Some Properties of O-Methyltransferase from Bamboo Shoot

Abstract

The incubation of CA, 5-HFA and TCA with sliced bamboo shoot in the presence of methionine-^<14>CH_3 gave radioactive FA and SA. On the other hand, the incubation of those compounds with sliced gingko shoot yielded only FA from CA and did not SA from 5-HFA and TCA. The enzyme preparation obtained from bamboo shoot was fractionated by (NH_4)_2SO_4-and iso-electric point precipitations and column chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose. Variation of the ratios (SA/FA) which were obtained by assay of O-methyltransferase are indicative of possible presence of two enzymes in the bamboo enzyme preparation. The results are discussed in relation to the biochemical differences of the methoxyl patterns in lignins between angiosperms and gymnosperms.