Isolation and Purification of a Ubiquinone-Cytochrome b-c1 Complex from a Photosynthetic Bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

A ubiquinone-cytochrome b-c₁ complex was removed from chromatophoremembranes of a Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides green mutant bydeoxycholate-cholate treatment of the chromatophores. The complexwas purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration. The molecular weight of the purified complex was 240,000 (240kD) and it was composed of seven subunits with molecular weightsof 47 kD, 42 kD, 38 kD, 32 kD, 30 kD, 24 kD and 16 kD. The complexcontained 1.54 and 3.42 nmol of cytochrome c₁ and two differentcytochrome b species per mg protein, respectively. It also contained7.07 nmol of ubiquinone, 6.37 nmol of non-heme iron and about3 nmol of carotenoids per mg protein. No flavins were detected.Heme staining indicated that the 32 kD-and 24 kD-subunits werecytochromes. The midpoint potential of cytochrome c₁ was 245 mV, and thevalues for the cytochromes b were 60 mV and –75 mV atpH 7.2. The peak of the -band of the reduced-minus-oxidizeddifference spectrum of cytochrome c₁ was located at 552.5 nm,arid peaks of the b-type cytochromes with higher and lower midpointpotentials were located at 562 nm and 563 nm. The chemical and the subunit compositions of the purified complexreported here were similar to those obtained for the inner membranesof mitochondria of various organisms. (Received April 5, 1982; Accepted June 14, 1982)     

Isolation and Purification of Cytochrome b561 from a Photosynthetic Bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

Cytochrome b₅₆₁ was removed from chromatophores of a photoanaerobicallygrown Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides by deoxycholate-cholate andTriton X-100 treatments of the chromatophores. The cytochromewas purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration.Its molecular weight was 45,000 (45 kD) and it was composedof three subunits with molecular weights of 23 kD, 19 kD andless than 6 kD. The cytochrome preparation had absorption maximaat 414 nm in the oxidized form, and at 428, 530 and 561 nm inthe reduced form. Its pi was 4.8. The midpoint potential ofthis cytochrome was 153 mV at pH 7.0. The compound was autooxidizable,and it had cytochrome c oxidase activity. (Received May 16, 1983; Accepted September 8, 1983)     

Identification and Characterization of the Seed Storage Proteins from Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

The major seed storage proteins in alfalfa are medicagin (alegumin-like globulin), alfin (a vicilin-like globulin) anda family of Lower Molecular Weight albumins (LMW₁₃). These comprise30%, 10% and 20%, respectively, of the total extractable proteinfrom cotyledons of mature seeds. Alfin is a heterogeneous oligomericprotein (Mr 150 kD) composed of polypeptides ranging in sizefrom Mr 50 to 14 kD (₁,-₆; 50, 38, 32, 20, 16 and 14 kD, respectively).Medicagin is also a high molecular weight oligomeric protein,but requires high concentrations of salt for solubilization.It is comprised of a family of individually distinct subunits,each composed of an acidic polypeptide (A₁–A₉; Mr 49 to39 kD) linked via disulphide bond(s) to a basic polypeptide(B₁, B₂, B₃; Mr 24, 23 and 20 kD, respectively). This pairingis highly specific and two families are recognizable on thebasis of the B polypeptide (B₃ or B₁/B₂). Subunits (M_r 50–65kD) are assembled as trimers (8S) or larger oligomers (12S–15S)in mature seeds. The lower molecular weight albumins (LMW₁–₃)are acidic (pl<6), and consist of sets of disulphide-bondedpolypeptides (Mr 15 and 11 kD). Key words: Medicago sativa, seed storage proteins, alfin, medicagin     

Polypeptide Composition of Envelope Membranes Isolated from Chloroplasts of C3, C4, and CAM Plants

