The amino acid lysopine was found in the free state in both primary normal and crown-gall tumor tissue of growing tobacco (Nicotianatabacum) and tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum) plants. Identification was made by means of co-chromatography with synthesized lysopine, electrophoresis, and column chromatography. Quantitative analysis showed that tumor tissue contained about 24 times as much lysopine as normal tissue.
Cultures of normal tobacco callus tissue 3 weeks after subculture contain free and bound forms of cinnamic, caffeic, and ferulic acids and bergapten, and bound umbelliferone, esculetin, and scopoletin. Cultures of tobacco crown gall tumor tissue lack cinnamic acid, umbelliferone, and bergapten; but they contain free as well as bound esculetin and scopoletin, and higher total levels of each of these coumarins than normal tissue. It is suggested that biosynthesis of coumarins in tumor cells has been diverted from the umbelliferone–furanocoumarin pathway in favor of esculetin and scopoletin.
Revised Methods for Purification of Ribosyl-trans-zeatin from Vinca rosea L. Crown Gall Tumor Tissue