The Nonprotein Amino Acids of Plants

Evolution and current status of the phytochemistry of nitrogenous compounds

“…Next to the enormously large class of nitrogen-containing compounds, the alkaloids, with more than 10,000 identified and chemically characterized compounds and the glucosinolates and cyanogenic glucosides, there exists a small class of about 250 nonprotein amino acids which have been thoroughly investigated by Fowden et al (1979). A small group of these amino acids is shown in Fig.…”

Nectar chemistry

“…In addition to the normal 20 amino acids found in proteins, plants also make a large number of non-protein amino acids (Fowden et al, 1979). Many of these compounds are toxic to protein biosynthesis and they frequently accumulate in seeds where they serve as deterrents to insect feeding (Swain, 1977).…”

The β‐Replacement‐Specific Pyridoxal‐p‐Dependent Lyases

“…(72), and other plants; it has also been detected in some bacteria and fungi (29). Ala(CN), the 4-nitrile of L-aspartic acid, is a precursor and toxic component of neurolathyrogenic agents such as y-glutamyl-P-cyanoalanine and related compounds (30). It acts as an intermediate in a major pathway of L-asparagine biosynthesis in a broad variety of plants, including species never thought to be cyanogenic (e.g., barley, wheat, asparagus, and spinach) (29-30a,73-75).…”