In vivo NMR analysis of tropane alkaloid metabolism in transformed root and de-differentiated cultures of Datura stramonium

In vivo 15N NMR spectroscopy has been used to study the metabolism of [15N]tropianone is transformed root cultures of Datura Stramonium. It was shown that, within only 2-4 hr of application of the labelled precursor, labelled metabolites can readily be detected. It was further demonstrate that de-differentiated cultures, derived from the roots by treatment with phytohirmones, are capable of metabolising [15N]tropinone to [15N]tropine and simple [15N]tropine esters but that these cultures cannot convert [15]tropinone to [15N]hyoscyamine