octopine, n. Biochem.
(ˈɒktəpiːn)
[ad. G. Oktopin (coined by K. Moriwaza 1927, in Acta Schol. Med. Univ. Imperialis Kioto IX. 290), f. mod.L. Octop-us octopus n.: see -ine5.]
An opine, C9H18N4O4 , present in octopus muscle and also synthesized by plant cells infected by some tumour-inducing plasmids present in the crown gall pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Cf. *nopaline n.
| 1928 Chem. Abstr. XXII. 3705 Fraction III was sep[arate]d..into histidine, guanidine, cytosine and a new base, C9H18N4O4 , which was named octopine. 1957 A. Meister Biochem. Amino Acids i. 44 Octopine occurs free in scallop and octopus muscle... It may be considered as the hydrogenated Schiff base resulting from condensation of pyruvic acid and arginine. 1980 Nature 21 Feb. 794/2 Most Ti plasmids fall into one of two groups, based on whether they code for enzymes for octopine or nopaline utilisation. |