UTILIZATION OF PHYTATE BY GERMINATING WHEAT

In germinating wheat, when phytase was inactivated by macerating in dilute perchloric acid, no myo-inositol phosphate esters with fewer than six phosphate groups could be detected during the disappearance of phytate. This contrasts to the hydrolysis, in solution, of myo-inositol hexaphosphate by wheat phytase, when significant concentrations of lower esters are produced before hydrolysis is complete. In wheat, the inorganic phosphate content per fresh weight remained constant up to 14 days. Released myo-inositol did not accumulate and, at 3-4 days after initiation of germination, the distribution of label from myo-inositol-U-14C into various fractions was similar to that of d-glucose-U-14C. However, there was insignificant incorporation of label from d-glucose-U-14C into the myo-inositol fragment of the lipid fraction which did incorporate label from myo-inositol-U-14C. Label from d-glucose-U-14C was not found in unbound myo-inositol. © 1970.