Changes in the Compositions of Amino Acids in the Rice Seedlings under Low Temperature

저온처리한 벼 유식물의 아미노산 조성의 변화

The contents and the compositions of total free amino acids were investigated in the rice(Oryza sativa L. cv. Chuncheong) seedlings under low temperatures. Activities of some enzymes associated with the markedly changed amino acid content were also investigaetd. Under low temperature, the contents of soluble protein and the total free amino acids increased, while the content of total nitrogen decreased. Although asparagine＋glycine were the most abundant amino acid speceis in the rice seedlings at the control temeprature, low temperature treatment for 3days brought about the decrease in their amount to about 60% level of the control plants. On the other hand, alanine showed the highest increase in the content among all the free amino acids, though glutamine, proline, asprtic acid, valine and tyrosine also increased after low temperature treatment. To eludicate the decrease of asparagine＋glycine level under low temperature, the activities of asparagine aminotransferase and asparaginase which metabolize asparagine were investigated in the rice seedlings under low temperature. The activity of asparaginase increased markedly, while that of asparagine aminotransferase decreased under low temperatures. Therefore, it was suggested that asparaginase metabolizes asparagine predominatly in the rice seedlings under low temperatures.