Regulation of Alcohol Dehydrogenases in Maize Scutellum during Germination.

The pattern of change in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in maize (Zea mays L.) scutellum during seed germination is not altered by 10 mug/ml cycloheximide or 50 mug/ml actinomycin D. The enzyme does not become density labeled when maize seeds are germinated in the presence of D(2)O and (15)NH(4)Cl, indicating that no new alcohol dehydrogenase molecules are synthesized after the onset of germination. However, the activity of an endogenous inhibitor for alcohol dehydrogenase is increased after germination. The increase of this inhibitor is concomitant with the decline of alcohol dehydrogenase activity, indicating that the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase during seed germination is controlled by the level of the inhibitor.