Efficiency of cell-free translation systems extracted from acceleratedly aged wheat embryos

During accelerated aging at 42°C and 100% relative humidity, wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum) lose their viability. Cell-free translation systems were extracted from acceleratedly aged wheat embryos. Their efficiency to translate both endogenous template as well as turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA was compared with extracts from unaged wheat seeds. A dramatic decrease in the ability to incorporate [ 35 S]methionine into translation products was observed in vitro as a function of the reduction of seed viability. This large decrease in in vitro protein synthesis did not result from an increase in RNase or protease activities, nor from the appearance of endogenous inhibitors in the assay, but was due to accelerated aging per se