Biphenyl synthase from yeast-extract-treated cell cultures of Sorbus aucuparia

Authors: Liu, Benye¹; Beuerle, Till¹; Klundt, Tim¹; Beerhues, Ludger²

Source: Planta, Volume 218, Number 3, January 2004 , pp. 492-496(5)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Biphenyls and dibenzofurans are the phytoalexins of the Maloideae, a subfamily of the economically important Rosaceae. The biphenyl aucuparin accumulated in Sorbus aucuparia L. cell cultures in response to yeast extract treatment. Incubation of cell-free extracts from challenged cell cultures with benzoyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA led to the formation of 3,5-dihydroxybiphenyl. This reaction was catalysed by a novel polyketide synthase, which will be named biphenyl synthase. The most efficient starter substrate for the enzyme was benzoyl-CoA. Relatively high activity was also observed with 2-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA but, instead of the corresponding biphenyl, the derailment product 2-hydroxybenzoyltriacetic acid lactone was formed.

Keywords: Aucuparin; Benzoic acid; Biphenyl synthase; Phytoalexin; Polyketide synthase; Sorbus

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1144-y

Affiliations: 1: Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 1, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany, 2: Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 1, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany, Email: l.beerhues@tu-bs.de

Publication date: 2004-01-01