I 



On the Formation of Arginin in Coniferous Plants. 



BY 



U. Suzuki, Nogakushi. 

 Lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry. 



(Plates. I.— VI.) 



In my last article I have proved that the seeds of some 

 coniferous plants contain certain proteids which produce by the 

 action of acids large quantities of organic bases, especially, 

 arginin ; and also that the shoots of these plants contain 

 arginin in considerable quantities. The distribution of this 

 substance seems to be very wide, and as far as our experience 

 goes, it is found in almost all coniferous plants. So it is highly 

 probable that this substance plays an important role in the 

 metabolism of nitrogen compounds in coniferous plants, especial- 

 ly during germination. E. Schulze supposes that this substance 

 arises not only from the hydrolytic decomposition of reserve 

 proteids in the seeds during germination, but also from the 

 transformation of other decomposition products.* So we may 

 assume that this substance has an intimate relation to the 

 decomposition and regeneration of proteids in the plant cells. 

 As it seems to be very interesting to make a closer observation 

 on this substance and to explain its fate more fully, I have 

 directed my endeavours to the solution of the following ques- 

 tions : — 



* Compare E. Schulze: — " Uebcr die beim Umsatz der Protcinstoffe in den 

 Keimpflanzen einiger Coniferae-Arten entstehenden StickstofTverbindungcn " (Zeitsch. 

 f. Physiol. Chem. XXII. s. 445.) He says; — " Man muss vielmehr annehmen, dass die 

 starke Anhaufung des Arginins erst eine Folge der Umwandlungen ist, denen die beim 

 Proteinzerfall zuerst entstandenen Produkte im Stoffwechsel der Keimpflanzen unter- 

 lagen. Dass fur das Stattfinden solchcr Umwandlungen, welche selbstverstandlich 

 audi mit der Regeneration von Eiweissstoffen im Zusammenhang stehen konnen, audi 

 die an anderen Keimpflanzen gemachtcn Beobachtungen sprechen, ist aus der vorher- 

 gehenden Abhandlung zu ersehen." 



