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Abstract
In the course of the study on uptake of mercury by plants, tobacco was grown in the presence of mercury vapours and the amino acidic composition of the leaves was examined. The results showed that tobacco can take up more than 5,000 ppm of mercury through the leaves and store it, showing no symptom of poisoning. In relation to the absorption of mercury, an abnormal increase of cystine, glutamic acid and glycine was observed in the proteins of the leaves. A possible role of cystine in the metabolism of mercury is also discussed.