Nicotianamine and Analogous Amino Acids, Endogenous Iron Carriers in Higher Plants

The occurrence, s t r u c t u r a l e l u c i d a t i o n and synt h e s i s of nicotianamine (3 and of t h e analogous amino a c i d s mugineic a c i d (4-1, 2'-deoxymugineic a c i d (2).3-hydroxymugineic a c i d (6) a s w e l l a s of avenic a c i d A (1) and B (8) have been reviewed.These compounds possess c h e l a t i n g propert i e s f o r i r o n and o t h e r metal ions and a r e considered t o be s p e c i f i c phytosiderophores of g e n e r a l importance f o r t h e i r o n (metal) t r a n s p o r t and/or metabolism in h i g h e r p l a n t s .'..h.li:..