The role of leucine in terpenoid metabolism. Incorporation of [2-13C]- and [3-13C]-leucines into sesquiterpenoids by tissue cultures of Andrographis paniculata

Incorporation of [3-13C]-leucines into paniculides by tissue cultures of Andrographis paniculata shows that (a)(3S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) from leucine breakdown is not incorporated intact into paniculide and (b) leucine is incorporated by breakdown to acetyl-CoA and its subsequent incorporation via HMG-CoA and MVA.