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Science 8 November 1985:
Vol. 230. no. 4726, pp. 674 - 676
DOI: 10.1126/science.230.4726.674
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Articles

Phytochelatins: The Principal Heavy-Metal Complexing Peptides of Higher Plants

ERWIN GRILL 1, ERNST-L. WINNACKER 2, and MEINHART H. ZENK 3

1 Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universität München, 8000 Müntchen 2, Federal Republic of Germany
2 Laboratorium für molekulare Biologie-Genzentrum der Universität München, Am Klopferspitz, 8033 Martinsried, Federal Republic of Germany
3 Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universität München

A set of novel heavy-metal complexing peptides was isolated from plant cell suspension cultures; the structure of the peptides was established as (ggr-glutamic acid-cysteine)n-glycine (n = 3 to 7). These peptides appear upon induction of plant cells with heavy metals and represent the principal metal-binding activities in the cells. The name phytochelatin is proposed for this new class of natural products.

Submitted on July 15, 1985
Accepted on August 8, 1985


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