Composition of cell walls from cotyledons of Pisum sativum,Vicia faba and Glycine max

Cell walls from cotyledons of smooth field pea, broad bean and soya bean contain ca 55% pectic polysaccharides associated with 9% cellulose. Arabinose is the major pectic sugar of pea and broad bean walls whereas soya bean pectic polymers are constituted of galactose and arabinose in the ratio (2:1). Galacturonic acid represents ca 20% of the walls. In addition, pea and broad bean cell walls contain, respectively, 12% and 6% of non-starchy and non-cellulosic glucans bearing 4,6-linked and 3-linked glycosyl units. EDTA-soluble acidic pectic substances are distinct rhamnogalacturonans bearing decreasing proportions of interrupting rhamnose from highly interrupted moieties to nearly homogenous homogalacturonans. Pea and broad bean rhamnogalacturonans are associated with arabinose-containing polymers of average DP ca 30–35 whereas soya bean ones have side chains of arabinose and galactose of DP ca 40.     

Identification and distribution of ononitol in nodules of pisum sativum and glycine max

Ononitol (4-O-methyl-myo-inositol) was identified as a major carbohydrate in Pisum sativum nodules, comprising 25–34% of the total mono- plus disaccharides in nodules formed by two Rhizobium leguminosarum strains. Ononitol was purified from Glycine max nodules and was found to be a minor carbohydrate in these nodules. The distribution of ononitol in bacteroids and cytosol from soybean nodules suggests that it is not synthesized by bacteroids.     

C-glycosylflavones from Oryza sativa

Eight flavone C-glycosides isolated from rice plant were found to act as probing stimulants for planthoppers. They have been identified as the known compounds schaftoside, neoschaftoside, carlinoside, isoorientin 2″-glucoside and the new constituents neocarlinoside (6-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-β-L-arabinopyranosylluteolin), isoscoparin 2″-glucoside (chrysoeriol 6-C-β-D-(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)glucopyranoside) and its 6?-p-coumaric and ferulic acid esters.     

New C-glycosylflavones from Mollugo distica

Four C-glycosylflavones isolated from Mollugo distica were identified as 8-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl-genkwanin, 8-C-α-l-arabinopyranosylgenkwanin and their 2″-rhamnosides.     

New C-glycosylflavones from Cerastium arvense

Three C-glycosylflavones isolated from Cerastium arvense have been identified as 6-C-xylosyl-apigenin (cerarvensin), its 7-O-glucoside and isovitexin 7,2″-di-O-glucoside.     

C-glycosylanthocyanidins synthesized from C-glycosylflavones

Nine C-glycosyldeoxyanthocyanidins, 6-C-β-glucopyranosyl-7-O-methylapigeninidin, 6-C-β-glucopyranosyl-7-O-methylluteolinidin, 6-C-β-(2″-O-β-glucopyranosylglucopyranosyl)-7-O-methylapigeninidin, 6-C-β-(2″-O-β-glucopyranosylglucopyranosyl)-7,4′-di-O-methylapigeninidin, 8-C-β-glucopyranosylapigeninidin, 8-C-β-(2″-O-α-rhamnopyranosylglucopyranosyl)apigeninidin, 8-C-β-(2″-O-α-(4″′-O-acetylrhamnopyranosyl)glucopyranosyl)apigeninidin, 6,8-di-C-β-glucopyranosylapigeninidin (8), 6,8-di-C-β-glucopyranosyl-4′-O-methylluteolinidin (9), have been synthesized from their respective C-glycosylflavones (yields between 14% and 32%) by the Clemmensen reduction reaction using zinc-amalgam. The various precursors (C-glycosylflavones) of the C-glycosylanthocyanidins were isolated from either flowers of Iris sibirica L., leaves of Hawthorn ‘Crataegi Folium Cum Flore’, or lemons and oranges. This is the first time C-glycosylanthocyanidins have been synthesized. The structures of all flavonoids including the flavone rotamers were elucidated by 2D NMR techniques and high-resolution electrospray MS. The distribution of the various structural forms of 8 and 9 are different at pH 1.1, 4.5, and 7.0, however, the two pigments undergoes similar structural transformations at the various pH values. Pigments 8 and 9 with C-C linkages between the sugar moieties and the aglycone, were found to be far more stable towards acid hydrolysis than pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, which has the typical anthocyanidin C-O linkage between the sugar and aglycone. This stability may extend the present use of anthocyanins as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals or colorants.     

Two new neoflavonoids and C-glycosylflavones from Passiflora serratodigitata

The aerial parts of Passiflora serratodigitata yielded 5,7-dihydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin, its 7-β-glucoside and the known C-glycosylflavones 2″-xylosylvitexin, 2″-xylosylisovitexin, vitexin, isovitexin, a vicenin, and orientin. The known flavone chrysin was also isolated. This is the first report of neoflavonoids in the family Passifloraceae.     

Nouvelles C-glycosylflavones extraites de Spergularia rubra

Three 6,8-di-C-glucosylflavones: 6,8-di-C-β-d-glucopyranosylapigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol were isolated from the whole plant of Spergularia rubra. Two new compounds, 7,2″-di-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-6-C-α-l-arabinopyranosylapigenin and 6-C-α-l-arabinopyranosylapigenin (isomollupentin), were also characterized. Structural assignments were based on ¹H NMR and MS spectra and on comparison with synthetic samples. MS fragmentation patterns of the new di-O-glucosyl compound PM derivative and of its acid hydrolysis product are given.     

