Vacuolar Localization of Ethylene-Induced Chitinase in Bean Leaves

Abstract

The localization of ethylene-induced endochitinase was studied in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv Saxa) leaves. The specific activity of chitinase in mesophyll protoplasts isolated from the leaves was as high as in tissue homogenates, indicating that most of the enzyme was located intracellularly. Vacuoles isolated and purified from the protoplasts were found to contain most of the intracellular chitinase activity.