The author identifies three individuals who played major roles in the development of his scientific career: his chemistry professor at the University of Colorado, Reuben Gustavson; his Ph.D. supervisor at the University of Chicago, Birgit Vennesland; and his friend and departmental colleague of 55 years at the University of California, Paul Stumpf. He also mentions students, postdoctoral scholars, and professional colleagues he encountered during his career of nearly 50 years as a plant biochemist. Finally, the article describes the author's research on cyanogenic plants. These plants contain hydrogen cyanide in a bound form that is usually released when the plant tissue is macerated. Cyanogenic plants contain cyanogenic glycosides in which the hydroxyl groups of cyanohydrins (alpha-hydroxynitriles) of aldehydes or ketones are covalently linked to a sugar, usually D-glucose. The biosynthesis, localization, and degradation, by hydrolysis, of these compounds have been examined, especially in sorghum and flax seedlings.

中文翻译：

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我们与生氰植物的合作

作者确定了三个在他的科学生涯发展中发挥重要作用的人：他在科罗拉多大学的化学教授鲁本·古斯塔夫森 (Reuben Gustavson)；他的博士学位 芝加哥大学 Birgit Vennesland 分校导师；和他在加州大学 55 年的朋友和系同事 Paul Stumpf。他还提到了他在近 50 年的植物生物化学家职业生涯中遇到的学生、博士后学者和专业同事。最后，文章介绍了作者对生氰植物的研究。这些植物含有结合形式的氰化氢，通常在植物组织浸软时释放。含氰植物含有氰苷，其中醛或酮的氰醇（α-羟基腈）的羟基与糖（通常是 D-葡萄糖）共价连接。已经研究了这些化合物通过水解的生物合成、定位和降解，特别是在高粱和亚麻幼苗中。