STOFFWECHSEL VON BENZOESÄUREN IN PFLANZLICHEN ZELLSUSPENSIONSKULTUREN

Abstract

Benzoic acids constitute important catabolites in flavonoid degradation and can further be metabolized by a) decarboxylation, b) p–o–demethylation, c) hydroxylation, d) ring fission and e) glycodilation.

Decarboxylation of benzoic acids is catalyzed by peroxidase, though only benzoic acids with a free hydroxyl function in the para position are substrates. Depending on the substitution pattern monomeric or dimeric benzoquinones could be identified as products of decarboxylation. All peroxidase isoenzymes from cell cultures of mung bean and soybean – obtained by isoelectric focussing techniques – showed comparable rates of benzoic acids' decarboxylation. Peroxidases are not involved in ring fission reactions of benzoic acids.