Rosenthal G A
Q Rev Biol. 1977 Jun;52(2):155-78. doi: 10.1086/409853.
Many of the 200 or so non-protein amino acids synthesized by higher plants are related structurally to the constituents of common proteins. L-Canavanine, the guanidinooxy structural analogue of L-arginine, is representative of this group. It has provided valuable insight into the biological effects and the mode of action of non-protein amino acids which acts as analogues of the protein amino acids. The arginyl-tRNA synthetases of numerous canavanine-free species charge canavanine, and canavanine is subsequently incorporated into the nascent polypeptide chain. Production of canavanine-containing proteins ultimately can disrupt critical reactions of RNA and DNA metabolism as well as protein synthesis. Canavanine also affects regulatory and catalytic reactions of arginine metabolism, arginine uptake, formation of structural components, and other cellular precesses. In these ways, canavanine alters essential biochemical reactions and becomes a potent antimetabolite of arginine in a wide spectrum of species. These deleterious properties of canavanine render it a highly toxic secondary plant constituent that probably functions as an allelochemic agent that deters the feeding activity of phytophagous insects and other herbivores.
高等植物合成的约200种非蛋白质氨基酸中，许多在结构上与常见蛋白质的成分相关。L-刀豆氨酸是L-精氨酸的胍基氧基结构类似物，是这一类别的代表。它为作为蛋白质氨基酸类似物的非蛋白质氨基酸的生物学效应和作用方式提供了有价值的见解。许多不含刀豆氨酸的物种的精氨酰-tRNA合成酶会将刀豆氨酸加载进去，随后刀豆氨酸被整合到新生的多肽链中。含刀豆氨酸的蛋白质的产生最终会扰乱RNA和DNA代谢以及蛋白质合成的关键反应。刀豆氨酸还会影响精氨酸代谢的调节和催化反应、精氨酸摄取、结构成分的形成以及其他细胞过程。通过这些方式，刀豆氨酸改变了基本的生化反应，并在广泛的物种中成为精氨酸的强效抗代谢物。刀豆氨酸的这些有害特性使其成为一种剧毒的次生植物成分，可能作为一种化感物质，阻止植食性昆虫和其他食草动物的取食活动。
