THE E/Z ISOMERIZATION STEP IN THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF Z-CONFERYL ALCOHOL IN FAGUS GRANDIFOLIA

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)83580-3

Beech bark contains significant amounts of Z-conyferyl and Z-synapil alcohols but not the corresponding E-isomers.There are a number of steps along the cinnamate pathway where E/Z isomerism of the cinnamyl duble bond could occur.Studies of the conversion, in beech bark, of 14C-labelled E- and Z-ferulic acids, E-coniferylaldehyde and E- and Z-coniferyl alcohols indicate that this isomerism occurs at the level of the hydroxycinnamyl alcohols.This system differs, therefore, from that described for the isomerism of geraniol to nerol which proceeds via the corresponding aldehyde. - Key Word Index: Fagus grandifolia; Fagaceae; American beech; biosynthesis; cis/trans monolignols; lignin; p-hydroxycinnamyl alcohols.