Chloroplast envelopes were isolated from chloroplasts purifiedfrom Spinacea oleracea L. (C₃), Panicum miliaceum L. (NAD-malicenzyme-type C₁), Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (NADP-malicenzyme-type C₄), Kalanchoe daigremontiana Hamet et Perrier (constitutiveCAM), and from Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (inducible CAM)performing either C₃ photosynthesis or Crassulacean acid metabolism(CAM). For each species, methods were developed to isolate chloroplastenvelopes free of thylakoid contamination. The polypeptidesof ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase which has been consistentlyreported in envelope preparations of spinach were not foundin envelope preparations of C₄ mesophyll chloroplasts. Silverstaining of envelope polypeptides resolved electrophoreticallyon sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gradient slab gels produceda more complex profile than did Coomassie staining which haspreviously been used with C₃ envelope preparations, even thoughsilver reacted poorly with polypeptides corresponding to thesubunits of RuBP carboxylase. All of the plants examined possesseda major polypeptide of 27 to 29 kilodaltons (kD) which was previouslysuggested to be the phosphate translocator in spinach. WithC₃ M. crystallinum, the 29 kD polypeptide stained most intensely.After induction of CAM, a 32 kD polypeptide also stained intensely,giving a profile similar to that obtained with the constitutiveCAM species. A 32 kD polypeptide was also prominent in C₄ envelopepreparations, suggesting that a 32 kD polypeptide may be a translocatorprotein which is required in Crassulacean acid metabolism andC4 photosynthesis, but not in C₃ photosynthesis. (Received April 25, 1983; Accepted July 9, 1983)     

野桑蚕卵黄原蛋白的鉴定及cDNA序列分析

利用SDS-PAGE和Western blot方法分析鉴定了野桑蚕Bombyx mandarina Moore卵黄原蛋白,发现该蛋白由大小两个亚基组成,分子量分别为175 kD和42 kD。利用昆虫卵黄原蛋白进化上的保守性,根据家蚕的卵黄原蛋白cDNA序列设计特异性引物在野桑蚕的总RNA进行RT-PCR扩增,对于3′和5′端进行RACE扩增,解析获得了野桑蚕卵黄原蛋白cDNA全序列(GenBank登录号AY 309967)。该序列含有5.754个碱基,由一个开放阅读框组成,编码1.780个氨基酸,卵黄原蛋白的氨基酸序列与家蚕的同源性达到97.6%。在特定的酶切位点(RSRR)处,即第364～367个氨基酸位置,卵黄原蛋白前体被酶切为大小两个亚基,根据氨基酸推算的相对分子质量分别为161.571 kD和40.794 kD,如果考虑到翻译后的修饰,这与SDS-PAGE的结果是吻合的。同源性分析表明,昆虫卵黄原蛋白一级结构分化基本上局限在同一目内,具有较高的保守性。     

粘虫颗粒体病毒对苏云金杆菌的增效特性及对Bt毒蛋白的降解活化作用

以小菜蛾Plutella xylostella为试虫,采用生物测定方法测定了粘虫颗粒体病毒（Pseudaletia unipuncta granulosis virus,PuGV-Ps）对苏云金杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt）的增效作用。结果表明：不同配伍PuGV-Ps和Bt间的共毒系数在105.3至195.0之间, PuGV-Ps对Bt毒力具有增强作用,其中以Bt∶PuGV-Ps为4∶1增效作用最明显,72 h LC₅₀为0.039 mg/mL。不同温度和pH值都影响PuGV-Ps对Bt的增效作用,16℃～20℃增效程度明显高于24℃～32℃,而碱性条件下（pH 8～9）增效作用更显著。PuGV-Ps对Bt的增效作用因小菜蛾龄期不同而变化,2、3龄幼虫死亡率较单独使用Bt分别提高了50%和30.31%,而作用于低龄（1龄）和高龄（4龄）幼虫时对Bt的增效作用不显著。PuGV-Ps饲喂2 h后再接毒Bt,小菜蛾死亡率明显提高,48 h死亡率达66.67％,较直接饲喂Bt+PuGV-Ps处理死亡率提高了53.87％,差异极显著。SDS-PAGE表明PuGV-Ps具有碱性蛋白酶的活性,离体条件下能促进δ-内毒素酶解为47 kD,60 kD和61 kD的毒性肽。     

