Biosynthesis of L-ascorbic acid in plants: new pathways for an old antioxidant
Abstract
The biosynthetic pathway of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in plants has been established for several years. However, recent reports describe alternative pathways, revealing a more complex picture of L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis than had been expected. GDP-L-gulose and myo-inositol are proposed as new intermediates in L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis, indicating that part of the animal pathway might also be operating in plants. Enzymatic studies on the GDP-mannose- 3‧,5‧-epimerase and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase suggest that they are important regulatory steps for L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis.
- Publication:
-
Trends in Plant Science
- Pub Date:
- January 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.tplants.2004.10.002
- Bibcode:
- 2004TPS.....9..573V