BIOSYNTHESIS OF (+)-2-HYDROXY-3-PHENYLPROPIONIC ACID MOIETY OF LITTORINE IN DATURA SANGUINEA AND ANTHOCERCIS LITTOREA

dl-Phenylalanine-[1-14C] and dl-phenylalanine-[3-14C] were fed via the roots to Datura sanguinea plants and radioactive hyoscine, atropine and littorine isolated from the roots. Radioactivity was confined to the acid moieties of the alkaloid molecules and the specific activities decreased in the order littorine, atropine, hyoscine. Degradation of the (+)-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid obtained from hydrolysis of the isolated littorine indicated a specific incorporation of phenylalanine-[1-14C] and phenylalanine-[3-14C] into the acid. Anthocercis littorea plants also incorporated phenylalanine into littorine, atropine and hyoscine. © 1969.