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Arginine decarboxylase as the source of putrescine for tobacco alkaloidsThe putrescine which forms a part of nicotine and other pyrrolidine alkaloids is generally assumed to arise through the action of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). However, we have previously noted that changes in the activity of arginine decarboxylase (ADC), an alternate source of putrescine, parallel changes in tissue alkaloids, while changes in ODC activity do not. This led us to undertake experiments to permit discrimination between ADC and ODC as enzymatic sources of putrescine destined for alkaloids. Two kinds of evidence presented here support a major role for ADC in the generation of putrescine going into alkaloids: (a) A specific 'suicide inhibitor' of ADC effectively inhibits the biosynthesis of nicotine and nornicotine in tobacco callus, while the analogous inhibitor of ODC is less effective, and (b) the flow of 14C from uniformly labelled arginine into nicotine is much more efficient than that from ornithine.
Document ID
20040089827
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Tiburcio, A. F.
(Yale University New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States)
Galston, A. W.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Phytochemistry
Volume: 25
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0031-9422
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Number 40-10
NASA Program Space Biology
NASA Discipline Plant Biology
Non-NASA Center

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