Formation of the lignan, (-) secoisolariciresinol, by cell free extracts of Forsythia intermedia

T Umezawa; L B Davin; N G Lewis

doi:10.1016/0006-291x(90)90784-k

Formation of the lignan, (-) secoisolariciresinol, by cell free extracts of Forsythia intermedia

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1990 Sep 28;171(3):1008-14. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(90)90784-k.

Authors

T Umezawa¹, L B Davin, N G Lewis

Affiliation

¹ Commonwealth Center for Wood Science and Technology/Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061.

PMID: 2222424
DOI: 10.1016/0006-291x(90)90784-k

Abstract

A crude cell-free extract from Forsythia intermedia catalyses the formation of (-)secoisolariciresinol, and not its (+) enantiomer, when incubated with coniferyl alcohol in the presence of NAD(P)H and H2O2. This is the first report of an enzyme reaction specifically involved in the coupling reaction between two phenylpropanoid monomers to afford an optically pure lignan.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Butylene Glycols / chemistry
Butylene Glycols / isolation & purification
Butylene Glycols / metabolism*
Cell-Free System
Lignans*
Lignin / chemistry
Lignin / isolation & purification
Lignin / metabolism*
Mass Spectrometry
Molecular Structure
Plants / metabolism*
Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
Stereoisomerism

Substances

Butylene Glycols
Lignans
Lignin
secoisolariciresinol