Cytochemical demonstration of DNAse in pollen

Pollen DNAse of Chlorophytum comosum was demonstrated cytochemically by coupling the breakdown of DNA (due to the endogenous DNAse) with acid phosphatase supplied to the reaction mixture. Precipitation of the free phosphate groups (from acid phosphatase reaction on the freed nucleotides) as lead phosphate results in a electron dense deposit, visible with the electron microscope. Enzyme activity using this technique was localized in vesicles along the intine (principally along the aperture region) and around the generative cell.