The Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Cytokinins

Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Plant Hormones

[(3)H]zeatin was supplied through the transpiration stream to de-rooted lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) seedlings. The following previously known metabolites were identified chromatographically: 5'-phosphates of zeatin riboside and dihydrozeatin riboside, adenosine-5'-phosphate, zeatin riboside, zeatin-7-glucopyranoside, zeatin-9-glucopyranoside, adenine, adenosine and dihydrozeatin. Five new metabolites were purified; four of these contain an intact zeatin moiety. Two were identified unequivocally, one as L-β-[6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-trans-2-enylamino)-purin-9-yl]alanine, a metabolite now termed lupinic acid, and the second as O-β-D-glucopyranosylzeatin. These two compounds were the major metabolites formed when zeatin solution (100 μM) was supplied to the de-rooted seedlings. The radioactivity in the xylem sap of intact seedlings, supplied with [(3)H]zeatin via the roots, was largely due to zeatin, dihydrozeatin and zeatin riboside. When [(3)H]zeatin (5 μM) was supplied via the transpiration stream to de-rooted Lupinus luteus L. seedlings, the principal metabolite in the lamina was adenosine, while in the stem nucleotides of zeatin and adenine were the dominant metabolites. O-Glucosylzeatin and lupinic acid were also detected as metabolites. The level of the latter varied greatly in the tissues of the shoot, and was greatest in the lower region of the stem and in the expanding lamina. Minor metabolites also detected chromatographically were: (a) dihydrolupinic acid, (b) a partially characterized metabolite which appears to be a 9-substituted adenine (also formed in L. angustifolius), (c) glucosides of zeatin riboside and/or dihydrozeatin riboside, and (d) O-glucosyldihydrozeatin. While lupinic acid supplied exogenously to L. luteus leaves underwent little metabolism, chromatographic studies indicated that O-glucosylzeatin was converted to its riboside, the principal metabolite formed, and also to adenosine, zeatin and dihydrozeatin. A thinlayer chromatography procedure for separating zeatin, dihydrozeatin, zeatin riboside and dihydrozeatin riboside is described.

Regulators of cell division in plant tissues : XXV. Metabolism of zeatin by lupin seedlings.

Enzymic synthesis of non-protein β-substituted alanines and some higher homologues in plants

Recently benzyladenine has been isolated as a natural cytokinin from a number of plants. The natural occurrence of this cytokinin will change the attitude with which physiologists view this hormone. This review attempts to put into context what is known about this cytokinin and its derivatives and to compare and contrast its metabolism and the function and physiological action of its various metabolites. Nothing is known about the biosynthesis of benzyladenine. Its structure would suggest that its biosynthetic pathway may differ considerably from that of zeatin and iso-pentenyladenine.

Benzyladenine and derivatives-their significance and interconversion in plants

Lupinic acid (III), a metabolite of the phytohormone zeatin (I), was synthesized from O-acetyl-L-serine (II) and zeatin by an enzyme in higher plants. Some properties of the enzyme are described.

Noriyuki Ookawa

Papers

Enzymatic synthesis of lupinic acid, a novel metabolite of zeatin in higher plants.