BIOSYNTHESIS OF QUERCETIN IN BUCKWHEAT: PART III

Abstract

The effect on the conversion of carbon14 to quercetin by a buckwheat plant caused by variation in the dose rate of a carbon 14-labelled precursor in μmoles over a 100-fold range has been studied. The results expressed as dilution of carbon14 varied over a 200-fold range for the same precursor with most of the variation being found at low dose rates. When expressed as the percentage of administered carbon14 converted to quercetin the results for acetate, D-glucose, and L-phenyllactic acid were mostly constant over this range but L-phenylalanine had a maximum percentage conversion or an optimal dose rate. An explanation of the results in metabolic terms has been attempted.It is recommended that the "percentage of C14 converted" be used to express results in plant biosynthetic work.