title: Enzymatic synthesis of wax esters by cell-free preparations from Sinapis alba L roots.
abstract: Acetone powder preparations from the roots of white mustard (Sinapis alba L) seedlings efficiently catalyse the esterification of [1-14C]n-hexadecanol in the presence of tripalmitoylglycerol as the fatty acid source. Free palmitic acid as well as mono- and dipalmitoylglycerols are much less effective which indicates that a direct acyl transfer from triacylglycerols to long-chain alcohols takes place. The formation of wax esters was also followed using tri-[1-14C]palmitoylglycerol and unlabelled alcohol. In this reaction straight-chain, saturated and unsaturated, primary alcohols as well as an isoprenoid alcohol--phytol can be utilized as acyl acceptors. Of the saturated straight-chain alcohols, C20 alcohol was esterified most efficiently. Triacylglycerols containing fatty acids C12-C22, both saturated and unsaturated, can serve as acyl sources. Among triacylglycerols containing saturated fatty acids trimyristoyl- and tripalmitoylglycerols are the best acyl donors.
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004951:Esterification; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D009149:Mustard Plant; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014885:Waxes / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D014280:Triglycerides; D014885:Waxes; C005031:cetyl alcohol; C005859:tripalmitin; D000217:Acyltransferases