title: beta-Furfuryl-beta-glucoside. An endogenous activator of higher plant UDP-glucose: (1----3)-beta-glucan synthase.
abstract: We have recently established the existence of endogenous activators of higher plant UDP-glucose: (1----3)-beta-glucan synthase (Callaghan, T., Ross, P., Weinberger-Ohana, P., and Benziman, M. (1988) Plant Physiol. 86, 1099-1103). Here we report the purification and chemical analysis of the most abundant and specific compound, termed Activator I, isolated from Vigna radiata. This compound was extensively purified by a multistep procedure which yielded 0.1 mg of purified activator/g of fresh tissue. Enzyme digestion, neutral sugar analysis, GC/MS of permethylated derivatives, and NMR analysis of native Activator I indicated that the compound contains a single beta-linked glucosyl residue. High resolution FAB-MS indicated an elemental composition of C11H16O7 (Mr = 260), with a calculated Mr of 98 for the aglycone. 13C, DEPT, and COSY NMR spectra showed that the aglycone molecule is an oxygen heterocycle of 5 carbons, consistent with a structure of beta-furfuryl alcohol. Comparison of IR and GC/EI-MS spectra of authentic beta-furfuryl alcohol with native aglycone confirmed the conclusion that Activator I is beta-furfuryl-beta-glucoside. Chemically synthesized beta-furfuryl-beta-glucoside has identical chemical properties and biological activity when compared with the purified endogenous activator (Ka = 50 microM).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ohana
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Delmer
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Steffens
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benziman
mesh_terms: D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000201:enzymology; D005663:Furans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D005960:Glucosides; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; C069993:3-furfuryl-beta-glucoside; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C020570:1,3-beta-glucan synthase