Chemical structure and biological activity 



The evidence provided by these separate investigations thus indicates 

 strongly that a-oxidation of nitriles, like /3 -oxidation of acids, is a degradation 

 mechanism which occurs not only in animal but also in plant biochemistry. 



REFERENCES 



Adeline, M., Cerecedo, L. R., and Sherwin, C. P. (1926). Detoxication of nitriles. 

 J. biol. Chem. 70, 461. 



Breusch, F. L. (1948). The biochemistry of fatty acid metabolism. Advanc. Enzymol. 

 8, 347. 



Cartw RIGHT, P. M. (1955). Private communication. 



Cartwright, P. M., Sykes, J. T., and Wain, R. L. (1956). The distribution of 

 natural auxins in germinating seeds and seedling plants. This volume, p. 32. 



Fawcett, C. H., Ingram, J. M. A., 'and Wain, R. L. (1954). The /J-oxidation of 

 (o-phenoxyalkylcarboxylic acids in the flax plant in relation to their plant growth- 

 regulating activity. Proc. Roy. Soc. B142, 60. 



Grace, N. H. (1939). Physiological activity of a series of naphthyl acids. Canad. J. 

 Res. 17, 247. 



LucKwiLL, L. C, and Woodcock, D. (1955). Plant growth regulators. I. The 

 influence of side-chain length on the activity of oj-(2-naphthyloxy)-K-alkylcarb- 

 oxylic acids for the induction of parthenocarpy in tomatoes. J. hort. Sci. 30, 109. 



Pattison, F. L. M. (1953). Toxic fluorine compounds. Nature, 172, 1139. 



Seeley, R. C, Fawcett, C. H., Wain, R. L., and Wightman, F. (1956). Chromato- 

 graphic investigations on the metabolism of certain indole derivatives in plant 

 tissues. This volume, p. 234. 



Synerholm, M. E., and Zimmerman, P. W. (1947). Preparation of a series of 

 ft»-(2:4-dichlorophenoxy)-aliphatic acids and some related compounds with a 

 consideration of their biochemical role as plant growth-regulators. Contr. Boyce 

 Thompson Inst. 14, 369. 



Verkade, p. E., and Lee, J. van der (1934). Researches on fat metabolism. II. 

 Biochem.J. 28, 31. 



Wain, R. L. (1955). A new approach to selective weed control. Ann. appl. Biol. 42, 

 151. 



Wain, R. L., and Wightman, F. (1954). The growth-regulating activity of certain 

 w-substituted alkyl carboxylic acids in relation to their /5-oxidation within the plant. 

 Proc. Roy. Soc. B142, 525. 



194 



