Amine biosynthesis in Lathyrus sativus seedlings

Abstract

The biosynthesis of certain amines in Lathyrus sativus seedlings was studied in isolated shoots; cotyledons. In shoots; arginine was about 4 times more efficient than ornithine for the synthesis of agmatine; putrescine; spermidine; spermine. Isotope dilution experiments; the changes in specific activities of the 4 amines with time when ¹⁴C-arginine served as the precursor; indicated that putrescine; the polyamines were formed mainly from arginine; via agmatine. Similar experiments showed that cadaverine was formed at least in part from homoarginine; though lysine was ca 4 times more effective as a precursor. The pattern of changes in specific activity of homoagmatine; cadaverine with time when ¹⁴C-homoarginine served as the precursor support the conclusion that homoarginine; arginine follow analogous metabolic routes in the biosynthesis of putrescine; cadaverine respectively.