Adsorption of isoxaflutole degradates to aluminum and iron hydrous oxides

Isoxaflutole is a preemergence herbicide that has been marketed as a substitute for atrazine. It is rapidly transformed to a more stable and soluble diketonitrile degradate (DKN) after field application and can further degrade to a benzoic acid degradate (BA) within soil. However, no previous research has been conducted to investigate DKN and BA sorption to metal oxide minerals. The primary objective of this research was to elucidate the interactions of DKN and BA with synthetic hydrous aluminum and iron oxides (HAO and HFO, respectively) to understand how variably charged minerals may influence adsorption of these compounds in soil. The herbicide degradates did adsorb to HAO and HFO, and the data were well described by the Freundlich model (R2 > 0.91), with Nvalues ranging from 0.89 to 1.2. Adsorption isotherms and Kd values demonstrate that BA is adsorbed to HFO to a greater extent than other degradate-mineral combinations that were studied. The degree of hysteresis between adsorption/desorption isotherms was characterized as slight (hysteresis index values < 1.7), suggesting weak DKN and BA retention to HFO and HAO oxide surfaces. Degradate adsorption was observed to greatly diminish as suspension pH increased. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectra show no evidence that DKN or BA adsorb to mineral surfaces as inner-sphere complexes under hydrated conditions. Instead DKN and BA adsorb to positively charged metal oxide surfaces as outer-sphere or diffuse ion swarm complexes via electrostatic attraction. This research indicates that metal oxides may serve as important retardants for DKN and BA migration through acidic soils enriched with aluminum and iron oxides.

Improved characterization of tomato polyphenols using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization linear ion trap quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is the second most important fruit crop worldwide. Tomatoes are a key component in the Mediterranean diet, which is strongly associated with a reduced risk of chronic degenerative diseases. In this work, we use a combination of mass spectrometry (MS) techniques with negative ion detection, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization linear ion trap quadrupole-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) on a triple quadrupole, for the identification of the constituents of tomato samples. First, we tested for the presence of polyphenolic compounds through generic MS/MS experiments such as neutral loss and precursor ion scans on the triple quadrupole system. Confirmation of the compounds previously identified was accomplished by injection into the high-resolution system (LTQ-Orbitrap) using accurate mass measurements in MS, MS(2) and MS(3) modes. In this way, 38 compounds were identified in tomato samples with very good mass accuracy (<2 mDa), three of them, as far as we know, not previously reported in tomato samples.

Minimization of sample requirement for delta18O in benzoic acid

The measurement of the oxygen stable isotope content in organic compounds has applications in many fields, ranging from paleoclimate reconstruction to forensics. Conventional High-Temperature Conversion (HTC) techniques require >20 microg of O for a single delta(18)O measurement. Here we describe a system that converts the CO produced by HTC into CO(2) via reduction within a Ni-furnace. This CO(2) is then concentrated cryogenically, and 'focused' into the isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) source using a low-flow He carrier gas (6-8 mL/min). We report analyses of benzoic acid (C(7)H(6)O(2)) reference materials that yielded precise delta(18)O measurement down to 1.3 microg of O, suggesting that our system could be used to decrease sample requirement for delta(18)O by more than an order of magnitude.

Four-electron oxidation of p-hydroxylaminobenzoate to p-nitrobenzoate by a peroxodiferric complex in AurF from Streptomyces thioluteus

The nonheme di-iron oxygenase, AurF, converts p-aminobenzoate (Ar-NH(2), where Ar = 4-carboxyphenyl) to p-nitrobenzoate (Ar-NO(2)) in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic, aureothin, by Streptomyces thioluteus. It has been reported that this net six-electron oxidation proceeds in three consecutive, two-electron steps, through p-hydroxylaminobenzoate (Ar-NHOH) and p-nitrosobenzoate (Ar-NO) intermediates, with each step requiring one equivalent of O(2) and two exogenous reducing equivalents. We recently demonstrated that a peroxodiiron(III/III) complex (peroxo- -AurF) formed by addition of O(2) to the diiron(II/II) enzyme ( -AurF) effects the initial oxidation of Ar-NH(2), generating a mu-(oxo)diiron(III/III) form of the enzyme (mu-oxo- -AurF) and (presumably) Ar-NHOH. Here we show that peroxo- -AurF also oxidizes Ar-NHOH. Unexpectedly, this reaction proceeds through to the Ar-NO(2) final product, a four-electron oxidation, and produces -AurF, with which O(2) can combine to regenerate peroxo- -AurF. Thus, conversion of Ar-NHOH to Ar-NO(2) requires only a single equivalent of O(2) and (starting from -AurF or peroxo- -AurF) is fully catalytic in the absence of exogenous reducing equivalents, by contrast to the published stoichiometry. This novel type of four-electron N-oxidation is likely also to occur in the reaction sequences of nitro-installing di-iron amine oxygenases in the biosyntheses of other natural products.

