title: In vivo and in vitro biosynthesis of saponins in sea cucumbers.
abstract: The triterpene precursor of saponins in sea cucumbers has been identified as parkeol [lanost-9(11)-en-3 beta-ol] [1]. Dissection of the sea cucumbers Holothuria floridea and Actinopyga agassize after incubations with radiolabeled parkeol demonstrated that saponin biosynthesis occurs exclusively in the Cuvier gland. This result was corroborated by incubating a cell-free extract of the Cuvier gland with labeled parkeol and observing transformation of the precursor to saponins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton 33431, USA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003500:Cyclization; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007810:Lanosterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012616:Sea Cucumbers / Q000378:metabolism*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins; D013729:Terpenes; D007810:Lanosterol; C093882:parkeol