Enzymatic Formation of Protoberberine Alkaloids¹

Abstract

Incubation of (±)-reticuline with [14CH3]- S -adenosylmethionine and a crude enzyme preparation from Berberis aggregata callus culture resulted in the formation of labeled palmatine and columbamine. A similar incubation with the non-phenolic (±)-tetrahydropapaverine instead of reticuline provided labeled laudanosine. When (±)-norlaudanosoline was used as the alkaloid co-substrate, a compound similar to palmatine in its fluorescent properties and chromatographic mobility was formed.