Effects of air pollutants of rates of RNA synthesis in germinating vegetable seed species.

The research attempts to study the effects of air pollutants on percent RNA/unit fresh weight in selected vegetable seed species. The study of RNA synthesis in seeds is important for cellular protein synthesis. Transcription of mRNA and transfer of the amino acids by specific tRNA are vital steps in cellular protein synthesis on the surface of ribosomes. Formation of ribosomes is also dependent on RNA production since it forms a component part of ribosomes. Seed samples were collected at 2-hour intervals up to 12 hours. Then Schmidt, Thanhauser, and Schneider procedure for RNA and DNA extraction scheme for isolating and purifying RNA was applied to the germinating vegetable seeds. Layne's Spectrophotometric assay for quantitating total protein was applied. The graphic display of the total RNA at two-hour intervals provided the rate of RNA synthesis. The gases used in this experiment were carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur dioxide (S[O.sub.2]), and Nitrogen dioxide (N[O.sub.2]), at 24ppm, which is a concentration attainable in most industrialized cities. They were applied to the vegetable seeds in sealed chambers. The ten vegetable seed species utilized in this experimentation are commonly grown and consumed in South Carolina. Observations received as of yet exhibit that RNA synthesis is promoted in tomato, bell pepper, squash, lima bean, and collard by carbon monoxide; in tomato, mustard, spinach, pumpkin, and collard by sulfur dioxide; and collard by sulfur dioxide; and in squash by nitrogen dioxide.