The activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO; EC 1.4.3.3) in germinating seeds of Callistephus chinensis was studied. For maximum recovery of ACO activity in vitro, the presence of 10% (w/v) insoluble polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) and 30% of glycerol in the extraction medium was necessary. The optimum pH for this activity was 7.0. Ethylene production by whole achenes or enzymatic extract increased due to increasing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) concentrations. Saturation level of ACC for in vivo ACO activity was 10−1 M and Vmax was 10.89 nL C2H4·mg protein−1·h−1. For in vitro ACO activity, the saturation level of ACC was 10−3 M and Vmax was 2.299 nL C2H4·mg protein−1·h−1. Both, in vivo and in vitro ACO activities did not follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Hill coefficients (h) were estimated on the basis of non-linear estimation. Their values were 0.63 for in vivo ACO activity and 1.73 for in vitro ACO activity. The experimental data show that ACO from C. chinensis seeds is an oligomeric enzyme with at least two active sites. During seed germination, in vitro ACO activity was detectable after 12 hours of imbibition, while in vivo ACC conversion to ethylene was observed after 24 h, i.e. – after radicle protrusion. The activity of ACO in C. chinensis seeds is associated with germination sensu stricto, and might be a good marker of this process.
