METABOLIC INVERSION OF THE 3-HYDROXY FUNCTION OF BRASSINOSTEROIDS

Exogenously applied 3-dehydro-24-epi-teasterone is transformed by cell suspension cultures of Lycoperaicon esculentum to give the metabolite s 24-epi-teasterone and 24-epi-typhasterol in about equal but low quan tities. The major portion of 24-epi-teasterone was found as carbohydra te conjugates while 24-epityphasterol occurred in free form, indicatin g significant influence of glycosidation on the equilibrium between bo th compounds. The importance of these conjugation processes for the re gulation of the brassinosteroid biosynthesis is discussed. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.