Distribution and biosynthesis of theanine in Theaceae plants

The theanine content of the leaves of 27 species or varieties of Theaceae plants was investigated. Theanine was present in 21 species or varieties, but in much lower amounts (<0.2 mumol/g fresh weight) than the quantity detected in Camellia sinensis var. sinensis. The major free amino acids in leaves of four species belonging to the genera Schima and Eurya, were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glutamine, asparagine, alanine and proline and content of these amino acids is similar to or higher than theanine. Accumulation of free amino acids in these plants was generally lower than in C. sinensis var. sinensis. The biosynthetic activity of theanine, assessed by the incorporation of radioactivity from [(14)C]ethylamine, was detected in seedlings of two species of Schima. The theanine biosynthetic activity in roots was higher than that of leaves.