Cycasin formation in tissue cultures of Japanese cycad

Abstract

Calluses were produced from plant tissues of Japanese cycad (Cycas revoluta Thunb.). Its toxic component named cycasin, β-glucoside of methylazoxymethanol, was formed by the calluses only in the presence of exogenous methylazoxymethanol. A glucosyltransferase catalysing the formation of cycasin from UDP-glucose and methylazoxymethanol occurred in the calluses. The properties of this enzyme in embryo-derived callus and in leaf tissue were similar. © 1995.