Daucic Acid and its Occurrence in Plants

Abstract

DURING anion-exchange chromatography of extracts of biological materials, acidic non-nucleotide contaminants of the nucleotide fraction have often been encountered. They are usually identified by their characteristic ultraviolet absorption maxima. Thus the leaves of maize (Zea mays) were shown to contain chelidonic acid¹, the leaves of wheat (Triticum sativum) trans-aconitic acid (unpublished results of A. J. K., and M. J. Cornelius) and certain animal tissues ascorbic acid². These compounds were present in sufficient quantities to interfere with ultraviolet analysis of the chromatographic fractions. During a study³ on the free nucleotides of the root of carrot (Daucus carota) another contaminant was observed with a maximum at 240 nm. The spectrum did not change with pH until decomposition occurred in highly acid media. The contaminant was eluted with adenosine diphosphate which indicated a strong or multibasic acid.