Incorporation of Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Derivertives into Abscisic Acid and Its Biosynthetic Intermediates in Cercospora cruenta

Abstract

To investigate the transformation from (2E, 6E)-farnesyl pyrophosphate to (2Z, 4E)-γ-ionylideneethanol in the abscisic acid-producing fungi, Cercospora cruenta, plausible [2-¹⁴C]-C₁₅ intermediates were prepared and fed. Substrates such as (2E, 6E)-farnesyl pyrophosphate, (2z, 4E)-γ-ionylideneethanol and its pyrophosphate were incorporated into ABA and its known biosynthetic precursors. It is suggested that (2E, 6E)-farnesyl pyrophosphate is converted to (2Z, 4E)-γ-ionylideneethanol in four consecutive steps: dehydrogenation, isomerization, cyclization and hydrolysis.