Enzymes Catalyzing the Biosynthesis of Alkaloids (Chemistry)

本研究项目在有机和高分子化学 计划旨在提供更深入的了解如何 某些关键的有机化合物在植物中合成。 将获得含有特定酶的无细胞系统 来自于植物的不同部分。 的能力 这些无细胞提取物催化已知的转化， 或在最终的生物合成中的疑似中间体 将检查生物碱。 一般来说，酶将 通过使用特异性标记的（碳，氚， 氘）底物，其使用将有助于 产品和瞬态中间体的鉴别。 一些 将被研究的转换（与潜在的源 括号中所示的酶）如下：（1） 烟碱的脱甲基作用;（2） 可卡因生物合成（古柯叶）;（3）苯丙氨酸 转化为（s）-托品酸（Danutura innoxia根）;（4） 托品酮转化为托品碱（洋金花根）;（5） 辛酸转化为5-氧代-辛酸（斑锥孢 叶）;和（6）邻琥珀酰苯甲酸转化为施胡宁 （Dendrobium pierardii stems and leaves）.

This research project in the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is designed to provide deeper understanding of how certain key organic compounds are synthesized in plants. Cell-free systems containing specific enzymes will be obtained from various parts of alkaloid-producing plants. The ability of these cell-free extracts to catalyze the transformation of known or suspected intermediates in the biosynthesis of the ultimate alkaloids will be examined. In general, the enzymes will be assayed by the use of specifically labeled (carbon, tritium, and deuterium) substrates, the use of which will facilitate identification of products and transient intermediates. Some transformations which will be studied (with the potential source of the enzymes indicated in parenthesis) are the following: (1) the demethylation of nicotine (Nicotinia glutinosa leaves); (2) cocaine biosynthesis (Erythroxylon coca leaves); (3) phenylalanine conversion to (s)-tropic acid (Danutura innoxia roots); (4) tropinone conversion to tropine (Datura innoxia roots); (5) octanoic acid conversion to 5-oxo-octanoic acid (Conium maculatum leaves); and (6) o-succinyl benzoic acid conversion to shihunine (Dendrobium pierardii stems and leaves).