The differential effect of disulfiram on lipoxygenases from Glycine max

A kinetic analysis of the effect of disulfiram on the isoenzymes of lipoxygenase from soybean has been carried out. The compound is an effective inhibitor of type-2 isoenzymes but has no effect on the type-1 isoenzyme under the conditions employed in this study. The inhibitory effect is reversible and therefore does not result from covalent modification of the enzyme. The inhibition is manifest as a prolongation of the lag phase commonly seen in progress curves for lipoxygenases rather than as a reduction of the catalysed rate. A variety of structurally related and unrelated compounds have been investigated to identify the nature of the inhibitory effect. The antioxidant properties of disulfiram account for its ability to inhibit type-2 lipoxygenases. The inhibitory effect of antioxidants on type-2 lipoxygenase is only partly reversed when product hydroperoxide is included in the incubation mixture. These observations support the conclusion that free radical intermediates are integral to the catalytic mechanism of type-2 lipoxygenases.     

Flavone C-glycosides from Coronilla varia

One new and 5 known flavone C-glycosides were isolated from leaves and stems of Coronilla varia. The new compound was shown to be isoorientin 2″-O-rhamnoside. The known compounds were isovitexin, isoorientin, isovitexin 4′-O-glucoside, isoorientin 4′-O-glucoside, and isoorientin 7-O-glucoside.     

Indole plant-growth inhibitor from Abrus precatorius seeds

The structure of a new plant growth inhibitor isolated from the seeds of jequirity bean (Abrus precatorius) has been shown to be N,N-dimethyl-l-tryptophan.     

Globulin storage proteins of Glycine max

Disc electrophoresis of soybean storage globulins indicated four major components with molecular weights in excess of 300 000. Treatment with sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) resulted in an increased number of components with an overall lower MW spectrum. Polypeptides, produced by the performic acid oxidation of the globulins, gave 8 bands when solubilized in 2.5 % NACl, but only 4 when solubilized in 0. 1 % SDS. Reasons for this reduction of subunit number are suggested. Preparative fractionation of the SDS-polypeptides on Sephadex G75 columns gave the same number of components, having a similar distribution and proportion.     

Isolation of a tubulin-like protein from Phaseolus

Colchicine binds to a protein fraction isolated from Phaseolus aureus. A protein with characteristics similar to calf brain tubulin, in terms of its MW, elution properties from DEAE cellulose, precipitation by Ca²⁺ ions and Chlorpromazine was detected in whole cell supernatants. This protein consisted of two monomeric subunits with MWs of 56000 and 53000. This protein, tentatively identified as tubulin, was compared by cyanogen bromide peptide mapping with calf brain tubulin.     

Specific subunit pairs of legumin from Vicia faba

Four pairs of disulphide-linked acidic (α) and basic (β) subunits were isolated from legumin of Vicia faba. Pairing between α- and β-subunits is nonrandom, supporting the view that each subunit pair arises from a common precursor polypeptide, already containing intramolecular disulphide bonds, when cleavage to the subunit pair takes place. The subunit pairs belong to two structural types: type A contains Met, whereas type B lacks Met. In addition to these four subunit pairs, at least two more pairs are present in legumin in minor amounts.     

Structure of hemicelluloses isolated from Canavalia ensiformis and Triticum aestivum straws

Hemicellulose was extracted from horse bean and wheat straws in a yield of 5 and 9% respectively. The whole hemicellulose was hydrolysed and the molar ratio of the component monosaccharides was determined. Uronic acid, galactose, glucose, arabinose and xylose were found in both hemicelluloses. The molar ratio of the monosaccharides was determined in each of 4 fractions derived from the saccharide. The main fractions (B and C) were partially hydrolysed and an oligosaccharide containing arabinose and xylose (1:1) was isolated from both hemicelluloses. Another oligosaccharide containing xylose and glucose (2:1) was also isolated from wheat straw hemicellulose. Periodate oxidation was carried out on fractions B and C. The formic acid and the consumed periodate were determined. Each hemicellulose was subjected to Smith's degradation. Glycerol, erythrytol and compounds containing xylose and glycerol (1:1), and xylose and erythrytol (1:1) were isolated.     

In vivo characterization of catechol ring-cleavage in cell cultures of Glycine max

No evidence could be obtained for the involvement of dioxygenases in the generation of ¹⁴CO₂ from catechol-[¹⁴C] observed in soybean cell cultures. Culture filtrates incubated with catechol and H₂O₂ were, however, able to catalyze the ring-cleavage, as was horseradish peroxidase.     

UDP-galactose 4′-epimerase from vicia faba seeds

UDP-Galactose 4′-epimerase was purified ca 800-fold through a multi-step procedure which included affinity chromatography using NAD⁺ -Agarose. Three forms of the enzyme were separated by gel-filtration but only the major form was purified. The pH optimum of the enzyme was 9.5. Exogenous NAD⁺ was not required for enzymic activity but its removal caused inactivation. The enzyme was unstable below pH 7.0 but stable at pH 8.0 in the presence of glycerol and at ?20° for two months. The equilibrium constant for the enzyme-catalysed reaction was 3.2 ± 0.15. The K_m for UDP-galactose and UDP-glucose were 0.12 mM and 0.25 mM, respectively. The inhibition by NADH was competitive, with a K_i of 5 μM. The MW of the enzyme was 78 000; the two minor forms showed the values of 158 000 and 39 000, respectively.     

Homoserine dehydrogenase in Pisum sativum and Ricinus communis

Homoserine dehydrogenase was extracted from Ricinus communis and Pisum sativum. The kinetic parameters of the forward and reverse reactions were determined. In the forward reaction only the enzyme from Ricinus is inhibited by threonine. The response to K⁺ is different for the enzyme from the two sources.