Triterpenoid biosynthesis in Euphorbia lathyris latex
The structures of triterpenols, not previously been known, from Euphorbia lathyris latex are reported. A method for quantifying very small amounts of these compounds was developed. Concerning the biochemistry of the latex, no exogenous cofactors were required for the biosynthesis and the addition of compounds such as NADPAH and ATP do not stimulate the biosynthesis. The addition of DTE or a similar anti-oxidant was found to help reduce the oxidation of the latex, thus increasing the length of time that the latex remains active. The requirement of a divalent cation and the preference for Mn in the pellet was observed. The effect of several inhibitors on the biosynthesis of the triterpenoids was examined. Mevinolin was found to inhibit the biosynthesis of the triterpenoids from acetate, but not mevalonate. A dixon plot of the inhibition of acetate incorporation showed an I/sub 50/ concentration of 3.2 ..mu..M. Fenpropimorph was found to have little or no effect on the biosynthesis. Tridemorph was found to inhibit the biosynthesis of all of the triterpenoids with an I/sub 50/ of 4 ..mu..M. It was also observed that the cyclopropyl containing triterpenols, cycloartenol and 24-methylenecycloartenol were inhibited much more strongly than those containing an 8-9 double bond, lanosterol and 24-methylenelanosterol. The evidence indicates, but does not definetely prove, that lanosterol and 24-methylenelanosterol are not made from cycloartenol and 24-methylenecycloartenol via a ring-opening enzyme such as cycloeucalenol-obtusifoliol isomerase. The possibilty that cycloartenol is made via lanosterol was investigated by synthesizing 4-R-4-/sup 3/H-mevalonic acid and incubating latex with a mixture of this and /sup 14/C-mevalonic acid. From the /sup 3/H//sup 14/C ratio it was shown that cycloartenol and 24-methylenecycloartenol are not made via an intermediate containing as 8-9 double bond. 88 refs., 15 figs., 30 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 5625757
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-24352; ON: DE88005478
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.). Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Triterpenoid biosynthesis in Euphorbia lathyris
Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
LATEX
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
TERPENES
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
EUPHORBIA
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ELASTOMERS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PLANTS
POLYMERS
RESONANCE
RUBBERS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques