ISSN:
1052-9306
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The use of thin-layer chromatography has demonstrated that incubations of indoleamines with 5-methyl[14C]tetrahydrofolic acid and an enzyme previously described as an N-methyltransferase, do not yield Nω, N1 or O-methylated products. Further elucidation by thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and selected ion monitoring enabled us to identify the reaction products as tetrahydroisoquinolines and tetrahydro-β-carbolines in mixtures incubated respectively with catecholamines and indoleamines in the presence of 5-methyl[14C]tetrahydrofolic acid and enzyme. The alkaloids have been shown to originate from a spontaneous condensation of the corresponding amines with formaldehyde, this latter being formed in the first stage of the reaction by enzymatic conversion from 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bms.1200020105
