An invertase inactivator in maize endosperm and factors affecting inactivation.

A protein present in the developing endosperm of maize (Zea mays L.) causes a loss of invertase activity under certain conditions of incubation. This protein, designated an inactivator, inactivates invertase I of maize even in the presence of other proteins. No inactivation of invertase II of maize or yeast invertase has been observed. The inactivator and invertase I are found only in the endosperm. The quantity of inactivator increases in the normal endosperm during development while invertase I activity decreases. However, the altered levels of invertase I activity in several endosperm mutant lines do not result from different quantities of inactivator. The inactivator can decrease invertase I activity during a preincubation period before addition of sucrose; inactivation is noncompetitive. Invertase I activity decreases curvilinearly with an increase in inactivator concentration. At high buffer concentrations or low inactivator concentrations in the reaction mixture, a latent period is observed when invertase I is not inactivated. Inactivation increases with an increase in temperature and a decrease in pH.