Cytokinins: Synthesis and biological activity of zeatin esters and related compounds

Ruth Y. Schmitz, Folke Skoog, Sidney M. Hecht, Nelson J. Leonard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The esters of the highly active cytokinin zeatin [6-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylamino) purine] with formic, propionic, and indole-3-acetic acids and of its 2-chloro-substituted derivative [2-chloro-6-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylamino)purine] with acetic and propionic acids have been synthesized, and their growth-promoting activities in the tobacco bioassay have been determined and compared with those of four known, related compounds: zeatin, 6-(4-acetoxy-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylamino)purine, methyl 2-methyl-4-(purin-6-ylamino)-trans-crotonate, and 2-chlorozeatin. The five new esters were fully as active as any cytokinins we have tested in the tobacco bioaassy. The three zeatin esters were consistently, although only slightly, more active than zeatin, and each of the 2-chlorozeatin esters showed activity about twice that of zeatin on a molar basis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)275-280
Number of pages6
JournalPhytochemistry
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1971
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Plant Science
  • Horticulture

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