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Inhibition by Auxins of 4-Methyleneglutamic Acid Synthesis in Tissue Cultures of Peanut Seeds ¹

Department of Biological Chemistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Callus cultures of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv Valencia Tennessee Red) cotyledons grown on Linsmaier and Skoog medium containing normal levels of auxin and cytokinin do not synthesize either 4-methyl-eneglutamic acid or 4-methyleneglutamine, which nonprotein amino acids are normally found in significant amounts in peanut plants. If mature peanut embryos (with cotyledons removed) are germinated and grown on a similar medium containing no added phytohormone, normal levels of these two amino acids accumulate. The addition of an auxin, however, prevents formation of 4-methyleneglutamic acid and 4-methyleneglutamine; typical levels of other free amino acids are seen and excised embryos so cultured develop into apparently otherwise normal plants. Kinetin addition to embryo cultures has little or no effect. 4-Methyleneglutamine is formed when 4-methyleneglutamic acid is added to embryo cultures maintained on auxin-containing medium, indicating that the phytohormone does not block amidation but rather the biosynthesis of 4-methyleneglutamic acid.