Inhibition of caffeine biosynthesis in tea (Camellia sinensis) and coffee (Coffea arabica) plants by ribavirin.
The effects of ribavirin, an inhibitor of inosine-5'-monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase, on [8-(14)C]inosine metabolism in tea leaves, coffee leaves and coffee fruits were investigated. Incorporation of radioactivity from [8-(14)C]inosine into purine alkaloids, such as theobromine and caffeine, guanine residues of RNA, and CO(2) was reduced by ribavirin, while incorporation into nucleotides, including IMP and adenine residues of RNA, was increased. The results indicate that inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase by ribavirin inhibits both caffeine and guanine nucleotide biosynthesis in caffeine-forming plants. The use of IMP dehydrogenase-deficient plants as a potential source of good quality caffeine-deficient tea and coffee plants is discussed.
Keya
Chaman Ara
CA
Department of Advanced Bioscience, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan.
Crozier
Alan
A
Ashihara
Hiroshi
H
D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D040503:Coffea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007288:Inosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011687:Purines / Q000378:metabolism; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000963:Antimetabolites; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D011687:Purines; D002110:Caffeine; D012254:Ribavirin; D007288:Inosine; D007168:IMP Dehydrogenase