Differing mechanisms of simple nitrile formation on glucosinolate degradation in Lepidium sativum and Nasturtium officinale seeds

After confirming simple nitrile formation in the seeds of two species of cress, we compared the effect of heat treatments and the addition of iron and chelators on nitrile formation in both seed powders. Together with data on the effects of heating on ESP and myrosinase activity and the levels of endogenous iron, we show simple nitrile formation occurred by different pathways: (1) under specifier protein control in garden cress seeds and (2) by a non-enzymatic path in watercress seeds.