Occurrence, biosynthesis and properties of kinetin (N6-furfuryladenine)

In this paper we review the data on the structure and properties of N⁶-furfuryladenine (kinetin, K) accumulated during the last forty years. In 1955, kinetin was isolated from DNA as an artifactual rearrangement product of the autoclaving process. Subsequently, its cytokinin activity has been established, demonstrating a wide variety of biological effects, including those on gene expression, inhibition of auxin action, stimulation of calcium flux, the cell cycle, and as an anti-stress and anti-ageing compound. Recently, our views on this very well known plant hormone have changed. There are new data, which show that it occurs in cellular DNA as the product of oxidative, secondary modification and a secondary reaction of DNA. Also new results on the biological function of kinetin have been reported. Various biological effects produced by this hormone in vitro and in vivo have made kinetin even more scientifically interesting and commercially attractive as an ingredient of many beauty cosmetics.