Suberin biosynthesis

Fig. 6.4.9. Biosynthetic pathways for the major aliphatic components of suberin and some essential elements of the active site of w-hydroxy fatty acid dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in suberin biosynthesis (5)...

Phenolic acids and aliphatic acids are both involved in the biosynthesis of suberin, and phenolic acids are not synthesized in tissue slices that do not undergo suberization. 

How the aliphatic monomers are incorporated into the suberin polymer is not known. Presumably, activated co-hydroxy acids and dicarboxylic acids are ester-ified to the hydroxyl groups as found in cutin biosynthesis. The long chain fatty alcohols might be incorporated into suberin via esterification with phenylpro-panoic acids such as ferulic acid, followed by peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of the phenolic derivative. This suggestion is based on the finding that ferulic acid esters of very long chain fatty alcohols are frequently found in sub-erin-associated waxes. The recently cloned hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA tyramine N-(hydroxycinnamoyl) transferase [77] may produce a tyramide derivative of the phenolic compound that may then be incorporated into the polymer by a peroxidase. The glycerol triester composed of a fatty acid, caffeic acid and a>-hydroxy acid found in the suberin associated wax [40] may also be incorporated into the polymer by a peroxidase. 

Kolattukudy PE (1981) Structure, biosynthesis and biodegradation of cutin and suberin. In Briggs WR (ed) Annual reviews of plant physiol, vol. 32. Annual Reviews, Palo Alto CA, p 539... 

Kolattukudy PE, Espelie KE (1985) Biosynthesis of cutin, suberin, and associated waxes. In Higuchi T (ed) Biosynthesis and biodegradation of wood components. Academic Press, New York p 161... 

The functions of phenylpropanoid derivatives are as diverse as their structural variations. Phenylpropanoids serve as phytoalexins, UV protectants, insect repellents, flower pigments, and signal molecules for plant-microbe interactions. They also function as polymeric constituents of support and surface structures such as lignins and suberins [1]. Therefore, biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids has received much interest in relation to these functions. In addition, the biosynthesis of these compounds has been intensively studied because they are often chiral, and naturally occurring samples of these compounds are usually optically active. Elucidation of these enantioselective mechanisms may contribute to the development of novel biomimetic systems for enantioselective organic synthesis. 

Kolattukudy, P. E. Espelie, K. E. Biosynthesis of Cutin, Suberin and Associated Waxes In Biosynthesis and Biodegradation of Wood Components Higuchi, T., Ed Academic Press New York, 1985 pp. 161-207. 

Davin, F.B. and Lewis, N.G. (1992) Phenylpropanoid metabolism biosynthesis of monolignols, lignans and neolignans, lignins and suberins, in Phenolic Metabolism in Plants (eds H.A. Stafford and R.K. Ibrahim). Plenum, New York, pp. 325-75. 

L. B. Davin N. G. Lewis, Phenylpropanoid Metabolism Biosynthesis of Monolignols, Lignans and Neolignans, Lignins and Suberins. In Recent Advances in Phytochemistry] Vol. 26 Phenolic Metabolism in Plants H. A. Stafford, R. K. Ibrahim, Eds. Plenum Press New York, 1992 pp 325-375. 

Li, Y., Beisson, F., Koo, A.J.K., Molina, L, Pollard, M., and Ohlrogge, J. Identification of acyltransferases required for cutin biosynthesis and production of cutin with suberin-like monomers. Proceedings of the National Academy of the United States of America 104, 18339-18344, 2007. 

BERNARDS, M.A., RAZEM, F.A., The poly(phenolic) domain of potato suberin a non-lignin cell wall bio-polymer. Phytochemistry, 2001,57,1115-1122. BERNARDS, M.A., Demystifying suberin. Can. J. Botany, 2002, 80,227-240. WHETTEN, R., SEDEROFF, R., Lignin Biosynthesis, Plant Cell, 1995, 7, 1001-1013. 

Kolattukudy, PE. Structure, biosynthesis, and biodegradation of cutin and suberin. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol, 1981,32, 559-567. 

Yan B., Stark R.E., Biosynthesis, molecular structure, and domain architecture of potato suberin A C-13 NMR study using isotopically labeled precursors, J. Agric. Food Chem., 48(8), 2000, 3298-3304. 

Hofer R, Briesen I, Beck M, Pinot F, Schreiber L, Franke R (2008) The Arabidopsis cytochrome P450 CYP86A1 encodes a fatty acid m-hydroxylase involved in suberin monomer biosynthesis. J Exp Botany 59 2347-2360... 

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