Free amino acids and peptides in etiolated kidney bean seedlings.

Abstract

Changes in content of free amino acids in kidney bean seeds and their etiolated seedlings were studied. Amino acids and peptides were separated by two dimentional thin-layer chromatography, and then amino acids separated were determined by the Yemm and Cocking's ninhydrin method. The determination of pipecolic acid was made by the modified method of the Schenk's, based on the reaction with ninhydrin under acidic condition. By the immersing the seeds overnight in the water, the content of pipecolic acid increased apProximately two times as much as that of dry seeds. From 3 days germination, pipecolic acid content was kept constant, and decreased gradually in the cotyledons and increased in the young plants. Several unknown ninhydrin positive spots were obtained on the chromatograms. One of which produced pipecolic acid after acid hydrolysis, and other two of which produced glutamic acid after mild hydrolysis.