Abstract
COMPOUNDS which, like kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine), induce cell division in certain excised plant tissues have been termed cytokinins1. A number of synthetic substances (6-substituted purines, 1-substituted adenines and urea derivatives) show this characteristic. The most active natural cytokinin so far discovered is also a substituted purine, termed zeatin [trans-6-(4-hydroxy 3-methyl but 2-enyl) aminopurine]. This was isolated from Zea mays seeds2. Other natural cytokinins, as yet unidentified, occur in many other plant tissues, but there have been no reports of the occurrence of cytokinins as natural constituents of animal tissues. This communication, however, provides evidence that compounds with cytokinin activity are natural constituents of animal soluble RNA.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Skoog, F., Strong, F. M., and Miller, C. O., Science, 148, 532 (1964).
Letham, D. S., Shannon, J. S., and McDonald, I. R., Proc. Chem. Soc., 230 (1964).
Ralph, R. K., and Bellamy, A. R., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 87, 9 (1964).
Cohn, W. E., Volkin, E., and Khym, J. X., in Biochemical Preparations, edit. by Shemin, D., 5, 49 (J. Wiley and Sons Inc., New York, 1957).
Littlefield, J. W., and Dunn, D. B., Biochem. J., 70, 642 (1958).
Letham, D. S., N.Z. J. Bot., 1, 336 (1963).
Dunn, D. B., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 34, 286 (1959).
Bergquist, P. L., and Matthews, R. E. F., Biochem. J., 85, 305 (1962).
Strong, F. M., Topics in Microbial Chemistry, Antimycin, Coenzyme A, Kinetin and Kinins, 98 (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1958).
Miller, C. O., Nature, 194, 787 (1962).
Hall, R. H., Biochemistry, 3, 769 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BELLAMY, A. Cytokinins in Ribonucleic Acids. Nature 211, 1093–1095 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2111093a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2111093a0
- Springer Nature Limited