BIOSYNTHESIS OF CYANOGENIC GLUCOSIDES IN THE LEPIDOPTERA - INCORPORATION OF [U-C-14]-2-METHYLPROPANEALDOXIME, 2S-[U-C-14]-METHYLBUTANEALDOXIME AND D,L-[U-C-14]-N-HYDROXYISOLEUCINE INTO LINAMARIN AND LOTAUSTRALIN BY THE LARVAE OF ZYGAENA-TRIFOLII

[U-C-14]-2-methylpropanealdoxime was incorporated into the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin (1-cyano-1-methylethyl-beta-D-glucopyraraoside) and D,L-[U-C-14]-N-hydroxyisoleucine and 2S-[U-C-14]-methylbutanealdoxime were incorporated into the cyanogenic glucoside lotaustralin (R-1-cyano-1-methylpropyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) after injection into the haemocoele of larvae of Zygaena trifolii. The incorporation rates of the aldoximes were 17-22% and of the N-hydroxyamino acid 4-5%. The results indicate that both aldoximes and N-hydroxyamino acids are intermediates in the biosynthesis of linamarin and lotaustralin by the larvae by Zygaena trifolii.