[Poly- and metaphosphates in higher plants (Lemnaceae)]

After pulse-labelling with [(32)P]orthophosphate of higher plants (Lemna perpusilla (Torrey) and Lemna gibba (L.)) which were previously grown in a P-free medium for 24 h, the [(32)P]-radioactivity is partially incorporated into condensed inorganic phosphates. The isolation of the latter was achieved by joint extraction with the nucleic acids and fractionation on methylated serum albumin and Kieselgur (MAK). Two-dimensional thin layer chromatography on a mixture of cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose revealed that (32)P-radioactivity was present in linear oligophosphates with 2 to 7 residues as well as in cyclic tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexametaphosphates. Among the low-molecular condensed inorganic phosphates the trimetaphosphate contained significantly more radioactivity than the other compounds. It is supposeded that the condensed phosphates are involved in the regulation of the ATP-ADP-Pi-system.