites, and to gain an indirect insight into these glycans. It also offers approaches that will be used to determine the function of the glycans on the peanut peroxidase. Some comparisons are made with other plant glycoproteins including peroxidases from plants other than peanut.

The cationic isozyme of peanut peroxidase (CPRx) is one of many peroxidases which requires calcium for enzyme activity. It has been previously shown that it requires 2 mol calcium to coordinate to 1 mol CPRx, and its related peroxidases from the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium (LiP) and isozyme C of horseradish (HRPc). X-ray crystallographic studies of LiP have shown that calcium is ligated near the C-terminus of helices proximal and distal to the heme, where it has been suggested to maintain the active site. To determine if such a mechanism was possible in CPRx, high resolution 1H-NMR spectroscopy was used to study the effect of calcium on the environment of its heme group and the coordinating histidine residues. The low-spin cyano complex of the enzyme (CPRxCN) was studied in order to assign the majority of the resonances arising from the protons in the heme pocket in both the presence and absence of bound calcium ions using two dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY). The two calcium ions present in CPRxCN were removed by a non-denaturing method and a calcium titration was performed and monitored by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. These studies showed that the binding of both calcium ions in CPRx influenced the heme environment in a similar manner (Kd = 0.1 microM). In particular, calcium-dependent changes in several heme resonances and the proximal and distal histidine residues suggest that calcium binding to CPRx causes some reorientation of these residues with respect to the active site.

The three tryptic glycopeptides of cationic peanut peroxidase (C. PRX) and the sole one of anionic peanut peroxidase (A. PRX) were individually coupled to bovine serum albumin to raise antisera. The three categories of antibodies directed towards three N-glycans of C. PRX (anti-GLa, anti-GLb and anti-GLc) were isolated from antisera with glycan-conjugated ECH Sepharose 4B affinity columns and the distribution of epitopes on the N-glycans was investigated. The reactivity of anti-GLa, anti-GLb and anti-GLc is inhibited 25-40% by 1 M fucose, compared with a slight inhibition by N-acetylglycosamine and xylose. Mannose and galactose showed no inhibition to anti-GLa and only a slight inhibition to anti-GLb and anti-GLc. All of anti-GLa, anti-GLb and anti-GLc recognize A. PRX and horseradish peroxidase but do not recognize fetuin. Also, their reactivity is inhibited by bromelain by more than 70%. The three categories of antibodies present high homogeneity and appear to be directed mainly towards the core structure [Xyl] (Man)3 [Fuc] (GlcNAc)2. An effective and simple method to screen antibodies with carbohydrate specificities is described herein.

The characteristics of the paramagnetic centers of the main cationic isozyme of peanut peroxidase are analyzed using electron paramagnetic resonance. Two main paramagnetic species have been detected. The EPR spectrum of the native cationic peanut peroxidase shows features which correspond to those of high spin ferric heme iron. A second paramagnetic center has been identified as manganese (Mn2+). The EPR spectra of the reduced enzyme and its fluoride, cyano, carbon monoxide, thiolate and hydroxy derivatives have been studied. The signal attributed to Mn(II) disappeared after dialysis against 50 mM EDTA, which removed the Mn ions, as it was confirmed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The disappearance of the Mn signal after the formation of the cyano, thiolate and hydroxy complexes suggest a transfer of electrons from the Mn(II) ions. The significance of manganese in the catalytic cycle of cationic peanut peroxidase discussed.

Cationic peanut peroxidase (CPrx) from a cell suspension culture is N-glycosylated at Asn60, Asn144, and Asn185. All three N-glycans are complex type and galactose rich, and show heterogeneity in length and ConA (concanavalin A) binding property. The glycan heterogeneity causes a polymorphism of the enzyme. Based on its behavior on ConA columns, CPrx can be grouped into two fractions: nonbinding (CPrx-) and binding (CPrx+) types. A synchronously cosecreted beta-galactosidase has been discovered in the culture medium; there are two isozymes of 60 kDa (pI 7.3) and 66 kDa (pI 7.6). This beta-galactosidase has been partially purified by a combination of ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatographies and preparative isoelectrofocusing. In vitro experiments indicate that the cosecreted beta-galactosidase is able to convert peroxidase from CPrx- to CPrx+ and may, to some extent, contribute to the glycan heterogeneity of peroxidase in the cell culture.

