Endogenous alkaloids

Otani M, Shitan N, Sakai K, Martinoia E, Sato F, Yazaki K. (2005) Characterization of vacuolar transport of the endogenous alkaloid berberine in Coptis japonica. Plant Physiol 138 1939-1946. 

Bringmann, G., Feineis, D Friedrich, H. and Hille, A. 1991. Endogenous alkaloids in man - Synthesis, analytics, in vivo identification, and medicinal importance. Planta Medica, 57 S73-S84. 

Another theory of mental illness postulates endogenous alkaloid formation. Aldehydes formed by oxidation of catecholamines as well as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are present in tissues in small amounts. Condensation with amines could generate Schiff bases and alkaloids as in Fig. 25-10. This "plant chemistry" is spontaneous and can apparently take place in the brain, where it may have a potent effect. 

Alkaloids in scallops are under-researched. Scallops take them by food. Much probably some endogenous alkaloids also exist in these animals. 

Oysters also can assimilate alkaloids and other chemicals (especially pollutants). They can also contain endogenous alkaloids especially in their shells and mantles. 

Isopods and copepods alkaloids are sourced from their feed. However, endogenous alkaloids in isopods and copepods have not been researched. Details of the chemical interactions of these organisms with others and the environment are not known. 

Afore mentioned protostome animals, very rich and diverse in form and living style and very diverse in chemistry monitoring, generally can be characterized as consumers and users of alkaloids. Many protostome animals also have their own endogenous alkaloids. Alkaloids are a mean or result of interaction between protostome animals and the environment. However, more research on alkaloids is needed to imderstand their functions in the diversification of life. 

Hemichordata is a sister group of echinoderms. Hemichordates are wormshaped marine animals. They take in alkaloids by feeding and some endogenous alkaloids probably exist, also they have not been profoundly studied chemically. 

Animals, with some exceptions, are predominantly consumers of alkaloids, although they can synthesize small amounts of endogenous alkaloids. 

Alkaloids are produced in nature by some organisms for their physiological purposes. The best known alkaloid producers are plants, but animals and humans also can produce endogenic alkaloids. Moreover, the use of alkaloids by sequestration juice and feed by herbivores and a consumption of storage alkaloids in animal body by carnivores is a process often observed in nature. The problem of narcotism (the use of narcotic bioactive compounds and their consequences) therefore also exists in nature, not only in the human society. It is observed that some insects are narcotized by quinolizidine alkaloids. Some bumblebees can be aggressive to others after visiting alkaloid plants. 

A necessary detail was the use of protein extracts free of any endogenous alkaloids and coenzymes (cofactors) which would interfere with the HPLC assays. Refinement of the protein source such as crude enzyme or activity-enriched mixtures by e.g., ammonium sulfate fractionation, a Sephadex G-25 filtration was usually suiEcient enough to prepare such a starting enzyme mixture. ... 

Otani M, Shitan N, Sakai K, et al. (2005) Characterization of vacnolar transport of the endogenous alkaloid berberine in Coptis japonica. Plant Physiol 138 1939-1946 Otsnka M, Matsumoto T, Morimoto R, et al. (2005) A human transporter protein that mediates the final excretion step for toxic organic cations. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102 17923-17928 Panicot M, Minguet EG, Ferrando A, et al. (2004) A polyamine metabolon involving aminopropyl transferase complexes in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 14 2539-2551... 

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