Chromatin-bound DNA-dependent RNA polymarase in developing pea cotyledons : II. Polymerase activity and template availability under different growth conditions.

The chromatin-bound DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, and template availability to added homologous RNA polymerase, were determined for pea cotyledons which were allowed to develop in different environments. Both the maximum polymerase activity and the template availability were higher in cotyledons that were developing at the faster rate. The template availability was approximately constant within an environment throughout most of the development, but differed between environments. The extra DNA sythesised, that is that above the 2C level, during cytyledon development appeared to be more utilised for RNA synthesis in slowly developing cotyledons than in more rapidly developing ones.