Canavanine

Canavanine

L-(+)-("S")-Canavanine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid of certain leguminous plants. It is structurally related to the proteinogenic amino acid, L-arginine. Canavanine is accumulated primarily in the seeds where it serves both as a defensive compound against herbivores and a vital source of nitrogen for the growing embryo. Organisms that consume it can mistakenly incorporate it into their own proteins in the place of arginine, thereby producing structurally aberrant proteins that may not function properly. Some specialized herbivores tolerate L-canavanine either because they metabolize it efficiently or avoid its incorporation into their own nascent proteins.

External links

* [http://www.biologie.uni-freiburg.de/data/bio3/igloi/Accuracy.htm Specificity in protein biosynthesis]

References

* Rosenthal, Gerald A. 1986. Biochemical insight into insecticidal properties of L-Canavanine, a higher plant protective allelochemical. Journal of Chemical Ecology, Volume 12, Number 5 : 1145 - 1156. DOI: 10.1007/BF01639001


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  • Canavanine — Structure chimique de la canavanine La L canavanine est un acide aminé, présent dans des plantes (principalement des légumes et leurs semences). Sa structure chimique est assez complexe et définie comme suit : H2N C(=NH) NH O CH2 CH2 CH2… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • canavanine — kanavaninas statusas T sritis chemija formulė H₂NC(=NH)N(OH)CH₂CH₂CH(NH₂)COOH atitikmenys: angl. canavanine rus. канаванин ryšiai: sinonimas – 2 amino 4 (1 hidroksiguanidino)butano rūgštis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • canavanine — noun A non proteinogenic amino acid of certain leguminous plants …   Wiktionary

  • canavanine — 2 Amino 4 guanidinohydroxybutyric acid; an analog of arginine found in certain legumes; used in studies of arginine dependent systems; it is also a potent growht inhibitor. [Canavalia + ine] * * * ca·na·van·ine .kan ə van .ēn, vän ; kə nav ə .nēn …   Medical dictionary

  • canavanine — can·a·van·ine …   English syllables

  • canavanine — noun an amino acid found in the jack bean • Hypernyms: ↑amino acid, ↑aminoalkanoic acid * * * ˌkanəˈvaˌnēn, ˈä , ˈa ; kəˈnavəˌn noun ( s) Etymology: Internati …   Useful english dictionary

  • Amino acid — This article is about the class of chemicals. For the structures and properties of the standard proteinogenic amino acids, see Proteinogenic amino acid. The generic structure of an alpha amino acid in its unionized form …   Wikipedia

  • Fabales — ▪ plant order Introduction  order of dicotyledonous flowering plants in the Rosid I group among the core eudicots. The order comprises 4 families ( Fabaceae, Polygalaceae, Quillajaceae, and Surianaceae), 754 genera, and more than 20,000 species.… …   Universalium

  • Arginine — L Arginine IUPAC name …   Wikipedia

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