Redox characteristics of normal and habituated cell lines of sugarbeet

Redox properties of cells of normal hormone-requiring (N) and habituated (H) sugarbeet calli have been investigated. It was found that H cells at all ages reduced exogenous ferricyanide at a much higher rate than N cells, but they exhibited a lower chemiluminescence either alone or in presence of luminol. The plasma membrane NADH:fer-ricyanide oxidoreductase measured in vitro was almost identical for the two cell types. This could indicate that the higher reducing power of H cells had an intracellular origin. Among the enzyme activities which could provide electrons, malate dehydrogenase activity was found to be a good candidate, being more active in H cells. The results are discussed in relation to the abnormal structure of the cell wall of habituated cells.