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Metabolism and Enzymology

Ketose Reductase Activity in Developing Maize Endosperm

Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Northern Regional Research Center, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61604

Ketose reductase (NAD-dependent polyol dehydrogenase EC 1.1.1.14) activity, which catalyzes the NADH-dependent reduction of fructose to sorbitol (D-glucitol), was detected in developing maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm, purified 104-fold from this tissue, and partially characterized. Product analysis by high performance liquid chromatography confirmed that the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was freely reversible. In maize endosperm, 15 days after pollination, ketose reductase activity was of the same order of magnitude as sucrose synthase activity, which produces fructose during sucrose degradation. Other enzymes of hexose metabolism detected in maize endosperm were present in activities of only 1 to 3% of the sucrose synthase activity. CaCl₂, MgCl₂, and MnCl₂ stimulated ketose reductase activity 7-, 6-, and 2-fold, respectively, but had little effect on NAD-dependent polyol dehydrogenation (the reverse reaction). The pH optimums for ketose reductase and polyol dehydrogenase reactions were 6.0 and 9.0, respectively. K_m values were 136 millimolar fructose and 8.4 millimolar sorbitol. The molecular mass of ketose reductase was estimated to be 78 kilodaltons by gel filtration. It is postulated that ketose reductase may function to metabolize some of the fructose produced during sucrose degradation in maize endosperm, but the metabolic fate of sorbitol produced by this reaction is not known.

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