Biomaterial Database

Functional diversifications of cyanogenic glucosides. 2010

Birger Lindberg Møller

Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark. blm@life.ku.dk

Cyanogenic glucosides are present in many plants and their ability to liberate toxic HCN offers an immediate chemical defense response to herbivores and pathogens causing damage of the plant tissue. Countermeasures have evolved to overcome this type of defense and in some cases herbivores and pathogens are able to exploit the presence of cyanogenic glucosides to their own advantage. In plants, cyanogenic glucosides have gained additional functionalities as transporters of nitrogen and operation of an endogenous turnover pathway may enable plants to withdraw the nitrogen and glucose deposited in cyanogenic glucosides for use in primary metabolism. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the new knowledge on these diverse functionalities of cyanogenic glucosides.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009570	Nitriles	Organic compounds containing the -CN radical. The concept is distinguished from CYANIDES, which denotes inorganic salts of HYDROGEN CYANIDE.	Nitrile
D009584	Nitrogen	An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D010944	Plants	Multicellular, eukaryotic life forms of kingdom Plantae. Plants acquired chloroplasts by direct endosymbiosis of CYANOBACTERIA. They are characterized by a mainly photosynthetic mode of nutrition; essentially unlimited growth at localized regions of cell divisions (MERISTEMS); cellulose within cells providing rigidity; the absence of organs of locomotion; absence of nervous and sensory systems; and an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. It is a non-taxonomical term most often referring to LAND PLANTS. In broad sense it includes RHODOPHYTA and GLAUCOPHYTA along with VIRIDIPLANTAE.	Plant
D005947	Glucose	A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement.	Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose
D005960	Glucosides	A GLYCOSIDE that is derived from GLUCOSE.	Glucoside
D018556	Crops, Agricultural	Cultivated plants or agricultural produce such as grain, vegetables, or fruit. (From American Heritage Dictionary, 1982)	Agricultural Crops,Agricultural Crop
D019143	Evolution, Molecular	The process of cumulative change at the level of DNA; RNA; and PROTEINS, over successive generations.	Molecular Evolution,Genetic Evolution,Evolution, Genetic