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Planta Med 1992; 58(6): 524-527
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-961541
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Norcoclaurine Pathway is Operative in Berberine Biosynthesis in Coptis japonica

Martin J. Müller, Meinhart H. Zenk
  • Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universität München, D(W)-8000 München 2, Federal Republic of Germany
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Publication History

1992

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The commercially used cell suspension culture of Coptis japonica Makino (Ranunculaceae) incorporates [β-13 C]tyrosine into both halves of the berberine molecule (isoquinoline and benzyl portion) while L-[3′-18 O]DOPA only labels the isoquinoline portion of this molecule. This labelling pattern indicates that different C6-C2 units derived from tyrosine form this molecule. This result and the incorporation of (S)-[1-13 C] norcoclaurine into berberine demonstrates that the biosynthesis of protoberberine alkaloids in Coptis involves the norcoclaurine but not the norlaudanosoline pathway.

Key words

Coptis japonica - Ranunculaceae - biosynthesis - norcoclaurine pathway

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