MEASUREMENT OF FORMALDEHYDE AND SOME FULLY N-METHYLATED SUBSTANCES INTISSUE-CULTURES OF DATURA-INNOXIA

Formaldehyde (HCHO) and choline, trigonelline and N-epsilon-trimethyl- L-lysine (TML) were detected and measured in tissue cultures of Datura innoxia Mill. by TLC and OPLC. The higher level of HCHO in young tiss ues appears to originate from the methylation reactions. This is in co rrelation with the high level of fully N-methylated substances. In spi te of this the level of the fully N-methylated substances decreased wi th the aging of tissue. HCHO level also decreased with aging. However, in old tissues the amount of HCHO again increased. This HCHO originat es mainly from demethylation reactions. It seems that there is a dynam ic relationship between methylation/demethylation processes based on H CHO reactions and cell proliferation.