Putrescine metabolism in pea seedligs

Abstract

The effect of putrescine (Putr.) and N-carbamoylputrescine (N-CPutr.) fed to excised pea seedlings was studied. Contrary to great toxicity of higher than 0.5% Putr., N-CPutr. even at higher concentration was not toxic for the plants. The detoxication of plant cells by carbamoylation of Putr. was postulated. No differences were found in ornithine carbamoyltransferase (EC 2.1.3.3.) activity between plants fed with Putr. or N-CPutr. The most label from 14C-putrescine was found in γ-aminobutyric acid. No labeled N-CPutr. was detected. The "oscillatory" mechanism of N-CPutr. synthesis in higher plants was postulated.