Ability of L-canavanine to support nitrogen metabolism in the jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis (L. ) DC
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington (USA)
The ability of L-canavanine, a nonprotein amino acid of certain leguminous plants, to support the nitrogen metabolism of jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis (Leguminosae), was assessed by administration of L-(guanidino-N{sup 3}-{sup 15}N)arginine, L-(guanidinooxy-N{sup 3}-{sup 15}N)canavanine, or L-(guanidinooxy-N{sup 1}-{sup 15}N)canavanine into the cotyledons of 9-day-old plants. A strikingly similar pattern of {sup 15}N assimilation into de novo synthesized amino and imino acids resulted from feeding L-(guanidino-N{sup 3}-{sup 15}N)arginine and L-(guanidinooxy-N{sup 3}-{sup 15}N)canavanine. Glutamic acid plus glutamine and alanine were the most heavily labeled of the detected compounds. Some transfer of {sup 15}N from L-(gluanidino-N{sup 3}-{sup 15}N)arginine to canavanine was noted. This may occur by a transamidination reaction between L-canaline and L-arginine. L-(guanidinooxy-N{sup 1}-{sup 15}N)Canavanine also supported amino and imino acid biosynthesis in this plant, but much more alanine and less glutamic acid and glutamine were labeled. These experiments provide substantive experimental evidence for the long-reputed hypothesis that canavanine functions as a nitrogen-storing metabolite.
- OSTI ID:
- 7152033
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; (USA), Vol. 36; ISSN 0021-8561
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AMINO ACIDS
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
LEGUMINOSAE
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
NITROGEN 15
TRACER TECHNIQUES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
FUNCTIONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
NITROGEN ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
STABLE ISOTOPES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques