Curcuminoids biosynthesis

Katsuyama Y, Kita T, Funa N, Horinouchi S (2009) Curcuminoid biosynthesis by two type III polyketide synthases in the herb Curcuma longa. J Biol Chem 284 11160-11170... 

Ramirez Ahumada, M. del C., Timmermann, B.N. and Gang, D.R. (2006) Biosynthesis of curcuminoids and gingerols in turmeric (Curcuma longa) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) identification of curcuminoid synthase and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA thioesterases. Phytochemistry 67(18), 201 7-2029. 

Initial investigations into the biosynthesis of the curcuminoids and gingerols were performed many years ago (Denniff and Whiting, 1976 Macleod and Whiting, 1979 Denniff et al., 1980). These initial radiotracer feeding studies suggested that these compounds were derived from intermediates in the phenylpropanoid pathways that were condensed with other molecules, derived in turn from the acetate and short-and medium-chain fatty acid pathways. 

Horinouchi S (2008) Combinatorial biosynthesis of nmi-bacteiial and unnatural flavonoids, stilbenoids and curcuminoids by microorganisms. J Antibiot 61 709-728... 

Biosynthesis of curcuminoids is similar to the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, such as flavonoids. Intermediates, such as 4-coumaroyl-CoA, condense with malonyl-CoA (via diketide as an intermediate) to form bisdemethoxycurcumin. Curcumin arises by subsequent oxidation and methylation of bisdemethoxycurcumin. 

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