Determination of Certain Phosphate Compounds in Plant Extracts

Abstract

EXCEPT when isotopes have been used, the investigation of the metabolism of the sugar phosphates and related compounds in animal and plant tissues has long been restricted by a lack of specific methods of determination¹. Recently, however, specific enzymatic techniques have been developed for the estimation of both sugar phosphates and glycolytic intermediates in extracts from animal and plant tissues^2–7. The enzymatic methods present greater difficulties with plant than with animal extracts, partly because the contents of phosphate compounds are smaller, and partly because the presence of pigments and inhibitors interferes with the assays. But successful results have now been obtained with extracts of potato tubers, strawberry leaves and fruits of banana, tomato and apple.