Increased β-cyanoalanine synthase and asparaginase activity in nitrogen-deprived wheat exposed to cyanide

The β-cyanoalanine pathway in plants detoxifies cyanide by assimilating this metabolic poison. Given the possibility that cyanide in soil could serve as an alternate source of nitrogen for plant nutrition, this study investigated whether nitrogen deprivation of wheat seedlings altered the activity of the first enzyme of the pathway (β-cyanoalanine synthase) or asparaginase. The results suggest that ambient, nontoxic concentrations of soil cyanide may serve as an alternate source of nitrogen for plants under nitrogen-limiting conditions.