Pteroylglutamate derivatives in Pisum sativum L. Biosynthesis of cotyledonary tetrahydropteroylglutamates during germination

1. The concentrations of pteroylglutamate derivatives in the cotyledons of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings were determined by microbiological assay by using Lactobacillus casei (A.T.C.C. 7469), Streptococcus faecalis (A.T.C.C. 8043) and Pediococcus cerevisiae (A.T.C.C. 8081). During germination the pteroylglutamate content of the cotyledons increased rapidly from 0.2μg/g dry wt. to 4.0μg/g dry wt., the maximum values being reached approx. 120h after imbibition. 2. Approx. 50% of the pteroylglutamate pool of 3-day-old seedlings was accounted for by highly conjugated derivatives. The concentrations of such derivatives were greatest when precautions were taken to inactivate endogenous enzymes before extraction of the tissues. 3. Individual derivatives present in the tissue extracts were separated by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Synthesis of the major derivative, 5-methyltetrahydropteroylmonoglutamate, was inhibited by administration of 0.1mm-aminopterin and -amethopterin solutions during imbibition. Under these conditions pteroylglutamic acid accumulated in the tissues. 4. Feeding experiments employing [2-14C]pteroylglutamic acid and 5[14C]-methyltetrahydro-pteroylmonoglutamic acid revealed that both compounds were incorporated into conjugated and unconjugated derivatives of the pteroylglutamate pool.