RNA polymerase and protein synthesizing activity in developing bengal gram cotyledons

Changes in RNA, DNA, protein, starch, RNA polymerase and in vitro phenylalanine incorporation by free and membrane-bound polysomes have been studied during Bengal gram cotyledon development using [3H]UTP. Three RNA polymerases were present and their proportion varied slightly at 15 and 35 day stage. RNA polymerase activity, when expressed as per cotyledon as well as per unit of DNA, increased during cotyledon development. The nucleoplasmic RNA polymerase II accounted for the major portion of the total enzyme activity. [14C] Phenylalanine incorporation per mg RNA for membrane-bound polysomes was higher compared to free polysomes up to 35 days stage. Sucrose density gradient profiles showed changes in free and membrane-bound polysomes during cotyledon development. (author)