title: Initial steps of the peroxidase-catalyzed polymerization of coniferyl alcohol and/or sinapyl aldehyde: capillary zone electrophoresis study of pH effect.
abstract: Capillary zone electrophoresis has been used to monitor the first steps of the dehydrogenative polymerization of coniferyl alcohol, sinapyl aldehyde, or a mixture of both, catalyzed by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-H(2)O(2) system. When coniferyl alcohol was the unique HRP substrate, three major dimers were observed (beta-5, beta-beta, and beta-O-4 interunit linkages) and their initial formation velocity as well as their relative abundance varied with pH. The beta-O-4 interunit linkage was thus slightly favored at lower pH values. In contrast, sinapyl aldehyde turned out to be a very poor substrate for HRP except in basic conditions (pH 8). The major dimer observed was the beta,beta'-di-sinapyl aldehyde, a red-brown exhibiting compound which might partly participate in the red coloration usually observed in cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase-deficient angiosperms. Finally, when a mixture of coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl aldehyde was used, it looked as if sinapyl aldehyde became a very good substrate for HRP. Indeed, coniferyl alcohol turned out to serve as a redox mediator (i.e. "shuttle oxidant") for the sinapyl aldehyde incorporation in the lignin-like polymer. This means that in particular conditions the specificity of oxidative enzymes might not hinder the incorporation of poor substrates into the growing lignin polymer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie Biologique, INRA/INA-PG, Institut National Agronomique, F-78850 Thiverval-Grignon, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fournand
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cathala
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lapierre
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008031:Lignin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; C075386:sinapaldehyde; D000171:Acrolein; D008031:Lignin; C010559:coniferyl alcohol; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase