On Extraction and Quantitation of Plant Peroxidase Isoenzymes

Peroxidase in tobacco callus tissue differed in extract-ability depending on the subcellular distribution of the enzyme. Based on extractability it consisted of four fractions: freely soluble and less freely soluble in phosphate buffer, KCl-soluble, and insoluble. The latter two fractions were un-extractable by a phosphate buffer alone. The different fractions contained varied proportions of peroxidase isoenzymes. The extractability of indoleacetic acid oxidase was similar. A medium of high ionic strength is essential for quantitative extraction of peroxidase and indoleacetic acid oxidase isoenzymes. For quantitation of isoperoxidase activity on polyacryl-amide gel following electrophoretic separation, benzidine and o-dianisidine were better hydrogen donors than guaiacol and pyrogallol. The optimum pH was 4.5, but a citrate buffer was inhibitory. The optimum conditions included an acetate buffer at pH 4.5, a substrate concentration of 0.03 %, benzidine as the hydrogen donor, and a 3-minute treatment with 7 % acetic acid after staining. The color intensity of the bands remained unchanged for at least three days. With appropriate sample size and reaction time there was a linear relationship between enzyme concentration and activity.