Publication Type
Journal Article
Journal Name
Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
Publication Date
10-14-2015
Abstract
The allelopathic root exudate of the drought-tolerant subsistence cereal intercrop D. incanum, protecting against the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, comprises a number of di-C-glycosylflavones specifically containing C-glucosyl, C-galactosyl and C-arabinosyl moieties. Here we demonstrate that the biosynthesis of all compounds containing a C-glucose involves C-glucosylation of 2-hydroxynaringenin with subsequent C-galactosylation, C-glucosylation or C-arabinosylation. In addition, the crude soluble enzyme extract converts two fluorinated 2-hydroxyflavanone analogues to corresponding mono- and di-C-glycosylflavones demonstrating that some differences in C-ring substitution can be tolerated by the plant enzymes. Elucidating the biosynthesis of these C-glycosylflavones (CGFs) has the potential to open up opportunities for transferring the enzymic and genetic basis for the S. hermonthica inhibiting allelopathic trait to food crop plants.
PubMed ID
26478440
Recommended Citation
Hao, B., Caulfield, J., Hamilton, M., Pickett, J., Midega, C., Khan, Z., Wang, J., & Hooper, A. (2015). The biosynthesis of allelopathic di-C-glycosylflavones from the roots of Desmodium incanum (G. Mey.) DC. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 13 (48), 11663-11673. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ob01926e