Abstract
COMPOUNDS which, like kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine), induce cell division in certain excised plant tissues have been termed cytokinins1. A number of synthetic substances (6-substituted purines, 1-substituted adenines and urea derivatives) show this characteristic. The most active natural cytokinin so far discovered is also a substituted purine, termed zeatin [trans-6-(4-hydroxy 3-methyl but 2-enyl) aminopurine]. This was isolated from Zea mays seeds2. Other natural cytokinins, as yet unidentified, occur in many other plant tissues, but there have been no reports of the occurrence of cytokinins as natural constituents of animal tissues. This communication, however, provides evidence that compounds with cytokinin activity are natural constituents of animal soluble RNA.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Skoog, F., Strong, F. M., and Miller, C. O., Science, 148, 532 (1964).
Letham, D. S., Shannon, J. S., and McDonald, I. R., Proc. Chem. Soc., 230 (1964).
Ralph, R. K., and Bellamy, A. R., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 87, 9 (1964).
Cohn, W. E., Volkin, E., and Khym, J. X., in Biochemical Preparations, edit. by Shemin, D., 5, 49 (J. Wiley and Sons Inc., New York, 1957).
Littlefield, J. W., and Dunn, D. B., Biochem. J., 70, 642 (1958).
Letham, D. S., N.Z. J. Bot., 1, 336 (1963).
Dunn, D. B., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 34, 286 (1959).
Bergquist, P. L., and Matthews, R. E. F., Biochem. J., 85, 305 (1962).
Strong, F. M., Topics in Microbial Chemistry, Antimycin, Coenzyme A, Kinetin and Kinins, 98 (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1958).
Miller, C. O., Nature, 194, 787 (1962).
Hall, R. H., Biochemistry, 3, 769 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BELLAMY, A. Cytokinins in Ribonucleic Acids. Nature 211, 1093–1095 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2111093a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2111093a0
This article is cited by
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
