Adaptive significance of furanocoumarin diversity in Pastinaca sativa (Apiaceae)

Fruits of Pastinaca sativa (Apiaceae), the edible parsnip, contain six different furanocoumarins that are differentially capable of ultraviolet-mediated cross-linkage of DNA and inhibition of DNA transcription. Individually, none of the other furanocoumarins present in parsnip seeds is as toxic as t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical ecology 1991-01, Vol.17 (1), p.207-215
Main Authors: Berenbaum, M.R. (University of Illinois, Urbana, IL), Nitao, J.K, Zangerl, A.R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ADAPTACION
ADAPTATION
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
COMPOSICION QUIMICA
COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE
COUMARINE
CUMARINAS
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
FURANNE
FURANOS
HELICOVERPA ZEA
Heliothis zea
Lepidoptera
LUMIERE
LUZ
Noctuidae
PASTINACA SATIVA
Plants and fungi
RADIACION ULTRAVIOLETA
RAYONNEMENT ULTRAVIOLET
TOXICIDAD
TOXICITE
TOXINAS
TOXINE
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Summary:Fruits of Pastinaca sativa (Apiaceae), the edible parsnip, contain six different furanocoumarins that are differentially capable of ultraviolet-mediated cross-linkage of DNA and inhibition of DNA transcription. Individually, none of the other furanocoumarins present in parsnip seeds is as toxic as the photosensitizer xanthotoxin. Nevertheless, the natural mixture of compounds is toxicologically more effective against Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), both in the presence and absence of UV light, than is an equimolar amount of xanthotoxin. The difference in toxicity diminishes with increasing light levels. Thus, a series of structurally related natural products can display toxicity lacking in individual compounds and may represent an adaptive compromise to varying environmental conditions
ISSN:0098-0331
1573-1561
DOI:10.1007/BF00994434