This comprehensive review discusses the biosynthesis and catabolism of flavonoids and their regulation in plants. This interesting work approaches the subject matter from both a historical and methodological point of view. It places emphasis on key regulatory enzymic steps in the two pathways leading to the flavonoid basic units as well as the overall pathway within the flavonoid group. This special volume focuses on the known cell-free enzymology at the C15 level, as well as isotopic tracer studies involving the still unknown enzymic steps. This up-to-date text is an excellent resource for all plant physiologists, biological chemists, phytochemists and chemical ecologists.
Offering a wide ranging view of this important class of plant pigments, after a brief examination of the history & literature of flavonoids, this book explores structural variation of all subclasses of flavonoids, techniques for isolation, purification, & determination of structures, chemical syntheses, biosynthesis & genetics, patterns of distribution in the plant kingdom, & uses. Lastly, the functions of flavonoids in nature are investigated, as well as ways in which these compounds may have a more direct impact upon the human race. Contents: Introduction & Historical Perspective * Structural Variation * Occurrence & Distribution of Flavonoids * Extraction, Purification, & Identification of Flavonoids * Synthesis & Interconversions of Flavonoids * Biosynthesis & Genetics * Flavonoid Functions in Nature * Human Uses of Flavonoids
The cyanogenic glycosides, here defined as glycosidic derivatives of iX-hydroxynitriles, represent a rather limited class of natural products, which are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and, to a small ex tent, even in animals. A characteristic feature of these glycosides is their ability to release hydrocyanic acid on treatment with dilute acids or appropriate enzymes. The term "cyanogenic" is used to designate this property, regardless of whether pure substances, plants, or animals, are serving as the source. In the latter cases the term "cyanophoric" is occasionally employed synonymously. Cyanogenesis in plants was probably first discovered by SCHRADER in 1803 (Io3) working with bitter almonds. In 1830, ROBIQUET and BOUTRON-CHARLARD (IOO) succeeded in isolating the parent glycoside, namely amygdalin. Over the years, a total of 18 cyanogenic glycosides have been isolated and characterized more or less completely (Table I, p. 76). It will be noted that the majority of these compounds has been isolated in the era of classical organic chemistry and that progress in .discovering new compounds, not to mention new structural types, has been surprisingly slow. It is worth remembering here that the mechanism ·of cyanogenesis has been established only in the minority of known cyanogenic species. The cyanogenic glycosides have last been reviewed in 1958 by DILLE MANN (36). Since then, no complete reviews in this field have appeared. It is the purpose of the present article to survey the more recent ad vances and, hopefully, to stimulate continued interest in these interesting .compounds.
Biogenesis of Natural Compounds, Second Edition is released to provide updated information on the biogenesis of natural compounds. Most of the chapters in this book are rewritten, and new author contributes a paper on the biogenesis of proteins. This edition also includes a new chapter that deals with the formation of carcinogenic polynuclear hydrocarbons. However, all other chapters are maintained; some of which have modified headings. This edition will help those studying the biogenesis of natural compounds and in need of more updated information compared to those presented in the previous edition.
The twentieth volume in the series offers articles of interest to a broad range of plant scientists. These vary from consideration of the relationship between vegetation and climate to the biochemistry and uses of commonly used plant metabolites. Woodward and Smith discuss the development of dynamic and mechanistic models to overcome some of the limitations of current, essentially static, approaches to the effect of climate change on natural vegetation and crops.The chapter by Ratcliffe studies the use made of various NMR techniques in the study of physiological and other problems in plants. Van den Ende's article deals with the use of Chlamydomonas, a typical unicellular algal system, for the study of organelle development and the controlling mechanisms involved, in both its vegetative cell cycle and in gametogenesis.The natural roles and basic biochemistry of commonly used plant metabolites are often almost completely misunderstood. The last chapter by Pierpoint looks at an example of these, the salicylates, which are of great importance in medical research and for their medicinal value. Following a summary of the historical background to their study and use, the author considers recent progress towards understanding their biosynthesis and natural roles in the context of their better-understood pharmacological actions in animals.
