Secondary Metabolism And Cell Differentiation

1. Secondary Metabolism and Differentiation In addition to the primary metabolic reactions, which are similar in all living beings (formation and breakdown of nucleic acids and proteins as well as of their precursors, of most carbohy drates, of some carboxylic acids, etc. ), a vast number of metab olic pathways lead to the formation of compounds peculiar to a few species or even to a single chemical race only. These reac tions, in accord with CZAPEK (1921) and PAECH (1950), are summed up under the term "secondary metabolism", and their products are called "secondary metabolites. " The wide variety of secondary products formed in nature includes such well-known groups as alkaloids, antibiotics, cardiac glyco sides, tannins, saponins, volatile oils, and others. A consider able number of them are of economic importance in therapeutics or technology. Although secondary products are produced by micro organisms, higher plants, and animals (cf. LUCKNER, 1972), most of the substances are found in the plant kingdom. The lack of mechanisms for true excretion in higher plants may result in this unequal distribution, the "waste products" of metabolism in plants instead being accumulated in the vacuoles, the cell walls, or in special excretory cells or spaces of the organism ("metabolic excretion," cf. FREY-WYSSLING, 1935, 1970; MOTHES, 1966a, b, 1972; LUCKNER et al. , 1976. Many secondary substances have, however, a direct biologic func tion. They can be regulatory effectors, e. g.

This reference work provides a comprehensive review of cell and tissue differentiation and its role in the formation of specific secondary metabolites. Divided into five sections, this book covers the main cellular processes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Chapters from expert contributors offer specific case studies of cell and tissue differentiation, examines secondary metabolites in shoot and root cultures, and present new scientific insights and original technologies with applications in medicinal plants and in plant biotechnology. Students, scholars and researchers with an interest in the fields of botany, agriculture, pharmacy, biotechnology and phytochemistry will find this book an important account. This book will also engage professionals working in plant-based industry.

The first source to unite secondary fungal metabolism and morphogenesis in one volume, Secondary Metabolism and Differentiation in Fungi treats biological systems as parts of a whole rather than as a series of individual elements, highlighting research in genetics, molecular biology, and ecology. Featuring the expertise of 19 international authorities, each chapter is a rich source of experimentation ideas. The book facilitates the application of novel techniques to existing problems in molecular mycology and explores potentials for major new research. This indispensable guide to a key scientific field benefits biologists, chemists, and other scientists.

Many of the reactions and compounds involved in metabolism are almost iden tical in the different groups of living organisms. They are known as primary me tabolic reactions and primary metabolic products. In addition, however, a wide variety of biochemical pathways are characteristic of only a few species of organ isms, of single "chemical races", or even of a certain stage of differentiation of specialized cells. Such pathways are collectively referred to as "secondary metab olism", and the compounds formed are called "secondary products". Secondary products are frequently revealed by their color, smell, or taste. They are responsi ble for the flavor of most foodstuffs and beverages and for the color and fragrance of flowers and fruits. Many of them are part of the materia medica, e. g. , alka loids, cardiac glycosides, antibiotics, or compounds acting as hormones. Others are used in the industry, e. g. , rubber, tannins, and cellulose. This book treats the organization and significance of biosynthesis, storage, transformation, and degradation of the most important groups of secondary pro ducts in microorgimisms, plants, arid animals. It shows that the formation of sec ondary products is a common characteristic of specialized cells brought about by the action of special enzymes encoded by specific genetic material.

Many of the reactions and compounds involved in metabolism are almost identical in the different groups of living organisms. They are known as primary metabolic reactions and primary metabolic products. In addition, however, a wide variety of biochemical pathways are characteristic of only a few species of organisms, of single "chemical races" or even of a certain stage of differentiation of special ized cells. Such pathways are collectively referred to as "secondary metabolism", and the compounds formed are called "secondary products". Secondary products are frequently revealed by their color, smell, or taste. They are responsible for the flavor of most foodstuffs and beverages and for the color and fragrance of flowers and fruits. Many of them are part of the materia medica, e. g. , alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, antibiotics, or compounds acting as hormones. Others are used by industry, e. g. , rubber, tannins, and cellulose. This book treats the organization and significance of biosynthesis, storage, transformation, and degradation of the most important groups of secondary products in microorganisms, plants, and animals. It shows that the formation of secondary products is a common characteristic of specialized cells brought about by the action of special enzymes encoded by specific genetic material. It demon strates that the. biosynthesis of secondary products is typically without signifi cance for the individual producer cell, but may play a decisive role in the develop· ment and function of the producer organism as a whole.

Many of the reactions and compounds involved in metabolism are almost iden tical in the different groups of living organisms. They are known as primary me tabolic reactions and primary metabolic products. In addition, however, a wide variety of biochemical pathways are characteristic of only a few species of organ isms, of single "chemical races", or even of a certain stage of differentiation of specialized cells. Such pathways are collectively referred to as "secondary metab olism", and the compounds formed are called "secondary products". Secondary products are frequently revealed by their color, smell, or taste. They are responsi ble for the flavor of most foodstuffs and beverages and for the color and fragrance of flowers and fruits. Many of them are part of the materia medica, e. g. , alka loids, cardiac glycosides, antibiotics, or compounds acting as hormones. Others are used in the industry, e. g. , rubber, tannins, and cellulose. This book treats the organization and significance of biosynthesis, storage, transformation, and degradation of the most important groups of secondary pro ducts in microorgimisms, plants, arid animals. It shows that the formation of sec ondary products is a common characteristic of specialized cells brought about by the action of special enzymes encoded by specific genetic material.

This 1986 book, derived from the meeting held by the International Association of Plant Cell and Tissue Culture in Sheffield in July 1985, describes the state of research in the area of secondary metabolism in plant cell and tissue culture. Such cultures are a major tool in horticulture and agriculture, and in the chemical industry.