Stilbene from Vitis vinifera

Waffo-Teguo P, Lee D, Cuendet M, Merillon J, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD. 2001. Two new stilbene dimer glucosides from grape (Vitis vinifera) cell cultures. J Nat Prod 64 136-138. 

Biosynthesis From hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA and mal-onyl-CoA with stilbene synthase. Tobacco plants into which the gene for stilbene synthase (isolat from the grape, Vitis vinifera), has been transferred arc resistant to fungal infection with Botrytis cinerea. ... 

Vitis is a genus of about 60 species of dicot angiosperm plants. The fruit, which is a berry normally ovoid in shape and juicy, is grown commercially in the case of several Vitis species for consumption as fresh grapes and for fermentation into wine. Worldwide, Vitis vinifera (Fig. 55.1) is one of the most important species since it is used for the production of table grapes, raisins, and wine. The berries and the products derived from them are one of the most important sources of stilbenes available in nature [2]. 

Stilbenes originate from the same biosynthetic precursors as flavonoids, but have a different structure, since the polyketide portion undergoes a different type of cyclization including loss of one carbon by decarboxylation. Stilbenes occur in several umelated plants such as peanut (Arachis hypogaea), grapevine (Vitis vinifera), rhubarb (Rheum), false hellebores (Veratrum) and pine (Pinus) species. These compounds have antifungal properties. They are induced upon stress, injury, and fungal infection and can therefore be classified as phytoalexins. 

Richter, A. et al. (2006) Transgenic peas (Pisum sativum) expressing polygalacturonase inhibiting protein from raspberry (Ruhus idaeus) and stilbene synthase from grape (Vitis vinifera). Plant Cell Rep. 25, 1166-1173... 

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