Preparation of Tyrian purple (6,6'-dibromoindigo): past and present

Over the past century, various synthetic approaches have been suggested to the most famous dye of antiquity, Tyrian purple (6,6′-dibromoindigo). These synthetic routes have been exhaustively surveyed and critically evaluated from the perspective of convenience, cost, safety and yield.

e-LEA3D: a computational-aided drug design web server

e-LEA3D web server integrates three complementary tools to perform computer-aided drug design based on molecular fragments. In drug discovery projects, there is a considerable interest in identifying novel and diverse molecular scaffolds to enhance chances of success. The de novo drug design tool is used to invent new ligands to optimize a user-specified scoring function. The composite scoring function includes both structure- and ligand-based evaluations. The de novo approach is an alternative to a blind virtual screening of large compound collections. A heuristic based on a genetic algorithm rapidly finds which fragments or combination of fragments fit a QSAR model or the binding site of a protein. While the approach is ideally suited for scaffold-hopping, this module also allows a scan for possible substituents to a user-specified scaffold. The second tool offers a traditional virtual screening and filtering of an uploaded library of compounds. The third module addresses the combinatorial library design that is based on a user-drawn scaffold and reactants coming, for example, from a chemical supplier. The e-LEA3D server is available at: http://bioinfo.ipmc.cnrs.fr/lea.html.

Geranylation of benzoic acid derivatives by enzymatic extracts from Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae)

The ability to carry out geranylations on aromatic substrates using enzymatic extracts from the leaves of Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae) was evaluated. A literature analysis pointed out its importance as a source of prenylated bioactive molecules. The screening performed on aromatic acceptors (benzoic acids, phenols and phenylpropanoids) including geranyl diphosphate as prenyl donor, showed the biotransformation of the 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid by the crude extract, and the p-hydroxybenzoic acid by both the microsomal fraction and the crude extract, after treating leaves with glucose. The analysis of the products allowed the identification of C- and O-geranylated derivatives, and the protease (subtilisin and pepsin) inhibition performed on the O-geranylated compounds showed weak inhibition. Electrophoretic profiles indicated the presence of bands/spots among 56-58 kDa and pI 6-7, which are compatible with prenyltransferases. These findings show that P. crassinervium could be considered as a source of extracts with geranyltransferase activity to perform biotransformations on aromatic substrates.

Emissions of sulfur-containing odorants, ammonia, and methane from pig slurry: effects of dietary methionine and benzoic acid

Supplementation of benzoic acid to pig diets reduces the pH of urine and may thereby affect emissions of ammonia and other gases from slurry, including sulfur-containing compounds that are expected to play a role in odor emission. Over a period of 112 d, we investigated hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), methanethiol (MT), dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), as well as ammonia and methane emissions from stored pig slurry. The slurry was derived from a feeding experiment with four pig diets in a factorial design with 2% (w/w) benzoic acid and 1% (w/w) methionine supplementation as treatments. Benzoic acid reduced slurry pH by 1 to 1.5 units and ammonia emissions by 60 to 70% for up to 2 mo of storage, and a considerable, but transitory reduction of methane emissions was also observed after 4 to 5 wk. All five volatile sulfur (S) compounds were identified in gas emitted from the slurry of the control treatment, which came from pigs fed according to Danish recommendations for amino acids and minerals. The emission patterns of volatile S compounds suggested an intense cycling between pools of organic S in the slurries, with urinary sulfate as the main source. Diet supplementation with methionine significantly increased all S emissions. Diet supplementation with benzoic acid reduced emissions of H(2)S and DMTS compared with the control slurry and moderately increased the concentrations of MT. Sulfur gas emissions were influenced by a strong interaction between methionine and benzoic acid treatments, which caused a significant increase in emissions of especially MT, but also of DMDS. In conclusion, addition of 2% benzoic acid to pig diets effectively reduced ammonia volatilization, but interactions with dietary S may increase odor problems.

