Phenylpropanoid Metabolism

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Heads: Dieter Strack

Higher plants accumulate a wealth of hydroxycinnamate (HCA) conjugates, mostly esters and amides. They are of prime ecological importance for plant survival. They protect plants against DNA-damaging UV light. Acylation of anthocyanin pigments with HCAs results in an (intramolecular) copigmentation effect, protecting these pigments against degradation. Soluble and cell wall-bound HCAs participate in plant defense against microbial attack. With regard to their biosynthesis, HCAs are usually activated as coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters or 1-O-acylglucosides (b-acetal esters), being the substrates of the HCA transferases involved in formation of various conjugates. Our group is interested in structural and functional characterization of the UDP-glucose- and acylglucose-dependent glucosyl- and HCA transferases.