A familiar ring to it: biosynthesis of plant benzoic acids

Joshua R Widhalm; Natalia Dudareva

doi:10.1016/j.molp.2014.12.001

A familiar ring to it: biosynthesis of plant benzoic acids

Mol Plant. 2015 Jan;8(1):83-97. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2014.12.001. Epub 2014 Dec 11.

Authors

Joshua R Widhalm¹, Natalia Dudareva²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, 175 South University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2063, USA.
² Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, 175 South University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2063, USA. Electronic address: dudareva@purdue.edu.

PMID: 25578274
DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2014.12.001

Abstract

Plant benzoic acids (BAs) are building blocks or important structural elements for numerous primary and specialized metabolites, including plant hormones, cofactors, defense compounds, and attractants for pollinators and seed dispersers. Many natural products derived from plant BAs or containing benzoyl/benzyl moieties are also of medicinal or nutritional value to humans. Biosynthesis of BAs in plants is a network involving parallel and intersecting pathways spread across multiple subcellular compartments. In this review, a current overview on the metabolism of plant BAs is presented with a focus on the recent progress made on isolation and functional characterization of genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes and intracellular transporters. In addition, approaches for deciphering the complex interactions between pathways of the BAs network are discussed.

Keywords: benzoic acids; biosynthesis; metabolic network; phenylpropanoids; salicylic acid; volatiles.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Benzoates / metabolism*
Metabolic Networks and Pathways
Plants / metabolism*
Propanols / metabolism
Salicylic Acid / metabolism

Substances

Benzoates
Propanols
1-phenylpropanol
Salicylic Acid