Thermoresponsive polymer brush surfaces with hydrophobic groups for all-aqueous chromatography

For developing thermoresponsive chromatographic matrices with a strong hydrophobicity, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (poly(IPAAm-co-BMA)) brush grafted silica beads were prepared through a surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with a CuCl/CuCl(2)/Me(6)TREN catalytic system in 2-propanol at 25 degrees C for 16 h. The prepared beads were characterized by chromatographic analysis. Chromatograms of the benzoic-acid family and phenol as model analytes were obtained with high-resolution peaks because of their strong hydrophobic interactions to the densely grafted hydrophobized copolymers on the beads. Retention times of the analytes increased with the increase in BMA composition ratio. Dehydration of grafted copolymer with large BMA composition was performed at low temperature. These results indicated that the copolymer-brush-grafted surface prepared by ATRP was an effective tool for separating hydrophilic analytes at low temperature through modulating the strong hydrophobic interaction.

Effects of natural organic matter model compounds on the transformation of carbon tetrachloride by chloride green rust

Interest has grown in the use of reactive minerals for natural and engineered transformation of ground water contaminants. This study investigated how the structural properties of 10 model compounds representing natural organic matter (NOM) influenced their adsorption to chloride green rust (GR-Cl), and how this adsorption affected rate constants for transformation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) by GR-Cl. The affinity of benzoic acid, phthalic acid, trimesic acid, pyromellitic acid, and mellitic acid for the GR-Cl surface generally increased in the order of increasing number of carboxylic acid functional groups, increasing acidity of these functional groups, and increasing charge density. For NOM model compounds that had phenolic functional groups (p-hydroxybenzoic acid, alpha-resorcylic acid, and caffeic acid), the affinity for the GR-Cl surface was greatest for caffeic acid, which had two adjacent phenolic functional groups. Some NOM model compounds had experimentally determined Langmuir maximum adsorption capacities (q(max-Langmuir)) greater than those calculated based on external surface area measurements and the size of the NOM model compound, suggesting adsorption to internal as well as external sites at the GR-Cl surface for these compounds. Rate constants for CT transformation by GR-Cl generally decreased as the affinity of the NOM model compounds (estimated by Langmuir K values) increased, but there was no statistically significant correlation between Langmuir parameters (i.e., K and q(max-Langmuir)) and rate constants, perhaps due to significant adsorption of some NOM model compounds to sites that were not accessible to CT, such as interlayer sites. Unlike the other NOM model compounds, caffeic acid, which adsorbed to a significant extent to the GR-Cl surface, increased the rate constant for CT transformation. The influence of NOM on rate constants for CT transformation by green rusts should be considered in ground water remediation planning.

Study on QSTR of benzoic acid compounds with MCI

Quantitative structure-toxicity relationship (QSTR) plays an important role in toxicity prediction. With the modified method, the quantum chemistry parameters of 57 benzoic acid compounds were calculated with modified molecular connectivity index (MCI) using Visual Basic Program Software, and the QSTR of benzoic acid compounds in mice via oral LD₅₀ (acute toxicity) was studied. A model was built to more accurately predict the toxicity of benzoic acid compounds in mice via oral LD₅₀: 39 benzoic acid compounds were used as a training dataset for building the regression model and 18 others as a forecasting dataset to test the prediction ability of the model using SAS 9.0 Program Software. The model is LogLD₅₀ = 1.2399 × ⁰J^A +2.6911 × ¹J^A – 0.4445 × J^B (R² = 0.9860), where ⁰J^A is zero order connectivity index, ¹J^A is the first order connectivity index and J_B = ⁰J^A × ¹J^A is the cross factor. The model was shown to have a good forecasting ability.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Teyou 2 Folium Mori]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents of Teyou 2 Folium Mori.

METHODS

The compounds were extracted and isolated by CO2 supercritical fluid extraction, 30% alcohol extraction, macroporous resin and silica gel column chromatography and their structures were elucidated by means of melting point, TLC and spectral analyses.

RESULTS

Six compounds were identified as beta-carotene (I), oleanolic acid (II), benzoic acid (III), chlorogenic acid (IV), lysine (V), gamma-aminobutyric acid (VI).

CONCLUSION

Compound II and V are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Hydrodynamic simulation (computational fluid dynamics) of asymmetrically positioned tablets in the paddle dissolution apparatus: impact on dissolution rate and variability

The aim of this work was to investigate the dissolution rate from both the curved and planar surfaces of cylindrical compacts of benzoic acid, which were placed centrally and non-centrally at the base of the vessel of the paddle dissolution apparatus. The effect of fixing the compacts to a particular position on the variability of dissolution results was also examined. In addition, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate fluid flow around compacts in the different positions in the vessel, and the relationship between the local hydrodynamics in the region of the compacts and the dissolution rate determined. The dissolution rate was found to increase from the centre position to the off-centre positions for each surface examined. There was a corresponding increase in maximum fluid velocities calculated from the CFD fluid flow simulations at a fixed distance from the compact. There was less variability in dissolution from compacts fixed to any of the positions compared with those that were not fixed. Fluid flow around compacts in different positions could be successfully modelled, and hydrodynamic variability examined, using CFD. The effect of asymmetric fluid flow was evident visually from the change in shape of the eroded compacts.

