Ribosyl- trans -Zeatin, A Major Cytokinin Produced by Crown Gall Tumor Tissue

A cell division factor in crystalline form has been isolated from ethanolic extracts of cultured Vinca rosea L. crown gall tumor tissue. The crystalline material shows the melting point, mass spectrum, ultraviolet-light absorbancy spectra, solubilities, chromatographic migration values, ion-exchange behavior, and growth activities expected of ribosyl-trans-zeatin, that is, 6-(4-hydroxyl-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylamino)-9-beta-D- ribofuranosylpurine. This compound, which appears to be a major cell-division factor in the extracts, has also been crystallized from liquid media in which the tumor tissue had been growing and apparently was the only active compound in such media.