The electronic structures of the cationic isoenzyme of peanut peroxidase, horseradish peroxidase (isoenzyme C) and bovine liver catalase are compared through analysis of their optical absorption and magnetic c.d. (m.c.d.) spectral properties. The spectral data for the native resting states and compounds I and II of peanut peroxidase (PeP) are reported. The absorption and m.c.d. data for the native PeP exhibit bands characteristic of the high-spin ferric haem. The absorption spectrum of PeP compound I closely resembles that observed for the HRP compound I species. The m.c.d. data for PeP I clearly identifies that ring oxidation has occurred. One-electron reduction forms the PeP compound II species. The absorption and m.c.d. spectra recorded for PeP II exhibit the well-resolved spectral characteristics previously observed for both HRP compound II and catalase compound II. The spectral data of PeP with HRP and catalase are compared. The data clearly indicate that the m.c.d. spectral patterns of both plant peroxidases (PeP and HRP) are very similar and, therefore, the electronic structures of their resting states, and as well their primary and secondary compounds, must be similar. The m.c.d. data suggest that, while the compound I species of PeP and HRP belong to one electronic class, catalase compound I belongs to a different class. These data emphasize how the ground states of these two classes of oxidized haem, may be characterized as predominantly 2A2u (PeP I and HRP I) or 2A1u (catalase I). Peanut peroxidase is the second plant peroxidase for which the electronic structure of the compound I intermediate has been studied using the m.c.d. technique. The similarities with horseradish peroxidase allow us to suggest that plant peroxidases may operate by the same general mechanism, in spite of the low degree of sequence similarity between their polypeptide chains.

Cationic peroxidase from a cell suspension culture has two heterogeneously glycosylated forms, based on their Concanavalin A column binding property, namely CP-and CP+. In these two forms three out of five potential glycosylation sites are used. Asn60 and Asn185 are located in hydrophilic beta-turns, while Asn144 in a hydrophobic beta-sheet. Asn209 and Asn275 lacking glycans all have a proline residue at the C-terminal of the consensus sequence. The difference between CP- and CP+ is due to the heterogeneous glycosylation at individual glycosylation sites.

The contribution of calcium to the structure of cationic peanut peroxidase was examined using ultraviolet/visible and circular dichroism spectroscopies under conditions in which the 2 moles of Ca2+ bound per mole of enzyme were removed. Cadmium and terbium ions were used as substitutes for calcium in the calcium depleted peroxidase and their influence on the protein structure was examined spectroscopically and compared to native and heme depleted enzymes. A role for the calcium ions in maintaining the active conformation of the peroxidase is proposed.

Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) peroxidase gene expression was analyzed by measuring the accumulation of trancripts in cultured cells and various plant parts (leaf, stem, root) and upon their treatment with ethylene or wounding, respectively. Two transcripts (prxPNC1 and prxPNC2) corresponding to two peroxidase genes are expressed at higher levels in cultured cells as compared to various plant organs. Analysis of total poly(A)(+) RNA with an oligonucleotide probe corresponding to a highly conserved region of peroxidase genes showed the expression of three peroxidase related sequences (1,000, 1,400 or 2,600 bp) in stem or leaf but barely detectable in roots. The prxPNC2 transcript transiently expressed at high levels in response to ethylene treatment of cells or wounding of leaves. This suggests that the corresponding gene(s) are expressed in response to stress.

Two forms of cationic peroxidase from peanut cells were differentiated by concanavalin A affinity chromatography. They differed in molecular mass as well as concanavalin A binding, leading to the initial suggestion that they represented two isozymes of peroxidase. However, similar values for the specific activity, Soret absorption, calcium content, and peptide molecular mass were observed for each of the forms. Therefore, the binding and nonbinding fractions most likely represent two molecular forms of cationic peanut peroxidase, rather than two distinct cationic isozymes. The difference between these two forms is discussed in terms of glycosylation. Through the amino acid sequence analysis of the formic acid treated peptide, the cationic isozyme has been shown to be identical in amino acid sequence to the cDNA clone PNC1.

