The possible role of lipid intermediates in the synthesis of β-glucans by a membrane fraction from pollen tubes of Petunia hybrida.

A membrane fraction, isolated from pollen tubes of Petunia hybrida, catalyses the incorporation of glucose from UDP-glucose into sucrose, cellodextrins, β-glucans, sterol glucosides and polyprenol monophosphate glucose. Incorporation studies with isolated lipids and kinetic and double-labelling studies indicated that glucolipids are not intermediates in the synthesis of β-glucans in this system.