Variations on a theme: synthesis and modification of plant benzoic acids

Plant benzoic acids (BAs) are critical regulators of a plant's interaction with its environment. In addition, innumerable plant-derived pharmacological agents contain benzoyl moieties. Despite the prevalence and import of plant BAs, their biosynthetic pathways are not well-defined. Mounting evi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in plant biology 2006-06, Vol.9 (3), p.288-296
Main Author: Wildermuth, Mary C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria - metabolism
Benzoates - chemistry
Benzoates - metabolism
benzoic acids
biochemical pathways
biosynthesis
literature reviews
metabolism
Methylation
Models, Chemical
Molecular Structure
plant biochemistry
plant physiology
plants
Plants - metabolism
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Summary:Plant benzoic acids (BAs) are critical regulators of a plant's interaction with its environment. In addition, innumerable plant-derived pharmacological agents contain benzoyl moieties. Despite the prevalence and import of plant BAs, their biosynthetic pathways are not well-defined. Mounting evidence suggests that BAs are synthesized both directly from shikimate/chorismate and from phenylalanine in plants; however, few genes in these pathways have been identified. Exciting progress has been made in elucidating genes that modify BAs via methylation, glucosylation, or activation with Coenzyme A. As these modifications alter the stability, solubility, and activity of the BAs, they impact the functional roles of these molecules. The combination of multiple BA biosynthetic routes with a variety of chemical modifications probably facilitates precise temporal and spatial control over active forms, as well as the channeling of intermediates to particular benzoate products.
ISSN:1369-5266
1879-0356
DOI:10.1016/j.pbi.2006.03.006