Mung bean precursors

Castasterone was found to be a biosynthetic precursor of brassinolide using Catharanthus roseus crown gall cells. However, castasterone was not converted to brassinolide in tissues of mung bean and rice, indicating that growth-promoting activity of castasterone observed in these tissues was exerted by castasterone itself. 

Katayama and Funahashi (1969) used P05 in a study of phospholipid biosynthesis in mung bean Phaseolus radiatus L.). In the cotyledons PC was most heavily labeled, whereas in the hypocotyls and radicles PE was most heavily labeled. However, in both cases the highest specific activity at early sampling times was PS, perhaps indicating the status of this compound as a precursor of PE and PC. A notable observation in Katayama and Fana-hashi s (1969) study was the fraction of the phospholipid stable to alkaline hydrolysis (30% in the cotyledons and almost 50% in the hypocotyls and radicles). The alkali stability is indicative of sphingolipids which are worthy of further study (see Section IV,L). 

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