AMINO ACIDS 107 



Liliaceae (actually six genera were in the family Agavaceae and three 

 in Amaryllidaceae, but all of these had at some time been placed in 

 the family Liliaceae). Eighteen amino acids were of relatively com- 

 mon occurrence and need not be discussed beyond mention of the fact 

 that methionine and histidine were notable by their absence. A total 

 of fifty-four ninhydrin-positive but unidentified spots were detected. 

 Most of these spots were restricted to one or at most only a few 

 species, but little can be said concerning systematic implications of 

 these distributions beyond the fact that they probably represent a 

 reservoir of biochemical information to be utilized in the future. 



Eight amino acids, representing a series of recently dis- 

 covered types, all of which were identified, exhibit rather interesting 

 patterns. Five of these represent an apparently related group, all of 

 which may be conceived as derivatives of glutamic acid.^ 



CH2 

 Y-Methyleneglutamic acid HOOCCCH2CHCOOH 



NH2 

 CH2 

 Y-Methyleneglutamine H2NOCCCH2CHCOOH 



NH2 



CH3 

 Y-Methylglutamic acid HOOCCHCH2CHCOOH 



NH2 



CH3 

 y-Hydroxy-Y-methylglutamic acid HOOCCCH2CHCOOH 



OH NH2 



Y-Hydroxyglutamic acid HOOCCHCH2CHCOOH 



OH NH2 



y-Methyleneglutamic acid was reported from seven genera: 

 Tulipa, Erythronium, Haworthia, Lilium, Notholirion, Fritillaria, 

 and Calochortus. The acid is apparently characteristic of Tulipa 

 wherein all species tested contained it. y-Methylglutamic acid was 

 found in six genera: Tulipa (most species), Erythronium, Lilium, 

 Notholirion, Calochortus, and Puschkinia. 



3 Y-hydroxyglutamic acid, having a different carbon skeleton, may be excluded. 

 The fact that its distribution pattern is also distinctive as opposed to the others of the 

 group is then significant. 