We have isolated, cloned, and characterized two cDNAs corresponding to the mRNAs for cationic peroxidases synthesized by cultured peanut cells. The first clone was obtained from a phage lambda gt11 library screened with antibodies directed against the major secreted isozyme. Its predicted amino acid sequence, deduced from the 1228-base-pair (bp) cDNA, revealed a 22-amino acid signal peptide and a 294-amino acid mature protein (Mr, 31,228). The second clone was isolated from a lambda gt10 library screened with oligonucleotides corresponding to the regions for acid/base catalysis and the fifth ligand of heme. This cDNA (1344 bp) encodes a protein (330 amino acids) with a mature peptide of 307 residues (Mr, 32,954). The two peanut peroxidases are 46% homologous. The estimated gene copy numbers of these peroxidases might be close to 1 or 2 per haploid genome. A comparison of the amino acid sequence of these peanut peroxidases with other known isozymes shows two already known regions of homology (the region for acid/base catalysis and the fifth ligand of heme). Moreover, some new characteristics appeared such as a glycosylation site identical in five of the seven isozymes, a putative antigenic determinant common to all the isozymes, and a region of the highest homology. A secondary structure prediction showed that it corresponds to a 16-amino acid helix linked to the next one by a long stretch of beta strands and coils and might represent a critical structural element.

The epitope sites on the cationic peanut peroxidase were characterized by four monoclonal antibodies raised against this isozyme. Evidence is presented showing that the epitope for monoclonal antibody 1B is located on the polypeptide. Sensitivity of the epitopes recognized by 1M and 2F to 0.1M HCl, boiling, 10 mM periodate and trifluoromethane sulfonic acid treatment indicate that they occur at regions where oligosaccharides are linked to the polypeptide backbone. The antigenic specificity of 2A is, in addition, dependent on the conformation of the epitope site which is destroyed after partial proteolysis of the peroxidase.

Cationic peroxidase immobilized on sepharose has been used to separate specific antibodies from the antiperoxidase whole rabbit serum immunoglobulins (IgG) raised against it. The IgGs so separated completely pellet the peroxidase activity of the cationic peroxidase at a ratio of 6 : 1 (w/w). This shows the specificity of purified IgGs which is also shown by the single reaction arc obtained by immunoelectrophoresis of the isolated IgGs followed by challenging with crude peroxidase. These specific IgGs when linked to cyanogen bromide activated sepharose have been used to purify the cationic peroxidase from the spent medium proteins and from the cell extract of the peanut cells grown in suspension culture., (Copyright © 1984 Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

A comparative study on a pure cationic and a pure anionic protein from peanut cells and petunia stem tissue respectively, both with peroxidative activity, was made. The cationic protein weighs 44 Kd and the anionic 36 Kd. No immunological cross reactivity could be detected between the two proteins. In assays for peroxidative activity using the substrates 4-aminoantipyrine, guaiacol and eugenol it was noted that the anionic protein had 1.9, 12.7, and 27.7 fold greater enzymatic activity, respectively. For overall peroxidative measurements it is suggested that aminoantipyrine is probably the superior substrate. With regard to IAA oxidase activity of the two protein fractions it was noted that the cationic enzyme possessed optimal activity at pH 3.6 and the anionic protein at pH 7.0. The latter value could only be obtained by the addition of H2O2 and dichlorophenol (DCP). Since no additives were needed for the assay of IAA oxidation by the cationic protein it is suggested that this is a true IAA oxidase while the anionic fraction is a peroxidase involved in other reactions such as lignin biosynthesis.

Two peroxidases, one anionic and one cationic, have been purified from the proteins secreted by peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. var Virginia 56R) cells in suspension culture. These two peroxidases apparently have identical catalytic properties.

After incubating root apices from two-day-old bean seedlings with [3H] adenine the RNA was extracted from whole cells or polysomes, and the poly (A) sequences were isolated by nuclease digestion followed by poly(U)-Sepharose chromatography. The alterations of the RNA molecules due to the various treatments were monitored by sucrose density gradients. It was found that sequential extraction first at pH 7.6 then at pH 9.0 did not result in a separation between RNA poor in poly(A) sequences and poly(A)-rich RNA. Furthermore chromatography analysis of hydrolysates from nuclease-resistant RNA extracted either at pH 7.6 or pH 9.0 revealed that AMP constituted nearly 95% of the bases and that the poly(A) sequences, about 200 bases, were located at the 3' terminus of the polyadenylated RNA. No size difference was found for the poly(A) segment between the pH-7.6-extracted RNA and that extracted at pH 9.0.

Antibodies against both the native and the deglycosylated cationic peanut peroxidase (C.PRX) were used to probe the structural relationship of this isozyme with its anionic counterpart. Not only the native but also the deglycosylated forms of the cationic and the anionic peroxidases reacted with both antibodies. The activity of the cationic isozymes was inhibited by anti-native C.PRX. Similar but nevertheless distinct immunodetection patterns resulted from reaction of the partially digested cationic and anionic peroxidase peptides with antibodies directed to the deglycosylated as well as to the native C.PRX, suggesting a similarity in their polypeptide structures.

