Messenger RNA-controlled Increase of Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Activity in Parsley: Light-Independent Induction by Dilution of Cell Suspension Cultures into Water

A specific antiserum, raised against purified phenylalanine ammonialyase from irradiated cell suspension cultures of parsley (Petroselinum hortense Hoffm.), was used to compare the enzyme species induced either by dilution or by irradiation of the cell suspensions, to investigate the effect of dilution on the rate of synthesis of the enzyme protein in vivo, and to analyze the changes in specific activity of polyribosomal mRNA for the enzyme subunits in vitro. The mRNA activity in vitro was measured by translation of the polyribosomal RNA in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate.