Different forms of EF1 and viability in wheat embryos

Properties of heterogeneous forms of elongation factor (EF1) from cytoplasm of wheat embryos at different viability levels have been studied. The GTP-binding activity, the catalysis of the binding of Phe-[14C]-tRNA to ribosomes and the complementation of EF2 for the synthesis of poly-U directed poly-Phe indicate that modifications of the EF1 activity occur as a result of seed ageing. The presence of a strong translational inhibitor was indicated in the cytoplasm of low viability embryos.