High speed X-ray analysis of plant enzymes at room temperature.

X-ray measurements at room temperature (295 K) deliver high quality data sets with unprecedented speed (2 min), as shown for crystallized raucaffricine-O-β-D-glucosidase (RG), its mutant RG-Glu186Gln and several ligand complexes of the enzyme which participates in alkaloid biosynthesis in the plant Rauvolfia. The data obtained are compared with data sets measured under typical cryo conditions (100K). Under both conditions, density maps are highly comparable and favor the described protocol for room temperature measurements, potentially paving the way for future crystallographic studies capturing biosynthetic pathway intermediates.

ChemInform Abstract: Enzymatic Biosynthesis of Raumacline

Induction of alkaloid diversity in hybrid plant cell cultures

The treatment of Rauwolfia serpentina x Rhazya stricta somatic hybrid cell suspension culture with 100 μM of methyl jasmonate led to a general increase in indole alkaloid content and to qualitative changes in the alkaloid pattern. The content of Six alkaloids were investigated with respect to their content in both the cell biomass and nutrition medium. Intracellular 17-O-acetyl-norajmaline content on the 5th day after treatment had increased about 40-fold compared with the control culture. The respective concentrations of the other alkaloids increased by a factor of two to five. In total 26 indole alkaloids were identified in extracts of the methyl jasmonate-treated culture by TLC, UV, MS a…

ChemInform Abstract: Structure and Synthesis of a New Indole Alkaloid, 19(S)-Hydroxy-Nb- methylraumacline, Obtained by the Biotransformation of Ajmaline in Plant Cell Cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth.

ChemInform Abstract: Alkaloid Determination in Crude Extracts from Cortex Quebracho and Opium Applying Capillary Electrophoresis and Capillary Electrophoresis- Mass Spectrometry Coupling.

The applicability of capillary electrophoresis with UV and electrospray ionisation (ESI)-mass spectrometric detection to the determination of alkaloids in crude extracts of Cortex Quebracho and opium has been investigated. The use of a buffer electrolyte consisting of aqueous ammonium acetate (pH 3.1) and acetonitrile resulted in a high performance of peak resolution. Most of the alkaloids have been identified according to the signal of the protonated molecular ion in the ESI mass spectrum

ChemInform Abstract: “One-Pot” Synthesis of Raumacline from Ajmaline.

ChemInform Abstract: Enzymatic Formation of Raucaffricine, the Major Indole Alkaloid of Rauwolfia serpentina Cell-Suspension Cultures.

ChemInform Abstract: High-Yield Formation of Arbutin from Hydroquinone by Cell-Suspension Cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina.