The Separation of Two Different Enzymes Catalyzing the Formation of Hydroxycinnamic A dd Glucosides and Esters
Protein extracts from anthers of Tulipa cv. Apcldoorn catalyze the formation of glucosidcs and glucose esters of hydroxycinnamic acid with UDP-glucose as the glucosyl donor. By chromatofocusing and by HPLC (anion exchange chromatography) it could be demonstrated for the first time that two different enzymes are involved in these reactions. By using the molecular sieving (HPLC) a molecular weight of about 45000 D was determined for the GT (E) (= catalyzing the formation of esters) and of about 25000 D for the GT (G) (= catalyzing the formation of glucosidcs). Both enzymes exhibit a high spezificity for free hydroxycinnamic acids. It is assumed that these transferases arc involved in the formation of feruloylglucose and ferulic acid glucoside, the latter of which can be isolated from anthers at early developmental stages. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that feruloylglucose functions as a starter molecule for the transacylation reaction by which di- and triferulovlsucrose are formed.