[The relationship of cottonseed's triacetinase]

A multiplicity of triacetinase forms in cotton seeds was studied. Three triacetinases (A, B and C) were shown to undergo reciprocal conversions under storage and during some purification procedures (effect of pH, ionic strength, ion-exchange chromatography, concentration, lyophilization, etc.). On the other hand, the presence of different triacetinase forms in cotton seeds cannot be considered an artefact of isolation, since the formation of more active low-molecular forms from inactive high-molecular forms occurs during seed germination. A correlation between the activity and stability of the enzymes on one hand and their quaternary structure on the other, is discussed.