A Histochemical Technique for the Detection of Annonaceous Acetogenins.
Annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) are molecules with carbon numbers C35-C37, usually with tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran rings and one terminal γ-lactone (usually α,β-unsaturated), in a large aliphatic chain that is varyingly hydroxylated, acetoxylated or ketonized. ACGs have ecological functions as insecticides and are pharmacologically promising due to their cytotoxic and antitumoral properties. They are found in the seeds, leaves, roots, flowers and fruits of annonaceous plants and can be detected during isolation via thin-layer chromatography using Kedde's reagent, which reacts with the unsaturated lactone. This chapter describes the location in situ of ACGs in fresh sections of annonaceous seeds using Kedde's reagent.The acetogenins are located in the idioblasts, in the endosperm and in the embryonic axis during differentiation. This method can aid in the detection of ACGs with a terminal unsaturated γ-lactone in organs and tissues.
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad N° 3000, Colonia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico. glagher@ciencias.unam.mx.
Guillermo
G
Laguna-Hernández
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad N° 3000, Colonia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, 04510, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico.
Alicia Enriqueta
AE
Brechú-Franco
Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, None, Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150. Col. LajasMaciel, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, 29039, Chiapas, Mexico.
Iván
I
De la Cruz-Chacón
Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, None, Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150. Col. LajasMaciel, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, 29039, Chiapas, Mexico.
Alma Rosa
AR
González-Esquinca
D054378:Acetogenins / Q000378:metabolism*; D056625:Endosperm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018525:Germination; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism
D054378:Acetogenins
Acetogenins; Annonaceae; Germinating seeds; Histochemistry; Idioblasts; Kedde’s reagent