In Vitro Biosynthesis of Vicia faba Polyphenoloxidase

Poly A⁺ mRNA was isolated from Vicia faba leaves and translated in vitro using a rabbit reticulocyte translation system. From analysis of the total translation products, the major proteins synthesized in vitro were 32 kilodaltons and 20 kilodaltons. When antibodies to Vicia faba polyphenoloxidase were added, a specific immunoprecipitable protein was observed. This protein's molecular weight was shown to be similar to that of the isolated enzyme (45 kilodaltons). The isolated enzyme successfully competed with the in vitro synthesized product for antipolyphenoloxidase. In addition, the in vitro synthesized product was not immunoprecipitated with antitomato peroxidase and comigrated with isolated and/or iodinated enzyme in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Using in vitro translation and specific immunoprecipitation, a primary translation product corresponding to Vicia faba polyphenoloxidase was identified as a 45 kilodaltons protein.