Fat metabolism in higher plants: LIII. Characterization of the product of the peanut α‐oxidation system

The α‐oxidation system of germinated peanut cotyledons was purified some 60‐fold. Throughout the purification procedure the two activities, namely the formation of 2‐hydroxypalmitate and the formation of CO2, remained with a single protein fraction. A hydrogen peroxide generating system was still required by the 60‐fold purified system. Unlike the pea leaf system, molecular oxygen was ineffective. D‐2‐Hydroxypalmitic acid accumulates in the reaction mixture as α‐oxidation proceeds while L‐2‐hydroxy‐palmitate does not accumulate. Competition studies with unlabeled L‐2‐hydroxy‐palmitate would suggest it as the intermediate substrate of further breakdown.