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Correlation between polyamines and pyrrolidine alkaloids in developing tobacco callus
A F Tiburcio1, R Kaur-Sawhney, R B Ingersoll
1Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
Plant Physiology
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Putrescine metabolism in tobacco callus influences alkaloid formation. Bound putrescine acts as a precursor for pyrrolidine alkaloids when biosynthesis is active.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry
- Metabolomics
- Tobacco alkaloid biosynthesis
Background:
- Putrescine is a precursor for tobacco alkaloids and polyamines.
- Understanding putrescine's quantitative role in tobacco is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the quantitative relationship between putrescine and its metabolites in tobacco callus.
- Determine the role of putrescine conjugates in pyrrolidine alkaloid formation.
Main Methods:
- Quantified free and conjugated putrescine and spermidine.
- Measured pyrrolidine alkaloid levels.
- Assessed arginine and ornithine decarboxylase activities in tobacco callus under varying alpha-naphthalene acetic acid concentrations.
Main Results:
- High alpha-naphthalene acetic acid favored putrescine and spermidine conjugates.
- Low alpha-naphthalene acetic acid favored nicotine and nornicotine formation.
- A negative correlation was observed between putrescine conjugates and pyrrolidine alkaloids during callus development.
Conclusions:
- Bound putrescine serves as a pool for pyrrolidine alkaloid synthesis in active systems.
- Arginine decarboxylase activity correlates with alkaloid levels, suggesting its role in biosynthesis.