Chromatin subunit structure in different tissues of higher plants

The basic chromatin structure of higher plants (Vicia faba andTrillium kamtschaticum) was examined biochemically. After digestionwith micrococcal nuclease, the chromatins of these species yieldedDNA-protein components which sedimented as discrete peaks at11S, 15S, 19S, and so on in a sucrose gradient. The buoyantdensity of Vicia chromatin subunits was about 1.44 g?cm^–3in CsCl. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of histone fromthese subunits of Vicia and Trillium chromatins indicated thatthe 11S monomer contained very little histone H1 but a fullcomplement of all other histones, whereas the oligomers containedH1 as in the case of undigested chromatin. Therefore, the modeof organization of basic chromatin structure in higher plantsis identical with that reported with various other eukasyotes,although two plant histone components are different from thecorresponding mammalian histones, H2A and H2B, in molecularweight and amino acid composition. The results indicated alsothat chromosomes prepared from Trillium meiotic cells do notdiffer from chromatins of Trillium or Vicia somatic cells inthe sensitivity to nuclease digestion or in the size of theirsubunits. (Received May 19, 1978; )     

龟纹瓢虫卵黄蛋白的分子特性及发生动态

研究了龟纹瓢虫Propylea japonica (Thunberg) 卵黄蛋白的基本特性以及卵黄发生过程中卵黄蛋白的动态变化。PAGE和SDS-PAGE实验表明,龟纹瓢虫卵黄蛋白分子量为294.81±40.70 kD,并由分子量分别为144.68±0.03 kD和51.23±0.27 kD的两种亚基组成。对卵黄蛋白的氨基酸组成和含量分析发现,其必需氨基酸总量占57.48％,略高于非必需氨基酸,其中谷氨酸（Glu）含量最高,为15.26％;色氨酸（Trp）和蛋氨酸（Met）含量较低,分别为0.50％和0.11％。采用间接竞争ELISA法,系统测定了龟纹瓢虫成虫期脂肪体、血淋巴和卵巢中卵黄蛋白的动态变化,结果表明：脂肪体是卵黄原蛋白合成的场所,卵黄原蛋白的合成始于羽化后第2天;脂肪体、血淋巴和卵巢中卵黄原蛋白的滴度在羽化后第4天开始迅速上升,至成虫期的第8天左右达到高峰期。     

光增白剂对甜菜夜蛾围食膜结构的作用与影响

应用环境扫描电镜和生化技术研究了甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua正常围食膜和光增白剂M2R处理围食膜的形态、结构和组成。结果表明：正常的围食膜表面光滑致密、无孔洞和缝隙;光增白剂处理的围食膜产生了孔缝。正常围食膜所含蛋白质的种类很多,经SDS-PAGE测定至少有17条多肽,分子量多在97.4kD以下,围食膜蛋白质的含量约为41.98%,糖的含量约为2.05%。光增白剂可以解离大部分围食膜蛋白,液滴法喂食幼虫蓝色葡聚糖2000 进一步证实了光增白剂能破坏围食膜的完整性。     

Occurrence of terminal {alpha}2 ->8-linked disialylated poly-N-acetyllactosamine chains with Lex and I antigenic glycotopes in tetraantennary arms of an N-linked glycoprotein isolated from rainbow trout ovarian fluid

The Pronase digestion of a 54K glycoprotein present in ovarianfluid of rainbow trout yielded a major glycopeptide. Carbohydratecompositional analysis revealed that this glycopeptide was likelyto possess a single large N-glycan chain having low molecularweight oligomers of N-acetylneuraminic acid (oligoNeu5Ac). Structuralstudies of this glycopeptide revealed novel     

Properties of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein, and photosystem I chlorophyll a-protein, purified from digitonin extracts of spinach chloroplasts by isoelectrofocusing

A procedure for purifying both light-harvesting chlorophylla/b-protein and photosystem I chlorophyll -protein from digitoninextracts of spinach chloroplasts is described. This procedureuses isoelectrofocusing on Ampholine at the last step and permitsisolating all of the chlorophyll-proteins from the same extractin a better yield and a highly pure state. The purified light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein whichhas an isoelectric point (pi) of 4.35 (?0.1) and a single polypeptideof 24 kilodaltons (kD), shows slightly higher chlorophyll a/Aratio of 1.35 than the values reported for the preparationsobtained by anionic detergents. This chlorophyll-protein exhibitsa markedly high and sharp fluorescence band at 681 nm at 77?Kwhich is not found on the chloroplast emission spectrum. Photosystem I chlorophyll a-protein focuses on Ampholine intotwo bands with pi values of 4.75 (?0.1) and 4.80 (?0.1). Thesetwo fractions show the same absorption spectra (maximum at 678nm at room temperature) and emission spectra (maximum at 734nm at 77?K) and have the same constituent polypeptides: onelarge band at 55–64 kD and six minor bands (21.5, 20,19, 18, 16 and 15 kD). The polypeptide composition and the P-700to chlorophyll a ratio (1 to ca. 80) of this preparation arevery similar to those of the photosystem I reaction center preparationobtained from Swiss chard chloroplasts by Bengis and Nelson(8). (Received October 31, 1978; )     

