Caffeine biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis
Caffeine biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis
- PhytoChemistry, 15(8), p.1235-1239, 1976 .
The metabolism of adenine and guanine, relating to the biosynthesis of caffeine, in excised shoot tips of tea was studied with micromolar amounts of adenine-[8-14C]or guanine-[8-14C]. Among the presumed precursors of caffeine biosynthesis, adenine was the most effective, whereas guanine was the least effective. After administration of a 'pulse' of adenine-[8-14C], almost all of the adenine-[14C]supplied disappeared by 30 hr, and 14C-labelled caffeine and RNA purine nucleotide (AMP and GMP)synthesis increased throughout the experimental period, whereas the radioactivities of free purine nucleotides, 7-methylxanthine and theobromine increased during the first 10 hr incubation period, followed by a steady decrease. By contrast, more than 45
CAMELLIA SINENSIS
THEACEAE
TEA
BIOSYNTHESIS
PURINE METABOLISM
The metabolism of adenine and guanine, relating to the biosynthesis of caffeine, in excised shoot tips of tea was studied with micromolar amounts of adenine-[8-14C]or guanine-[8-14C]. Among the presumed precursors of caffeine biosynthesis, adenine was the most effective, whereas guanine was the least effective. After administration of a 'pulse' of adenine-[8-14C], almost all of the adenine-[14C]supplied disappeared by 30 hr, and 14C-labelled caffeine and RNA purine nucleotide (AMP and GMP)synthesis increased throughout the experimental period, whereas the radioactivities of free purine nucleotides, 7-methylxanthine and theobromine increased during the first 10 hr incubation period, followed by a steady decrease. By contrast, more than 45
CAMELLIA SINENSIS
THEACEAE
TEA
BIOSYNTHESIS
PURINE METABOLISM