Action and Inhibition of Endogenous Phospholipases during Isolation of Plant Membranes.

Endogenous phospholipase D and phosphatidic acid phosphatase activities were demonstrated in membrane fractions isolated from soybean (Glycine max L.) hypocotyls. Phospholipase D activity was distributed widely among different membrane fractions while phosphatidic acid phosphatase was found predominantly in membranes equilibrating in lower sucrose densities. Phospholipase D action was unaffected by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, sodium salt or ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid but was prevented by a mixture of 4% choline and 4% ethanolamine. Phosphatidic acid phosphatase was inhibited by 10 millimolar glycerol 1-phosphate or by homogenization media prepared with coconut milk as a solvent instead of water. Under fully protected conditions the phospholipid composition of soybean membrane fractions remained unchanged for at least 1 hour at 20 C. Membranes prepared under protected conditions had low phosphatidic acid contents and the phospholipid compositions closely resembled those of corresponding animal membranes.