The Action of Oxidase on Anthocyanin, 



(A Preliminary Communication.) 



Isaburo Nagai. 



The assumption 1 that anthoc} r anin is formed by the 

 oxidation of chromogen substances by the action of oxidising 

 enzymes in the living tissue, has gained some ground in the 

 mind of a circle of plant plrysiologists and genetists, though 

 there has been no experimental evidence given to support the 

 assumption. As far as the chemistiw of anthocyanin formation 

 is concerned, the works of Willstatter and others have settled 

 the argument, yet regarding the physiological side of the pro- 

 blem there still remains much to be investigated. Plants require 

 oxygen (normal air) in the course of anthocyanin formation, in 

 spite of the fact that the reaction concerned thereto, is the 

 reduction of chromogen. 2 In this connection, the works of 

 Keeble, Armstrong and Atkins are of interest. They have 

 shown that anthocyanin and oxidase co-exist in the petals of 

 certain flowers. 



1 Cf. Win ;.i..w.]., M. : .lour, of Genet. 4: 109, L914. " The factor of importance 

 i.^ tbe peroxidase which is practically universally distributed and is the only factor 

 which can be concerned in the formation of anthocyanin " 



li Some of the experiments which I have performed in Prof. Shihata's laboratory 

 show that when the seedling of Vagopyrwm esctUentum which were germinated in tin- 

 dark, and have uubsquently been exposed to strong day light, produce anthocyanin 

 in the hypoCOtyl within a day or two; svhereas those which are likewise exposed, 



but kept In the atmosphere of hydrogen or carbon dioxide, produce no antho- 

 cyanin, 



.'5 KEEBLE, P., and AkMsTRONO, K. I'.: Proe. Hoy. Soc., I'. 85: 211, I 111 'J. 



I.oc. cit. 4G0. 



Jour, of Genet. 2- ^77, 1912. 



Atkins, W R. Q.: Borne Recent Research* in Plant Plrj iology. 26 i 



1916. 



