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Biosynthesis of anacardic acids from acetate in Ginkgo biloba
Author(s) -
Gellerman Joanne L.,
Anderson Wayne H.,
Schlenk Hermann
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
lipids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 120
eISSN - 1558-9307
pISSN - 0024-4201
DOI - 10.1007/bf02532182
Subject(s) - decarboxylation , ginkgo biloba , ring (chemistry) , chemistry , stereochemistry , polyketide , biosynthesis , ginkgo , carbon chain , organic chemistry , biology , enzyme , catalysis , botany
Anacardic acids synthesized from [1‐ 14 C] and [2‐ 14 C] acetates by Ginkgo biloba were subjected to chemical degradation to locate the 14 C in the molecules. Radioactivity in the carboxyl group was determined by decarboxylation and counting the resulting CO 2 ; in the aliphatic chian, by oxidation of anacardol from which three homologous fatty acids are obtained; and in ring C‐6, chain C‐1 and chain C‐2 by decarboxylation of these fatty acids where the carboxyl groups represent these respective C atoms. Distribution of 14 C in the anacardic acids indicates that synthesis of the chain and of the ring are separate processes. According to its radioactivity, ring C‐6 originates from the chain. A polyketide mechanism appears likely for the ring synthesis, although considerable randomization of 1‐ 14 C and of 2‐ 14 C from the acetates had occurred in the plants.