Biosynthesis enantiomeric composition

Using this system, (Z)-hinokiresinol isolated from cultured cells of A. officinalis was determined to be the optically pure (75 )-isomer, while ( )-hinokiresinol isolated from cultured cells of C. japonica had 83.3% e.e. in favor of the (7S)-enantiomer (Table 12.1). The enzymatically formed (Z)-hinokiresinol obtained following incubation of p-coumaryl p-coumarate with a mixture of equal amounts of recZHRSa and recZHRSf) was found to be the optically pure (75)-isomer, which is identical to that isolated from A. officinalis cells (Table 12.1). A similar result was obtained with the crude plant protein from A. officinalis cultured cells, where the formed (Z)-hinokiresinol was almost optically pure, 97.2% e.e. in favor of the (75)-isomer (Table 12.1). In sharp contrast, when each subunit protein, recZHRSa or recZHRSP, was individually incubated with p-coumaryl p-coumarate, ( )-hinokiresinol was formed (Table 12.1). The enantiomeric compositions of ( )-hinokiresinol thus formed were 20.6% e.e. (with recZHRSa) and 9.0% e.e. (with recZHRSP) in favor of the (7S)-enantiomer (Table 12.1). Taken together, these results clearly indicate that the subunit composition of ZHRS controls not only cis/trans selectivity but also enantioselectivity in hinokiresinol formation (Fig. 12.3). This provides a novel example of enantiomeric control in the biosynthesis of natural products. Although the mechanism for the cis/trans selective and enantioselective reaction remains to be elucidated, for example by x-ray crystallography, the enantioselective mechanism totally differs from the enantioselectivity in biosynthesis of lignans, another class of phenylpropanoid compounds closely related to norlignans in terms of structure and biosynthesis. 

Methods for the capillary gas chromatographic separation of optical isomers of chiral compounds after formation of diastereoisomeric derivatives were developed. Analytical aspects of the GC-separation of diastereoisomeric esters and urethanes derived from chiral secondary alcohols, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-hydroxy-acid esters, and the corresponding jf- and -lactones were investigated. The methods were used to follow the formation of optically active compounds during microbiological processes, such as reduction of keto-precursors and asymmetric hydrolysis of racemic acetates on a micro-scale. The enantiomeric composition of chiral aroma constituents in tropical fruits, such as passion fruit, mango and pineapple, was determined and possible pathways for their biosynthesis were formulated. 

Okunishi, T., Umezawa, T. and Shimada, M. (2000) Enantiomeric compositions and biosynthesis of Wikstroemia sikokiana lignans. /. Wood Sci., 46, 234-A2. 

The enantiomeric composition of chiral fruit aroma components such as alcohols, 3-hydroxyacid esters and lactones was determined and possible pathways for their biosynthesis were presented. 

Figure VIII shows the enantiomeric composition of various hydroxy- and acetoxyacid esters and of if -hexa-and -octalactone isolated from pineapple. Methyl 3-hydroxyhexanoate and methyl 3-acetoxyhexanoate are mainly of the (S)-configuration corresponding to intermediates of B-oxidation. The optical purity of the 5-acetoxy esters is lower than of the 3-acetoxy derivatives. The lactones were mainly of the (R)-configuration. Figure IX presents a possible pathway to explain the formation of these compounds. Methyl (S)-(+)-3-hydroxyhexanoate and methyl (S)-3-acetoxyhexanoate may be derived from (S)-3-hydroxyhexanoyl-CoA by transacylation with methanol and acetyl-CoA, respectively. The biosynthesis of 5-hydroxyacids is still unknown, but they may be formed by elongation of 3-hydroxyacids with malonyl-ACP. This hypothesis could explain their varying enantiomeric composition relative to the 3-hydroxyacids. However, hydration of unsaturated acids and/or the reduction of 5-oxoacids may be involved.

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