Identification of bisprenylated benzoic acid derivatives from yerba santa (Eriodictyon ssp.) using sensory-guided fractionation

Due to certain off-flavor problems and lacking bitter masking effects with Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium and E. californicum) extracts, which are also described as bitter, herbal, medicinal, phenolic, or astringent, methanolic extracts were fractionated and evaluated for their taste properties using a high temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC)-based approach. The taste-guided fractionation led to the identification of a series of novel bisprenylated benzoic acids (erionic acids A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), E (5), and F (6) and eriolic acids A (7), B (8), C (9), and D (10), respectively), along with the known flavonoids eriodictyol, homoeriodictyol, hesperetin, and chrysoeriol. The new compounds were isolated in larger amounts for characterization from Narrow Leaf Yerba Santa (E. angustifolium) and California Yerba Santa (E. californicum), respectively, using fast centrifugal partition chromatography (FCPC) and HTLC. The structures were elucidated using one and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). For E. californicum, data regarding seasonal and climatic variation of the eriolic acid contents and of the flavonoids were collected. The flavor properties of some of the isolated new compounds were evaluated; they showed strong off-flavor characteristics, such as bitter, astringent, phenolic, or woody, and may contribute to the sensory effects observed for crude Yerba Santa extracts. Erionic acid C (3) was not only able to increase the absolute bitterness but also to extinguish the bitter masking effect of homoeriodictyol in a caffeine solution.

2-hydroxy 4-methoxy benzoic acid isolated from roots of Hemidesmus indicus ameliorates liver, kidney and pancreas injury due to streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats

Protective effect was evaluated in streptozoticin (STZ)-induced diabetes rats. 2-Hydroxy 4-methoxy benzoic acid (HMBA) was isolated from the roots of Hemidesmus indicus and administered (500 microg/kg body weight) orally for 7 weeks to STZ-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats to study its effect on protein metabolism, serum electrolytes and on liver and kidney lipid peroxides. Oral administration of HMBA restored the altered biochemical parameters such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, plasma proteins and serum electrolytes to near-normal levels. HMBA treatment significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde levels in diabetic liver and kidney. Effect of HMBA was equivalent to that of the standard drug, tolbutamide (100 mg/kg body wt). The histological changes were also in correlation with the biochemical findings. The present study showed that HMBA isolated from H. indicus roots had ameliorative effect on liver, kidney and pancreatic injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Effect of ultrasound on the solubility limit of a sparingly soluble solid

The influence of power ultrasound (20kHz) on the rate of attainment of saturation of sparingly soluble benzoic acid in distilled water and in 24% (w/w) aqueous glycerol was experimentally investigated at 30 degrees C. The importance of proper temperature control of process vessel contents when it was irradiated with high ultrasonic power level settings was demonstrated. A method was proposed to calculate the volumetric mass transfer coefficient under non-isothermal conditions.

Synthesis, characterization and texture observations of calamitic liquid crystalline compounds

Several divinylic mesogenic monomers were synthesized based on coupling the monomer 4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoic acid with chlorohydroquinone, 2,5-dihydroxy- acetophenone, methylhydroquinone or 2-methoxyhydroquinone. This resulted in novel mesogens of phenylene esters with different lateral substituent groups. The effect of the lateral substituent group on the thermotropic phase behavior for these liquid crystalline compounds was investigated using DSC and optical polarized microscopy. All the mesogens proved to have a wide nematic liquid crystalline range. Only the phenylene ester, which has a methoxy lateral substituent, exhibited both nematic and smectic phases. Structural confirmation of all new derivatives was accomplished by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic analysis, along with CH elemental analysis.

