SECTION III. 



ENZYMATIC DISEASES. 



CHAPTER XV. 



DISPLACEMENT OF ENZYMATIC FUNCTIONS. 



General Discussion. 



Present investigations tend to the theory of perceiving, in the majorit> 

 of metabolic processes, the action of enzymes. We would like to divide 

 these enzymes into two groups, according to their activity, which may be 

 called constru'ctive and destructive. In the process of formation of the 

 vegetative organism, we observe in germination, i. e., in the preparation for 

 the vegetative development, a prevalence of the destructive activity since 

 the reserve substances are dissolved and carried over into usually instable 

 groups of substances, capable of being transported. The activity of the 

 vegetative apparatus leads gradually to the precipitation of reserve sub- 

 stances and we term this activity constructive. Its final goal may be recog- 

 nized in the maturation of the seed. 



From this may be perceived an antagonism in the occurrence of the 

 most important material groups, which antagonism may be determined by 

 the fact that, in abundant deposition of starch, the sugar content, as well 

 as the amount of tannin and of organic acids, decreases. If, on the other 

 hand, sugar, tannin and acids are abundantly present, the precipitation of 

 starch remains small. If the amount of starch is large, the formation of 

 the proteids in the cell from asparagin or other nitrogenous compounds is 

 abundant. In the preponderance of sugar and acids, the nitrogenous com- 

 pounds remain in an instable form. I would like to contrast this condition 

 of the plant parts as "immature," with the "mature" condition which is 

 distinguished by an abundance of reserve materials. 



The different factors of growth that influence constantly the plant 

 body sometimes let one group of enzymes prevail, sometimes another. It is 

 not necessary that the enzymes be destroyed. Their action need only be 



