Isoquercitrin, (IQ, quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) is known for strong chemoprotectant activities. Acylation of flavonoid glucosides with carboxylic acids containing an aromatic ring brings entirely new properties to these compounds. Here, we describe the chemical and enzymatic synthesis of a series of IQ derivatives at the C-6″. IQ benzoate, phenylacetate, phenylpropanoate and cinnamate we...

The study of gene expression in plants is fundamental, and understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in important biological processes, such as biochemical pathways or signaling that are used or manipulated in improvement programs, are key for the production of high-quality soybean seeds. Reports related to gene expression of lignin in seeds are scarce in the literature. We studied the ex...

We have investigated two NADPH-cytochrome (Cyt) P450 reductase isoforms encoded by separate genes (AR1 and AR2) in Arabidopsis thaliana. We isolated AR1 and AR2 cDNAs using a mung bean (Phaseolus aureus L.) NADPH-Cyt P450 reductase cDNA as a probe. The recombinant AR1 and AR2 proteins produced using a baculovirus expression system showed similar Km values for Cyt c and NADPH, respectively. In t...

Thirty-four thermophilic Bacillus sp. strains were isolated from decayed wood bark and a hot spring water sample based on their ability to degrade vanillic acid under thermophilic conditions. It was found that these bacteria were able to degrade a wide range of aromatic acids such as cinnamic, 4-coumaric, 3-phenylpropionic, 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionic, ferulic, benzoic, and 4-hydroxybenzoic ac...

Four triterpene acetates, alpha-amyrin acetate (1a), beta-amyrin acetate (2a), lupeol acetate (3a), and butyrospermol acetate (4a), and four triterpene cinnamates, alpha-amyrin cinnamate (1c), beta-amyrin cinnamate (2c), lupeol cinnamate (3c), and butyrospermol cinnamate (4c), were isolated from the kernel fat (n-hexane extract) of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa; Sapotaceae). Upon evaluatio...

The reaction mechanism of melilotate hydroxylase in the presence of 2-OH-cinnamate has been investigated by equilibrium titration, steady state kinetic and rapid reaction kinetic techniques. Analysis of the rapid reaction results for the reoxidation of reduced enzyme . 2-OH-cinnamate complex by molecular oxygen revealed the presence of an intermediate with visible absorption spectrum very simil...