title: A free cyanohydrin as arms and armour of Marasmius oreades.
abstract: Cyanogenic plants and fungi are widespread in nature. Although the origin of hydrocyanic acid in plants has been studied in detail, little is known about its origin in fungi. Here, we report the identification of the cyanohydrin of glyoxylic acid as the precursor of hydrocyanic acid in the fungus Marasmius oreades and several other cyanogenic fungi. Moreover, a feeding experiment revealed glycine as biosynthetic precursor of the cyanohydrin of glyoxylic acid. Thus, the cyanogenesis of M. oreades and other fungi is fundamentally different from cyanogenesis in plants.
authors: Institut für Organische und Analytische Chemie, Universität Bremen, Leobener Strasse NW2C, 28359 Bremen (Germany).
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Caspar
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Spiteller
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006038:Glyoxylates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D055433:Marasmius / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D006038:Glyoxylates; D009570:Nitriles; C430593:cyanohydrin; D006856:Hydrogen Cyanide; C031150:glyoxylic acid
keywords: biosynthesis; chemical defense; hydrocyanic acid; natural products; structure elucidation