Planta Med 1980; 39(5): 73-76
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1074905
Research Articles

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

On the Role of 17-OH-19-epi-Cathenamine in the Biosynthesis of Heteroyohimbine Alkaloids

J. Stöckigt1 , M. Rueffer1 , Ch. Kan-Fan2 , H.-P. Husson2
  • 1Lehrstuhl für Pflanzenphysiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, W.-Germany
  • 2Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, C.N.R.S. F-91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
29 April 2008 (online)

Abstract

17-OH-19-epi-Cathenamine (10) -which is known to be a precursor of 19-epi-ajmalicine (7) under biomimetic conditions - is not involved in the biosynthetic formation of 7. 10 does, however, undergo enzymatic reduction to 17-OH-19-epi-ajmalicine (11) in the presence of cell-free extracts of Catharanthus roseus cell suspension cultures and NADPH.