ATP synthesis in lettuce seeds during ripening

Abstract During the ripening of lettuce seeds, ATP, AMP + ADP, and moisture decrease to very low levels, and the ability to produce ATP from AMP + PEP (phosphoenolpyruvate) and the PEP-carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.38) activity is diminished. Malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37) and pyruvate kinase (PK) (EC 2.7.1.40) decreased up to 10 days after anthesis, after which a sharp increase occurred.