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Introduction to Enzyme and Coenzyme Chemistry - E-Library Home

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186 Chapter 7<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

O<br />

OCH 3<br />

C<br />

HOCH 2 OCH 3<br />

HC O<br />

HOCH 2<br />

HC<br />

OCH 3<br />

H 2 C<br />

HC<br />

O<br />

CH<br />

CH<br />

HOCH<br />

HC<br />

O<br />

HC<br />

O<br />

CH 2<br />

OCH 3<br />

OCH 3<br />

OCH 3<br />

OH<br />

OH<br />

OH<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

C<br />

OCH 3<br />

CH 3 O<br />

OCH 3<br />

CH 3 O<br />

O<br />

OH<br />

OH<br />

OH<br />

CH 2 OH<br />

CH 2 OH<br />

CH 2 OH<br />

OH<br />

p-hydroxycinnamyl<br />

alcohol<br />

OH<br />

coniferyl<br />

alcohol<br />

OCH 3 H 3 CO OCH 3<br />

OH<br />

sinapyl<br />

alcohol<br />

Figure 7.40 Structural components of lignin.<br />

The biosynthesis of lignin starts from three cinnamyl alcohol precursors:<br />

p-hydroxycinnamyl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol <strong>and</strong> sinapyl alcohol, shown in<br />

Figure 7.40. The ratio of these precursors used for lignin assembly is speciesdependent.<br />

They are each activated by formation of a phenoxy radical at the<br />

C-4 hydroxyl group by a family of peroxidase, phenolase <strong>and</strong> tyrosinase<br />

enzymes widely found in plants. As shown in Figure 7.41, the phenoxy radical<br />

can exist in a number of resonance structures in which radical character is<br />

found, for example, on oxygen, at the C-5 position <strong>and</strong> at the b-position of the<br />

side chain. Carbon–carbon bond formation can then take place with the a,bdouble<br />

bond of another molecule, generating a new radical species which can

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