Journal article
Eugenol and isoeugenol, characteristic aromatic constituents of spices, are biosynthesized via reduction of a coniferyl alcohol ester
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.103(26), pp.10128-10133
From the Cover
06/27/2006
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/117254
PMCID: PMC1502517
PMID: 16782809
Abstract
Phenylpropenes such as chavicol,
t
-anol, eugenol, and isoeugenol are produced by plants as defense compounds against animals and microorganisms and as floral attractants of pollinators. Moreover, humans have used phenylpropenes since antiquity for food preservation and flavoring and as medicinal agents. Previous research suggested that the phenylpropenes are synthesized in plants from substituted phenylpropenols, although the identity of the enzymes and the nature of the reaction mechanism involved in this transformation have remained obscure. We show here that glandular trichomes of sweet basil (
Ocimum basilicum
), which synthesize and accumulate phenylpropenes, possess an enzyme that can use coniferyl acetate and NADPH to form eugenol. Petunia (
Petunia hybrida
cv. Mitchell) flowers, which emit large amounts of isoeugenol, possess an enzyme homologous to the basil eugenol-forming enzyme that also uses coniferyl acetate and NADPH as substrates but catalyzes the formation of isoeugenol. The basil and petunia phenylpropene-forming enzymes belong to a structural family of NADPH-dependent reductases that also includes pinoresinol–lariciresinol reductase, isoflavone reductase, and phenylcoumaran benzylic ether reductase.
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Details
- Title
- Eugenol and isoeugenol, characteristic aromatic constituents of spices, are biosynthesized via reduction of a coniferyl alcohol ester
- Creators
- Takao Koeduka - Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048Eyal Fridman - Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048David R Gang - Department of Plant Sciences and Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036Daniel G Vassão - Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6340Brenda L Jackson - Department of Plant Sciences and Institute for Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036Christine M Kish - Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; andIrina Orlova - Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; andSnejina M Spassova - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Jack H. Skirball Chemical Biology and Proteomics Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037Norman G Lewis - Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6340Joseph P Noel - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Jack H. Skirball Chemical Biology and Proteomics Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037Thomas J Baiga - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Jack H. Skirball Chemical Biology and Proteomics Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037Natalia Dudareva - Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; andEran Pichersky - Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, 830 North University Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.103(26), pp.10128-10133
- Academic Unit
- Biological Chemistry, Institute of
- Series
- From the Cover
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Identifiers
- 99900548022401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article