>98 



FAT METABOLISM 



It can be shown that fatty acids accumulate temporarily in oily seeds during 

 germination. This cannot be demostrated for gl5'cerol ; apparently this com- 

 pound is transformed into other substances as rapidly as it is produced. The 

 simpler carbohydrates are undoubtedly formed first and cellulose then pro- 

 duced by the condensation of glucose molecules. The protein content of the 

 seeds also decreases during germination but this is probably chiefly due to 

 their conversion into amino acids and acid amides. Subsequently most of 

 the hj'drolytic products of the proteins are probably used in the construction 

 of new protoplasm. A part of the carbohydrates resulting from chemical 

 transformations of fats is utilized in the synthesis of cellulose and other cell 

 wall constituents; another portion of them is used in respiration. 



TABLE 37 CHANGES IN THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GERMINATING SUNFLOWER SEEDS, IN 



TERMS OF GRAMS PER ICO SEEDS OR SEEDLINGS (daTA OF MILLER, I9I0) 



Similar chemical transformations also occur during the germination of 

 seeds in which foods are stored predominantly in the form of carbohydrates. 

 In such seeds, however, the soluble carbohydrates used in the processes of 

 assimilation and respiration are produced by the hydrolysis of starch and 

 other storage carbohydrates. 



