Changes in metabolism related to gluconeogenesis during the process of chilling-injury in banana fruit were investigated using L-aspartic acid-
14C (U) and L-serine-
14C (U) solely as a substrate.
In the fruits stored at 6°C for 6 to 9 days, incorporations of radioactivities into the sugar fraction after incubation with labelled amino acids were significantly higher than those of healthy fruit stored at 20°C, especially in the case of serine as a substrate.
During the storage at 20°C after storage at 6°C for 9 days, incorporation of both amino acids into the sugar fraction decreased gradually, while the incorporation into the organic acid fraction rather increased.
A drastic increase in incorporation of serine into ethanol fraction was noted in the chillinginjured fruit at 7 days after the storage at 20°C, and the pulp become to soften. At this time, activities of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase and serine dehydratase, which were concerned with serine metabolism, were 2 times as high as those of fruit stored at 6°C.
From these results, metabolic pathway in chilling-injured banana fruits during the process of after-ripening was discussed.
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