Studies on the biosynthesis of β-n-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid, the Lathyrus sativus neurotoxin

Malathi, K and Padmanaban, G and Rao, SLN and Sarma, PS (1967) Studies on the biosynthesis of β-n-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid, the Lathyrus sativus neurotoxin. In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 141 (1). pp. 71-78.

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Abstract

The biosynthesis of β-N-oxalyl-l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (ODAP), HOOC· CO·NH·CH2·CH(NH2·COOH is of interest, since this neurotoxin has been isolated from the seeds of Lathyrus sativus, the consumption of which causes the disease neurolathyrism in humans. The concentration of this non-protein amino acid in the seeds increases on germination. When the seeds are germinated in the presence of [14C2]- oxalic acid, the isolated ODAP is labelled exclusively in the oxalyl moiety. An oxalyl- CoA synthetase requiring the obligatory presence of ATP, CoA and Mg2+ can be demonstrated in crude extracts of the seedlings. When l-α,β-diaminopropionic acid is incubated with the enzyme in the presence of the components for oxalyl activation, net formation of ODAP can be shown. The enzymic reaction is specific to the β-amino group of l-α,β-diaminopropionic acidm and the higher homologues like α,γ-diaminobutyric acid, ornithine and lysine are inactive in this system. ODAP is not formed with α,β-diaminopropionic acid when the enzyme extract is prepared from Pisum sativum although oxalyl-CoA formation can be demonstrated.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Biochemistry
Date Deposited:	13 May 2010 06:39
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 06:06
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/27816

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