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Preliminary determination of the nutritional constituents of 19 wild leguminous seeds suggested their possible inclusion in animal nutrition. Since the whole seeds proved unpalatable as well as toxic, it was thought that their proteins might be extracted and used instead. Accordingly, simple and effective methods were standardized for isolation of proteins by subjecting defatted Phaseolus seeds to extraction studies. Distribution of total nitrogen and disper-sion of nitrogenous constituents in the seeds were also studied. Proteins of considerable purity are best extracted with sodium chloride solution (5%, w./v.), with subsequent dialysis of the extract. Proteins were isolated from four varieties of Phaseolus seeds and their protein efficiency ratio and biological value evaluated by animal experiments with and without supplementing diets with the missing essential amino acids.

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1. The presence of appreciable activity of the urea-cycle enzymes in the tissues of Sarcophaga ruficornis, a carnivorous dipteran insect, all through its life-cycle appears significant in view of their total absence barring arginase (L-arginine ureohydrolase, EC 3.5.3.1) in the phytophagous lepidopteran eri silkwork Philosamia ricini at any stage of development. Further, the variation of all these enzymes all through its development suggests the possibility of the operation of the Krebs-Henseleit urea cycle in this carnivorous insect. 2. The almost parallel behaviour of arginase and ornithine delta-transaminase (L-ornithine-2-oxo acid aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.13) in both the insects suggests another important role of the former in proline biosynthesis in insects. 3. High proteolytic activity accompanied with significant protein depletion and simultaneous increase in arginine is suggestive of the degradation of proteins and peptides.

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