Biosynthesis of Dehydrodiconiferyl Alcohol Glucosides: Implications for the Control of Tobacco Cell Growth

• Published in: Plant physiology (Bethesda) Vol. 98; no. 1; pp. 343 - 352
• Main Authors: John D. Orr, Lynn, David G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rockville, MD American Society of Plant Physiologists 01.01.1992
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Alcohols; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Cell walls; Flow velocity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucosides; Growth regulators; Metabolism; Nicotiana tabacum; Pith; Plant cells; Plant physiology and development; Plants; Radioactive decay; Tumors; Growth; Glucoside; Tissue culture; Stimulant plant; Biosynthesis; Catharanthus roseus; Nicotiana tabacum; Cytokinin; Cell wall; Medicinal plant; Apocynaceae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Phenols; Plant growth substance; Spermatophyta; Solanaceae
• ISSN: 0032-0889; 1532-2548
• DOI: 10.1104/pp.98.1.343

The dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucosides A and B are factors isolated from transformed Vinca rosea tumor cells that can replace the cytokinin requirement for growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) pith and callus cells in culture. These factors, present in tobacco pith cells, have their concentrations elevated approximately 2 orders of magnitude after cytokinin exposure. Biosynthesis experiments showed that these compounds are not cell wall fragments, as previously suggested, but are produced directly from coniferyl alcohol. Their synthesis is probably associated with the existing pathway for cell wall biosynthesis in both Vinca tumors and tobacco pith explants. The pathway requires only two steps, the dimerization of coniferyl alcohol by a soluble intracellular peroxidase and subsequent glycosylation. Biosynthetic experiments suggested that dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside breakdown was very slow and control of its concentration was exerted through restricted availability of coniferyl alcohol.