Abstract
Protoplasts isolated from Avena sativa L. leaves undergo progressive senescence when incubated aseptically in 0.6 m mannitol with or without added nutrients. This senescence is manifested by morphological deterioration and ultimate lysis of protoplasts, by a decrease in incorporation of [(3)H]uridine and [(3)H]leucine into macromolecules, and by a sharp increase in ribonuclease activity.The presence in the incubation medium of l-arginine, l-lysine, certain polyamines related to these amino acids (cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine), Ca(2+), or streptomycin stabilizes the protoplasts. Protoplasts incubated with 10 mml-arginine or l-lysine show an initial inhibition of [(3)H]uridine incorporation, but with time, incorporation is restored to levels greater than in control protoplasts. The rise in ribonuclease activity of protoplasts is completely inhibited if the protoplasts are incubated with 10 mml-arginine. Greater incorporation of [(3)H]uridine into RNA of aging protoplasts is also maintained by appropriate concentration of cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine, Ca(2+), or streptomycin in the incubation medium; the same concentrations of these substances stabilize the protoplasts against additional lysis.