Abstract
THE cytokinin-active N-6-isoprenoid-substituted purine nucleosides have wide distribution as minor components of the tRNA of animals, bacteria and plants. Skoog, Hall and others (refs in ref. 1) have shown that there are three classes of cytokinin nucleosides, and that one member of each predominates in the tRNA of organisms from each kingdom. Thus, animal tRNA contains 6-(3-methylbut-2-enylamino)-9-β-D-ribofuranosyl purine2 (iPA); whereas in bacterial tRNA, the purine ring is thiomethylated and the predominant cytokinin-active nucleoside is 6-(3-methylbut-2-enylamino)-2-methylthio-9-β-D-ribofuranosyl purine3 (ms-iPA). In plants, the isoprenoid side chain is hydroxylated and the predominant cytokinin-active nucleoside is 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enylamino)-9-β-D-ribofuranosyl purine4 (zeatin riboside, ZR). Minor amounts of 2-methylthio zeatin riboside (ms-ZR) are also present5. But the distribution of these nucleosides may not be quite so clearcut. The plant pathogenic prokaryote Corynebacterium fascians has been shown6 to release cis-zeatin into the culture medium. Other evidence7 suggests that Pseudomonas aeruginosa tRNA contains ms-ZR. It may be that some prokaryotes have acquired the ability to hydroxylate the isoprenoid side chain and that zeatin and its derivatives are not restricted to plants. We have now examined the cytokinin-active nucleosides from the tRNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the causative organism of plant crown gall disease. Besides the expected ms-iPA and small amount of iPA, trans-ZR was present in significant amounts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Skoog, F., and Armstrong, D. J., A. Rev. Pl. Physiol., 21, 359–384 (1970).
Robins, M. J., Hall, R. H., and Thedford, R., Biochemistry, 6, 1837–1848 (1967).
Burrows, W. J., et al., Biochemistry, 7, 3071–3076 (1969).
Hall, R. H., Csonka, L., David, H., and McLennan, B., Science, 156, 69–71 (1967).
Hecht, S. M., et al., Science, 166, 1272–1274 (1969).
Scarbrough, E., Armstrong, D. J., Skoog, F., Frihart, C. R., and Leonard, N. J., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 70, 3825–3829 (1973).
Thimmappaya, B., and Cherayil, J. D., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun., 60, 665–672 (1974).
Watson, B., Currier, T. C., Gordon, M. P., Chilton, M. D., and Nester, E. W., J. Bact., 123, 255–264 (1975).
Kado, C. I., and Heskett, M. G., Phytopathology, 60, 969–976 (1970).
Hastings, J. R. B., and Kirby, K. S., Biochem. J., 100, 532–539 (1966).
Fletcher, R. A., and McCullagh, D., Can. J. Bot., 49, 2197–2201 (1971).
Hakormori, S., Biochem. J., Tokyo, 55, 205–208 (1964).
Babcock, D. F., and Morris, R. O., Biochemistry, 9, 370ff–3705 (1970).
Dolhun, J. J., and Wiebers, J. L., Org. Mass. Spectrom., 3, 669–681 (1970).
von Minden, D. L., and McCloskey, J. A., J. Am. chem. Soc., 95, 7480–7490 (1973).
Katze, J. R., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 383, 131–139 (1975).
Phillips, D. A., and Torrey, J. G., Pl. Physiol., Lancaster., 49, 11–15 (1972).
Armstrong, D. J., et al., J. biol. Chem., 245, 2922–2926 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
CHAPMAN, R., MORRIS, R. & ZAERR, J. Occurrence of trans-ribosylzeatin in Agrobacterium tumefaciens tRNA. Nature 262, 153–154 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262153a0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/262153a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Phytohormones in the formation of crown gall tumors
Planta (1981)
-
Radioimmunoassays for trans-zeatin and related cytokinins
Planta (1980)