Biosynthesis of α-Tocopherol in Chloroplasts of Higher Plants

✍ Scribed by Schultz, G.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Weight: 634 KB
• Volume: 92
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0931-5985
• DOI: 10.1002/lipi.19900920209

✦ Synopsis

a-Tocopherol is formed from homogentisate and phytylpyrophosphate in chloroplasts. Homogentisate originates from tyrosine formed by the plastidic shikimate pathway. Phytylpyrophosphate is formed by the mevalonate pathway and plutidic polyprenyl pyrophosphate synthesis. As a new result, the capacity of the plastidic mevalonate pathway strongly decreases and, vice versa, the import of isopentenyl pyrophosphate into chloroplasts increases during chloroplast development.