Synthesis of Sucrose by a Partially Purified Plant Tissue Extract

Abstract

IT was reported previously¹ that a crude extract obtained from peas formed sucrose when incubated with a mixture of glucose-1-phosphate and fructose. Evidence was presented that the sucrose synthesis was not due to a simple reaction between glucose-1-phosphate and fructose as catalysed by bacterial sucrose phosphorylase². In the present communication the results of some experiments with a partially purified pea extract are briefly described. Since this work was carried out, Leloir and Cardini have reported³ the extraction from wheat germ of an enzyme which catalyses the reaction uridine diphosphate glucose + fructose ⇌ sucrose + uridine diphosphate. It is probable that this reaction is the final step in sucrose formation from glucose-1-phosphate and fructose by pea extracts.