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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Structural conversion of the lignin subunit at the cinnamyl alcohol stage in Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Journal of Wood Science volume 45, pages 487–491 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

The lignin biosynthetic pathway in Eucalyptus camaldulensis was investigated by feeding stems with deuterium-labeled precursor. Pentadeutero[γ,γ-D2 OCD3] coniferyl alcohol was synthesized and supplied to shoots of E. camaldulensis, and incorporation of the labeled precursor into lignin was traced by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition to the direct incorporation of labeled precursor into the guaiacyl unit, a pentadeuterium-labeled syringyl unit was detected. This finding indicates that the γ-deuterium atoms in the hydroxymethyl group of labeled coniferyl alcohol remain intact during modification of the aromatic ring. The relative level of trideuterium-labeled syringyl monomer (the result of conversion via the cinnamic acid pathway) was negligible, suggesting that the pathway at the monolignol stage is used for conversion of exogenously supplied precursor. Our results provide conclusive evidence of a novel alternative pathway for generation of lignin subunits at the monolignol stage even in plants that do not accumulate coniferin in lignifying tissues.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Forest Chemistry, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, 464-8601, Nagoya, Japan

    Fang Chen, Seiichi Yasuda & Kazuhiko Fukushima

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  1. Fang Chen
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  2. Seiichi Yasuda
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  3. Kazuhiko Fukushima
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Correspondence to Kazuhiko Fukushima.

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Chen, F., Yasuda, S. & Fukushima, K. Structural conversion of the lignin subunit at the cinnamyl alcohol stage in Eucalyptus camaldulensis . J Wood Sci 45, 487–491 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00538958

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00538958

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