Study of secolignan biosynthesis on Peperomia species

• Grant number: 13/21259-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Massuo Jorge Kato
• Grantee: Eduardo Massao Nogueira Nakashima
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Secolignanas are compounds derived from the biosynthetic pathway of phenylpropanoids with potential biological activity, either for the plant in its natural habitat as for therapeutic use in human health. Within this group of natural products, the peperomins, secotetralinic lignans, were found in several Peperomia specimens. It is known that, from L-phenylalanine as an initial precursor, there are involvement of constitutive enzymes such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase, cinnamoyl CoA reductase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, laccases and / or peroxidases, assisted by dirigent proteins. The goal of this project is the study of the biosynthetic origin of peperomins, by seeking intermediaries present in many organs, including in vitro conditions. The treatment of the plant under different conditions and the determination of enzymatic activity and transcriptional expression of genes related to synthesis of these products can be used as part of strategies. One hypothesis to be explored for the formation of peperominas involves the breaking of carbon-carbon bonds through retro Friedel-Crafts reaction from aryltetralonic lignans.