Rubia tinctora

Investigations of the biosynthesis of alizarin (101) in Rubia tinctora have revealed some of the details of the biosynthetic origins of rings A and B in the anthraquinone nucleus. Zenk and Leistner have shown that l,6-[ C2]-( + )-shikimic acid... 

However, the more recent work of Leistner on the biosynthesis of alizarin (101) in Rubia tinctora, although it has confirmed the position of o-succinylbenzoic acid (108) and L-glutamic acid (110) as intermediates, has cast doubts on the validity of some aspects of the proposed pathway [Figure 6.14) and in particular the role of 1,4-naphthoquinone (109). It was thus noted by Leistner that using 7-[ C]-(—)-shikimic acid (107) as substrate the radioactive label was incorporated directly into C-9 of the alizarin molecule whilst 2-[ C]-L-glutamic acid (110) labelled C-10 specifically. These... 

---

See also in sourсe #XX -- [ , ]

---