Membrane-bound and free ribosomes from cultured peanut cells were separated by differential centrifugation. The former ribosomes were liberated from the 27000 X g pellet with 1% Triton X100. Purification of both polysome populations was obtained by passage through a 1.5 M sucrose cushion. Both populations have a high rate of protein synthesis in vitro in the presence of a wheat germ S30 fraction. Comparisons of protein synthesis in vitro with that in vivo, and also with labelled proteins released by these cells into the medium did not provide significant information regarding peroxidase biosynthesis. However, immunoprecipitation of the products formed in vitro with antibodies raised against a purified cationic peroxidase fraction, resulted in isolating one major radioactive product. The higher molecular weight of this isolated product compared with the molecular weight of the purified peroxidase fraction suggests the occurrence of a single peptide for peroxidase commensurate with its being a secreted protein.

1. Nucleolar RNA polymerase Ib obtained from auxin-treated lentil roots exhibits a higher transcriptional activity than the enzyme obtained from control roots. This difference is due to a change in the enzyme properties after auxin treatment. It is suggested that the hormonal effect is mediated by a factor that changes the molecular properties of nucleolar RNA polymerase. 2. Four fractions, alpha, beta, gamma and delta, that stimulate the activity of RNA polymerase Ib, have been extracted from lentil roots. Two of them, gamma and delta have been studied. Factor delta can stimulate nucleolar polymerase Ib and the nucleoplasmic enzyme II equally well, while factor gamma is specific for polymerase Ib. 3. The curve of UMP incorporation in vitro, with and without factors gamma or delta suggests that they are initiation factors. This conclusion is reinforced by the analysis of simultaneous incorporation of [gamma-32P]ATP and [3H]UMP in the RNAs synthesized in vitro. 4. Although the level of factor delta is independent of auxin treatment, that of factor gamma is doubled in auxin-treated roots. These results suggest that factor gamma is an auxin-induced protein that modulates the specific activity of the nucleolar RNA polymerase. 5. A general model of the mode of action of auxins at the molecular level is proposed. It integrates into a unified scheme the above results as well as those obtained by other workers.

A cell line of Eschscholtzia californica selected for meta-fluorotyrosine (MFT) tolerance was found to have 10-fold increased levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine compared to the parent line, while most other amino acids were only increased 2-fold. Tracer experiments with shikimic acid in the presence of MFT showed that the biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids was not impaired in the tolerant line. Feeding experiments with phenylalanine, tyrosine, or shikimic acid also revealed a reduced turnover of the pools of the aromatic amino acids in the variant. Thus undisturbed de novo biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids and dilution of toxic effects of MFT by the enlarged pool sizes seemed to be the main reason for the acquired tolerance. Despite the enlarged availability of the precursor tyrosine, formation of the benzophenanthridine alkaloids was enhanced neither in the growth nor in the production medium.

The activities of a cationic (C.PRX) and an anionic peroxidase isolated from peanut (Arachis hypogaea)-cell suspension culture were drastically reduced when they were deglycosylated with glycopeptidase F or oxidized by 10 mM-periodate. In contrast with the controls, the deglycosylated or the oxidized peroxidases were much more susceptible to proteolytic degradation. In radiolabelling experiments with [35S]methionine, the non-glycosylated C.PRX was synthesized in the tunicamycin-treated cultures and secreted into the medium. Examination of the C.PRX polypeptides by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography showed that the non-glycosylated form had an Mr of approx. 31,000, which is about 78% of that of the glycosylated form. Our results suggest that carbohydrates may not be essential for peroxidase secretion, but that stabilization of the peroxidase molecules and acquisition by these isoenzymes of a catalytically active conformation is linked directly or indirectly to glycosylation.

In response to the floral stimulus, Xanthium buds synthesize relatively more messenger RNA than do vegetative buds. This is demonstrated by fractionation, on methylated albumin-kieselguhr columns, of a mixture of nucleic acids from vegetative and induced buds, one being labeled with uridine-H(3) and the other with uridine-2-C(14). While floral induction stimulates a small increase in messenger RNA synthesis as revealed by labeling intact plants, this difference can be magnified by labeling excised buds in solution. From experiments with excised buds from Xanthium plants, it is concluded that buds from photoperiodically induced plants contain more messenger RNA than buds from noninduced ones do.