THE BIOGENESIS OF ALKALOIDS: XXV. THE ROLE OF HYGRIC ACID IN THE BIOGENESIS OF STACHYDRINE

Abstract
In alfalfa 2–3 weeks old neither labelled ornithine nor labelled proline act as precursors of stachydrine. It has been shown, however, that the methyl group of methionine becomes incorporated into the alkaloid so that the biogenesis appears to occur at that time of growth. It is now shown that hygric acid (N-methylproline) is a precursor of stachydrine. The implications of the results obtained are discussed.