Occurrence and Distribution of γ-Hydroxy- γ-methylglutamic Acid in Fern Plants

抄録

γ-Hydroxy-γ-methylglutamic acid (γ-HMGA) was found to occur abundantly in nine species out of eighteen fern plants examined, but no correlation was recognized between the existence of this amino acid and the taxonomic position of the ferns. In ferns containing γ-HMGA, its amount exceeded that of other free amino acids at earlier stages of the development, but decreased gradually in the course of growth, while the contents of glutamic acid and/or glutamine increased and became dominant amino acids in place of γ-HMGA. In ferns lacking γ-HMGA, however, glutamic acid and/or glutamine were the major free amino acids hroughout the growth. The presence of a substance that appears to beγ-methyleneglutamic acid was detected inAdiantum pedatum, though in a very small quantity.