Cyanogenesis in Plants

Cyanogenesis in plants and arthropods.

Cyanogenic glucosides are phytoanticipins known to be present in more than 2500 plant species. They are regarded as having an important role in plant defense against herbivores due to bitter taste and release of toxic hydrogen cyanide upon tissue disruption, but recent investigations demonstrate additional roles as storage compounds of reduced nitrogen and sugar that may be mobilized when deman...

Cyanogenesis in Indiangrass Seedlings

In a study of seedlings of 72 entries representing 39 species, 14 genera, and 2 tribes of grasses, only entries of the genus Sorghastrum were found to contain the cyanogenic glucoside, dhurrin [f$)-/>-hydroxymandelonitrile /3-D-glucopyranoside], Dhurrin was found in seedlings of each of the 10 entries of indiangrass [Sorghostrum nutans (L.) Nash] and the three entries of $. pellitum. Seedlings ...

A Survey of Cyanogenesis in Plants of Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica

Bacterial cyanogenesis occurs in the cystic fibrosis lung.

The cystic fibrosis (CF) lung environment is poorly defined, but data suggest that bacteria may encounter reduced oxygen tensions and possibly an anaerobic environment. Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces the potent toxin cyanide under strictly microaerobic conditions. Evidence of bacterial cyanogenesis in the CF lung was investigated in the present study by measuring sputum cyanide concentrations....

Got the blues? A high-throughput screen for cyanogenesis mutants.

Cyanogenic glucosides are compounds that release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) when degraded and act as deterrents against herbivores and predators. Cyanogenic glucosidesand theb-glucosidases thatdegrade them are stored in separate subcellular compartments in plant tissues. Herbivore feeding causes mixing and initiates the release of HCN, a respiratory poison. Over 70 different cyanogenic glucosides h...