| Abstract: | Summary Living protoplasts were isolated from the interplacental tissue ofLycopersicum esculentum L. var.Manalucie with 5% polygalacturonase in 0.4 M sucrose solution. The protoplasts were treated under standardized conditions with eleven hydrolytic enzymes, and the effects were determined through microscopic examination. Increase in optical density with the cessation of cyclosis, instantaneous collapse, lysis, disruption by cleavage, and the formation of protuberances followed by disruption were considered indicative of impairment in membrane structure. The similarity of response to RNAse, phosphodiesterase and pancreatin strongly suggests the presence of membrane RNA as an important constituent in the maintenance of structural integrity. |
