Occurrence and properties of hydroxamic acid glucoside glucosidase were investigated in 10-day-old, autotrophic maize (Zea mays L.) in which 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4- benzoxazin-3-one glucoside (DIMBOA-G) is a major benzoxazinone component. Crude extracts of both leaves and roots showed glucosidase activity for both DIMBOA-G and 2,4- dihydroxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one glucoside (DIBOA-G). A cation-exchange chromatography after cryoprecipitation of the extract from leaves gave a peak with both activities, and further purification by ion-exchange and hydroxyapatite chromatography gave a fraction with an apparent homogeneity, the purification being 560 fold. The Km values (mᴍ) of the purified glucosidase were 0.16 for DIMBOA-G, 0.68 for DIBOA-G and 2.96 for p-nitrophenyl-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside. The activity on salicin and esculin was too low to be detected. The data indicate that a glucosidase specific for DIMBOA-G comes into contact with constitutive benzoxazinone glucosides producing defensive aglycone when plants are damaged by microbial or insect attacks.
Purification and Characterization of Two Forms of Glutamine Synthetase from the Pedicel Region of Maize (Zea mays L.) Kernels
