JBC, Vol. 250, Issue 18, 7343-7351, Sep, 1975
On the "activation" of cytokinins
S. M. Hecht, R. B. Frye, D. Werner, S. D. Hawrelak, F. Skoog and R. Y. Schmitz
A number of cytokinin analogs containing modifications in the heterocyclic
moiety were prepared. These compounds were tested for activity as
cytokinins and anticytokinins in the tabacco bioassay and the results were
used to determine whether any position(s) of the heterocyclic nucleus of
cytokinins may require derivatization as part of an over-all "activation"
process. 3-substituted 4-alkylaminopyrazolo [3,4-d]pyrimidines and
4-alkylaminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines, for example, have (substituted)
carbon rather than nitrogen atoms at positions 3 and 5, respectively
(analogous to position 7 in purines) and would be predicted to be
metabolically stable at these positions. The finding that these compounds
had cytokinin activity suggested that modification at the metabolically
stable positions. The finding that these compounds had cytokinin activity
suggested that modification at the metabolically stable position, and by
extension at position 7 in cytokinin analogues which are purines, is not a
prerequisite for the expression of cytokinin activity. Similar
consideration of other heterocyclic analogs which have cytokinin activity
suggests that the active form of a cytokinin can be the exogenous compound
itself. Certain structural analogs of cytokinins were found to inhibit the
growth of tobacco callus promoted by 6-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino)purine.
These compounds were studied as potential cytokinin antagonists, i.e.
having activity analogous to the
7-alkylamino-3-methylpyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidines (Hecht, S. M., 2068-2610;
Skoog, F., Schmitz, R.Y., Hecht, S.M., and Bock, R. M. (1973)
Phytochemistry 12, 25-37). The activity of these compounds is discussed and
criteria are proposed to distinguish between those species which are
specific anticytokinins and those which otherwise inhibit growth.