The biosynthesis of l-rhamnose of plum-leaf polysaccharides.

1. The utilization of d-[1-(14)C]- and d-[6-(14)C]-glucose in the biosynthesis of l-rhamnose units of plum-leaf polysaccharides has been studied. 2. After the precursors had been metabolized in the leaves, polysaccharide fractions were prepared therefrom and the constituent l-rhamnose was isolated and purified. 3. Both the specific activity and the distribution of (14)C along the carbon chain of l-rhamnose from two polysaccharide fractions from each experiment were determined. 4. The results indicated a close affinity between l-rhamnose and pectin, and show that biosynthesis of the 6-deoxyhexose from d-glucose occurs in the main without scission or inversion of the carbon chain. 5. A degradation scheme for l-rhamnose via l-rhamnitol was described which gives the labelling at C-1, C-2+C-3+C-4,C-5 and C-6 on a 0.3millimole scale.