The Formation, Isolation, and Biological Activity of a Cytokinin 7-Glucoside

The cytokinin, 6-benzylaminopurine, is converted to its 7-glucoside in intact seedlings, organ slices, and tissue cultures from several plants. The ribonucleoside and 5'-ribonucleotide appear transiently, and the general metabolic sequence seems to be nearly identical in the four plant species thus far studied. The glucoside persists for long periods in plant tissues, while all other forms of the cytokinin are rapidly metabolized and disappear within a few hours. A procedure for the isolation in pure form of the glucoside is described.