Skip to main content
Log in

Cyanide formation from glyoxylate and hydroxylamine catalysed by extracts of higher-plant leaves

  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Extracts of spinach, maize and barley contain an enzyme which catalyses the formation of hydrogen cyanide from glyoxylate and hydroxylamine. The enzyme is dependent upon ADP and a divalent cation such as manganese. Glyoxylicacid oxime is a poor substrate for the enzyme. Carbon dioxide is another product of the reaction and is probably produced in 1:1 stoichiometry with hydrogen cyanide. The possible relationship of this enzyme to the regulation of nitrate reduction is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aymaretto, M. (1927) Ricerche sulle diossime (XLIV). Gazz. Chim. Ital. 57, 650

    Google Scholar 

  • Conn, E.E. (1979) Biosynthesis of cyanogenic glycosides. Naturwissenschaften 66, 28–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Guilbault, G.G., Kramer, D.N. (1966) Ultra sensitive, specific method for cyanide using p-nitrobenzaldehyde and o-dinitrobenzene. Anal. Chem. 38, 834–836

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, E.J. (1966) Sand and water culture methods used in the study of plant nutrition, 2nd edn. Commonw. Bur. Hortic., Tech. Commun. No. 22

  • Hucklesby, D.P., Dowling, M.J., Hewitt, E.J. (1981) Metabolism of hydroxylamine by spinach leaf discs and its relationship to nitrate reduction. Planta 151, 151–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Hucklesby, D.P., Hewitt, E.J. (1970) Nitrite and hydroxylamine reduction in higher plants. Biochem. J. 119, 615–627

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, O.A.M., James, D.M., Hewitt, E.J. (1982) Nitrogen assimilation in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Mazurka) in response to nitrate and ammonium nutrition. Ann. Bot. 49, 39–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorimer, G.H., Gewitz, H.S., Volker, W., Solomonson, L.P., Vennesland, B. (1974) The presence of bound cyanide in the naturally inactivated form of nitrate reductase of Chlorella vulgaris. J. Biol. Chem. 249, 6074–6079

    Google Scholar 

  • Lousseart, D., Hageman, R.H. (1976) Hydroxylamine as a product of nitrite reduction (Abstr.). Plant Physiol. 57, Suppl., 38

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomonson, L.P., Spehar, A.M. (1977) Model for the regulation of nitrate assimilation. Nature 265, 373–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomonson, L.P., Spehar, A.M. (1979) Stimulation of cyanide formation by ADP and its possible role in the regulation of nitrate reductase. J. Biol. Chem. 254, 2176–2179

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hucklesby, D.P., Dowling, M.J. & Hewitt, E.J. Cyanide formation from glyoxylate and hydroxylamine catalysed by extracts of higher-plant leaves. Planta 156, 487–491 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392769

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00392769

Key words

Navigation