Distribution of Canavanine and Free Amino Acids in Legumes, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Wistaria floribunda, and Canavalia lineata

콩과식물인 아까시나무(Robinia pseudo-acacia), 등나무(Wistaria floribunda) 및 해녀콩(Canavalia lineata)에서 canavanine과 유리아미노산의 분포

The constituents and proportions of non-protein free amino acids including canavanine were measured in roots and leaves of legumes, Robinia pseudo-acacia L., Wistaria floribunda L., and Canavalia lineata L. by using high performance liquid chromatography during dormant and fertilizing seasons. in all the three plant species, asparagine was the most abundant amino acid occurring 30％ of total free amino acids, and canavanine was the second most abundant amino acid contributing 10％ of total free amino acids throughout dormant and fertilizing seasons. In dormant season, roots contained 2 to 3 folds of free amino acids including canavanine and asparagine compared to those in fertilizing season. When proportions of asparagine and canavanine to total gree amino acids in various parts of C. lineata were examined in fertilizinng season, the level of asparagine was the highest in roots while that of canavanine was in seeds. On the basis of these results, it is assumed that canavanine appears and functions as a nitrogen-storing compound in roots and leaves throughout the whole life cycle of the investigated plants.