title: Leaf-closing substance in Leucaena leucocephala.
abstract: Potassium (2R,3R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate (1) was identified as a leaf-closing substance in the nyctinastic plant, Leucaena leucocephala. Compound 1 showed strong leaf-closing activity toward L. leucocephala and was not effective against other nyctinastic plants. The potassium ion was indispensable for the bioactivity of 1. Compound 1 gradually lost its bioactivity because of the exchange of the counter cation during isolation. A leaf-opening substance was also observed in the same plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sohtome
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Shosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D013400:Sugar Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C465974:2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutanoic acid; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013400:Sugar Acids