Biosynthesis of N-methylphenethylamine in Dolichothele sphaerica

Living Dolichothele sphaerica metabolized 1.91% of administered 2-¹⁴Clphenylalanine to N- methylphenethylamine. Phenethylamine, the presumable intermediate in this biosynthetic conversion, was detected in an extract of the cactus in very low concentrations. The addition of carrier to the extract allowed the isolation of radiolabelled phenethylamine and the establishment of its probable involvement in N- methylphenethylamine formation. This is the first report of N- methylphenethylamine biosynthesis, of phenyl- alanine serving as an efficient precursor to cactus alkaloids, and of the occurrence of phenethylamine in the Cactaceae.