越冬松针瘿蚊幼虫整体携脂蛋白 的分离和纯化

采用KBr密度梯度超速离心并结合常规Sepharose CL-4B凝胶柱层析,从越冬松针瘿蚊Thecodiplosis japonensis(Uchida et Inouye) 幼虫整体中,分离并纯化了一种携脂蛋白。这是第二例从昆虫整体分离并纯化出携脂蛋白的报道。采用凝胶柱层析确定该携脂蛋白的相对分子质量为638 kD,它是由分别为240 kD和52 kD的两个亚基组成 。整体分子中含有52.8%的蛋白和47.2%的脂类 。苏丹黑B和希夫氏试剂染色显示阳性,说明它是一种糖脂复合蛋白。采用超速离心确定它的密度为1.11 g/mL,表明它是一种高密度的脂蛋白。     

淡色库蚊中抗性相关羧酸酯酶的纯化及其生化性质

在库蚊Culex pipiens品系中,非专一性酯酶活性的升高是对有机磷杀虫剂产生抗性的重要机理之一。应用SDS/PAGE,比较淡色库蚊Culex pipiens pallens抗敌百虫品系(RD)、敏感型品系(S)和抗苄呋菊酯品系(PY)中可溶性总蛋白质带型,显示RD中含有一条特异蛋白带,其它两个品系中未检出。在RD成虫匀浆液总蛋白中含量高达2.1%。分子量测定为66 kD。应用柱层析法分离得到了较纯的纯品。以α-NA为底物测得K_m=64.1 mmol/L,V_max=249.8 mmol/(L·mg·min)。与羧酸酯酶相比较：其K_m值小于已报道的抗性品系及非抗性品系A-酯酶和B-酯酶。V_max值比已报道抗性品系A-酯酶低,比B-酯酶高。较高浓度的敌百虫并不能抑制其酶活,属于A-酯酶。在昆虫体内可能主要通过结合隔离作用(sequestration)提高昆虫对有机磷的耐受性,对有机磷杀虫剂水解作用的可能性也不能排除。     

Genetic engineering of rice capable of synthesizing fructans and enhancing chilling tolerance

Fructans are water-soluble fructose oligomers and polymers thatare based on sucrose, and have been implicated in protectingplants against water stress. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is highlysensitive to chilling temperatures, and is not able to synthesizefructans. Two wheat fructan-synthesizing enzymes, sucrose:sucrose1-fructosyltransferase, encoded by wft2, or sucrose:fructan6-fructosyltransferase, encoded by wft1, were introduced intorice plants, and rice transformants that accumulate fructanswere successfully obtained. The mature leaf blades of transgenicrice lines with wft2 or wft1 accumulated 16.2 mg g^–1 FWof oligo- and polysaccharides mainly composed of inulin oligomersof more than DP7, and 3.7 mg g^–1 FW of oligo- and polysaccharides,mainly composed of phlein oligomers of more than DP15, respectively.The transgenic rice seedlings with wft2 accumulated significantlyhigher concentrations of oligo- and polysaccharides than non-transgenicrice seedlings, and exhibited enhanced chilling tolerance. Theoligo- and polysaccharide concentrations of seedlings expressingwft1 were obviously lower than those of lines expressing wft2,and no correlation between oligo- and polysaccharide concentrationsand chilling tolerance was detected in wft1-expressing ricelines. The results suggest that transgenic rice lines expressingwheat-derived fructosyltransferase genes accumulated large amountsof fructans in mature leaf blades and exhibited enhanced chillingtolerance at the seedling stage. This is the first report owingthat fructan accumulation enhanced tolerance to non-freezinglow temperatures. Key words: Chilling tolerance, fructan, fructosyltransferase, Oryza sativa, transgenic plant     

