[Influence of SO2 on the amino acid metabolism of pea seedlings].

Long-termed fumigation of pea seedlings with SO2 caused typical alterations of the concentration of free glutamate and glutamine as well as fluctuations of the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase. Shortly after the beginning of the fumigation with low concentrations of SO2 (up to 0,3 ppm) the amount of glutamate increased. The concentration of glutamine however increases always independently of the concentration of SO2. The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (reductive amination of α-ketoglutarate) generally increased. In roots of fumigated seedlings the effects of SO2 on the concentration of both glutamate and glutamine as well as on the activity of GDH are quite similar to those observed in shoots. Metabolic sequences derived from glutamate seem to be activated by SO2 as can be seen by the increase of the concentration of glutamine and γ-aminobutyric acid.