The biosynthesis of phenolic glucosides in plants

Abstract

The structures of the mono [beta]-glucosides formed by germinating broad-bean seeds in the presence of various phenols were studied. Enzyme preparations from wheat.germ and broad-bean seeds will glucosylate phenolic and alcoholic hydroxyl groups in the presence of uridine diphosphate glucose (or for wheat-germ enzyme, with uridine triphosphate and [alpha]-D-glucose 1-phosphate). The products obtained with these enzymes closely resemble those produced in the experiments in vivo. The nature of the phenol-glucosylating system in plants is considered. Saligenin in vivo and in vitro mainly gives rise to o-hydroxybenzyl [beta]-glucoside, and not salicin. The biosynthesis of this latter compound is discussed.