RNA and Protein Synthesis in Germinating Pine Pollen

The results of autoradiographic experiments demonstrate that,as with the pollen of most other species, both the generativeand vegetative nuclei of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) activelyengage in RNA synthesis from the very early stages of pollengermination. Unlike most other species, however, this newlysynthesized RNA includes rRNA. Evidence is provided for theimportance of this newly synthesized RNA in the process of continuedpollen tube growth. One and two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis revealsa number of both qualitative and quantitative differences amongthe proteins synthesized during the early stages of germinationand the later stages of pollen tube growth. One of the mostnotable of these is a 36 kD protein, the synthesis of whichpredominates during the later stages of pollen germination.A similar pattern of 36 kD protein synthesis is observed whenmRNA extracted from pollen at each of these stages is translatedin vitro. Key words: Pinus, pollen tube growth     

Compartmentation of Phenolic Compounds and Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase in Leaves of Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. and their Induction by Copper Sulphate

The compartmentation of phenolic compounds in mature leavesof Phyllanthus tenellus and their induction by copper sulphatewere analysed at histological and subcellular levels. Lightand electron microscopy studies demonstrated that the vacuolesof spongy cells were the main sites of phenolic accumulation.Spraying plants with copper sulphate induced punctated lesionsformed by groups of necrotic cells which accumulated brownishsubstances. Histochemical tests and fluorescence microscopyanalysis of the sprayed leaves indicated that the phenolic compoundsincreased in spongy cells within the lesions. Ultrastructuralanalyses showed that 3 h after elicitation, the organelles ofthe cells within the lesion started to collapse and the contentof phenolic substances increased in the vacuole of spongy cells.Antibody against phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) from parsleycross-reacted with the crude extract of P. tenellus leaves.Two isoforms, one of 65 kD and the other of 66 kD, were identified.Immunocytochemical studies showed that PAL was synthesized inthe palisade and spongy cells, mainly in the cytoplasm and chloroplasts.The phytotoxicity of Cu²⁺ions induced the accumulation of PALin sub-cellular compartments of palisade cells. PAL accumulationstarted to increase 3 h after elicitation and reached a maximumafter 6 h, decreasing 12 h post-induction. The increase of PALwas more evident in cells within the necrotic punctated regionsthan in surrounding cells. Since the vacuole of palisade cellsdid not accumulate phenolic compounds, the in situ studies suggestedthat the end products of PAL synthesis play a role in palisadecell wall reinforcement or might accumulate in other tissues.The symptoms induced by copper sulphate suggest that this abioticelicitor may be a useful tool in the understanding of the regulationof biosynthetic phenolic pathways inP. tenellus . Copyright2000 Annals of Botany Company Cell death, copper sulphate, heavy metal, immunolabelling, phenolic compounds, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase,Phyllanthus , transmission electron microscopy, ultrastructure     

Extensin Secreted into the Culture Medium of Tobacco Cells II. Extensin Subfamilies of Similar Composition

Combining acetic acid extraction and high-performance gel chromatographyin guanidine HCl, extensin secreted into the medium by tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum L. var Xanthi) culture cells was separatedinto three component molecules, namely a major 74-kDa, and twominor 45-and 28-kDa components, in addition to larger oligomers.The sizes of these native extensin molecules were first reasonablyassessed using this gel-chromatography system. After deglycosylationwith hydrogen fluoride, the separation was improved and theestimated molecular sizes were reduced to 52 kDa, 34 kDa and18 kDa, respectively. The amino acid compositions of these componentswere similar, and N-terminal sequences of the 52- and 34-kDacomponents coincided. The relative abundance of the componentswas as follows: oligomers, 46%; 52-kDa, 44%; 34-kDa, 7.7%; 18-kDa,2.2%; respectively, on a protein basis (w/w). Fluorography ofthe acid extract of microsomes from cells labelled with ¹⁴C-prolinerevealed only one precursor band of 110-kDa or 42-kDa underthe glycosylating or non-glycosylating conditions, respectively.The smaller components in the medium may be derived, by proteolyticcleavage, from the major extensin molecule after secretion. (Received October 15, 1990; Accepted May 15, 1991)     

