Elucidation of the biosynthesis of the di-C-glycosylflavone isoschaftoside, an allelopathic component from Desmodium spp. that inhibits Striga spp. development

  • Phytochemistry. 2012 Dec;84:169-76. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.08.005.
Mary L Hamilton  1 ,  Serge P Kuate ,  Melissa Brazier-Hicks ,  John C Caulfield ,  Ruth Rose ,  Robert Edwards ,  Baldwyn Torto ,  John A Pickett ,  Antony M Hooper
Affiliations
  • 1. Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts AL5 2JQ, UK.
PMID: 22959223 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.08.005
Abstract

Isoschaftoside, an allelopathic di-C-glycosylflavone from Desmodium spp. root exudates, is biosynthesised through sequential glucosylation and arabinosylation of 2-hydroxynaringenin with UDP-glucose and UDP-arabinose. Complete conversion to the flavone requires chemical dehydration implying a dehydratase enzyme has a role in vivo to complete the biosynthesis. The C-glucosyltransferase has been partially characterised and its activity demonstrated in highly purified fractions.

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