家蚕基质金属蛋白酶基因Bm-MMP的克隆、序列分析及表达研究

基质金属蛋白酶（matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs）家族是一类蛋白水解酶, 能够降解基底膜和细胞外基质中大部分蛋白质。为了研究MMPs对家蚕Bombyx mori基本生理功能的影响, 本文利用RACE和RT-PCR方法, 首次从家蚕蛹中克隆了一个MMP基因的全长cDNA, 命名为Bm-MMP。序列分析表明, Bm-MMP的mRNA存在两个选择性剪切变体, 分别命名为Bm-MMP-V1和Bm-MMP-V2。其中Bm-MMP-V1 cDNA全长为2 257 bp, 包含一个1 686 bp的开放阅读框, 编码561个氨基酸, 预测蛋白质分子量约为62.3 kD; Bm-MMP-V2 cDNA全长为2 188 bp。同源性分析表明, Bm-MMP-V1和Bm-MMP-V2的氨基酸序列与蜡螟Galleria mellonella的Gm1-MMP的氨基酸序列同源性最高, 均为88.8%;与黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster的Dm1-MMP的氨基酸序列同源性, 分别为61.2%和64.3%。将Bm-MMP-V1的编码区连接到表达载体pET28a(+)上, 并在大肠杆菌BL21中进行原核表达, SDS-PAGE和Western blot分析结果表明, 带有6×His标签的融合蛋白被成功表达。半定量RT-PCR分析表明, Bm-MMP-V1和Bm-MMP-V2在4龄眠蚕、熟蚕、吐丝后36及48 h、预蛹中的表达量比5龄中食期与化蛹后的表达量高, 推测该基因与家蚕幼虫蜕皮变态有关;LPS诱导5龄3 d的幼虫, 其Bm-MMP-V1和Bm-MMP-V2在血液中的表达量升高, 推测Bm-MMP可能与免疫相关。本研究为进一步研究Bm-MMP在家蚕体内的作用机制奠定了基础。     

Protein Changes Associated with Auxin-Induced Stimulation and Kinetin-Induced Inhibition of Lateral Root Initiation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Roots

Protein changes associated with hormonal regulation of lateralroot initiation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) roots were examined.Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) stimulates the induction of lateralroots (Maclsaac, Sawhney, and Pohorecky, 1989) and this wasaccompanied by an increase in soluble proteins as well as thesynthesis of several polypeptides, including specific polypeptidesof 32 and 31 kD. The synthesis of these polypeptides coincidedwith the onset of cell division in the pericycle of NAA-treatedroots. Application of cycloheximide at different times showedthat NAA-induced protein synthesis is essential for the initiationand development of lateral root primordia. Kinetin inhibitedthe formation of lateral roots as well as the level of solubleproteins in NAA-treated roots. In addition, kinetin-treatedroots contained 22 and 21 kD polypeptides not found in othertreatments. This study suggests that the mechanisms of NAA-stimulationand kinetin-inhibition of lateral root initiation are probablydifferent. Key words: Lactuca sativa, lateral roots, proteins     

Secretion of Specific Extracellular Proteins by Somatic Embryos of Picea abies is Dependent on Embryo Morphology

Embryogenic cell lines ofPicea abieswere categorized into twogroups, A and B, based on the morphology of the somatic embryosand the ability of the somatic embryos to proceed through amaturation process when treated with ABA. Group A embryos hada distinct, densely-packed embryonic region whereas group Bembryos had loosely packed cells in their embryonic region.Embryo morphology was shown to be regulated by changes in theplant growth regulators in the culture medium. Treatment withN⁶-benzyladenine stimulated embryos to develop large embryonicregions. The morphology of somatic embryos and especially thatof the embryonic regions was correlated with the presence ofspecific extracellular proteins. Only somatic embryos with denselypacked cells in the embryonic regions secreted proteins withrelative molecular weights of 28, 66 and 85kD. The extracellularprotein of 28kD was isolated and the first 21 amino acids inthe N-terminus were identified. These showed 52–57% identitywith the N-terminal sequence conserved among members of a proteinfamily which includes zeamatin and which have been shown tobe involved in plant anti-fungal mechanisms. Immunological studiesof extracellular chitinases and zeamatin-like proteins, as wellas of activity of extracellular peroxidase, revealed a closecorrelation between the presence of specific chitinases andembryo morphology. Auxin; cytokinin; embryogenic cell lines; embryo morphology; extracellular proteins; Norway spruce; Picea abies; somatic embryos