Synthesis and characterization of the luminescent lanthanide complexes with two similar benzoic acids

2-((4-Methoxyphenoxy) carbonyl) benzoic acid, 2-(1-methoxyvinyl) benzoic acid and their rare earth complexes LnL(2)(OH).3H(2)O (Ln=La, Eu, Tb) were synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, FTIR, (1)H NMR, UV and luminescence spectroscopy. The FTIR and (1)H NMR results show that the carboxylic groups in the complexes coordinated to the rare earth ions in the form of one dentate, and the ester carboxylic groups have taken part in the coordination. Among these complexes, Eu(III) complexes and Tb(III) complexes exhibit characteristic fluorescence with comparatively high brightness and good monochromaticity, which indicated that the ligands of HL(I) and HL(II) are good organic chromophore to absorb and transfer energy to metal ions.

Spectroscopic studies on the interaction between norfloxacin and p-amino benzoic acid: analytical application on determination of norfloxacin

Fluorescence (Förster) Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between norfloxacin (NF) and p-amino benzoic acid (PABA) has been investigated by fluorescence and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the quenching of fluorescence of PABA is followed by simultaneous sensitization of NF fluorescence. The hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction plays an important role to stabilize the complex. The binding constant (K), binding site number (n) and corresponding thermodynamic parameters like free energy change (DeltaG), enthalpy change (DeltaH) and entropy change (DeltaS) were determined according to van't Hoff equation. Using FRET, the distance (r) between donor (PABA) and acceptor (NF) was obtained. This method is simple, selective and relatively free of interference from co-existing substances. The method was successfully applied to the determination of norfloxacin from pharmaceutical tablets.

Investigating the photostability of carboxylic acids exposed to Mars surface ultraviolet radiation conditions

The detection and identification of organic molecules on Mars are of primary importance to establish the existence of a possible ancient prebiotic chemistry or even biological activity. The harsh environmental conditions at the surface of Mars could explain why the Viking probes-the only efforts, to date, to search for organics on Mars-detected no organic matter. To investigate the nature, abundance, and stability of organic molecules that could survive such environmental conditions, we developed a series of experiments that simulate martian surface environmental conditions. Here, we present results with regard to the impact of solar UV radiation on various carboxylic acids, such as mellitic acid, which are of astrobiological interest to the study of Mars. Our results show that at least one carboxylic acid, mellitic acid, could produce a resistant compound-benzenehexacarboxylic acid-trianhydride (C(12)O(9))-when exposed to martian surface radiation conditions. The formation of such products could contribute to the presence of organic matter in the martian regolith, which should be considered a primary target for in situ molecular analyses during future surface missions.

Role of sorption and degradation in the herbicidal function of isoxaflutole

BACKGROUND

The fate of isoxaflutole (IFT) in soil is closely related to soil sorption. Sorption and transformation of IFT were investigated in laboratory incubations with four soils, and these results were used to interpret greenhouse studies using IFT to control several weed species.

RESULTS

Degradation proceeded by previously observed pathways to form diketonitrile (DKN) and benzoic acid (BA) derivatives, as well as traces of unidentified products. Over the course of the incubation, DKN was the dominant active form of the herbicide present in the experimental system, and was thus critical to the soil activity of the herbicide for weed control.

CONCLUSION

Control of most weed species appeared to be a function of both sorption and biodegradation of DKN, with greatest weed control being observed in soils in which a significant portion of the DKN that was formed persisted and remained bioavailable over the course of the incubation.

Arabidopsis Chy1 null mutants are deficient in benzoic acid-containing glucosinolates in the seeds

The specific set of reactions that lead to the synthesis of benzoic acid in plants is still unclear, and even the subcellular compartment in which these reactions occur is unknown. Biosynthesis of both vegetative tissues and seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana contain a class of defense compounds termed glucosinolates, but only the seeds synthesize and store high levels of two glucosinolate compounds that contain a benzoic acid moiety. To identify genes involved in the synthesis of benzoic acid (directly or via benzaldehyde) in Arabidopsis, we analysed the levels of benzoylated glucosinolates in several lines that carry mutations in genes with homology to Pseudomonas fluorescens feruloyl-CoA hydratase, an enzyme that converts feruloyl-CoA to vanillin and acetyl-CoA, a reaction analogous to the conversion of cinnamoyl-CoA to benzaldehyde. We show here that mutations in the gene At5g65940, previously shown to encode a peroxisomal protein with beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase activity and designated as Chy1, lead to a deficiency of benzoic acid-containing glucosinolates in the seeds. Furthermore, Chy1 exhibits cinnamoyl-CoA hydrolase activity with a K(m) of 2.9 mum. Our findings suggest that at least a part of benzoic acid biosynthesis occurs in the peroxisomes, although the specific pathway that leads to benzoic acid and the specific biochemical role of Chy1 remain unclear.

Arabidopsis Chy1 null mutants are deficient in benzoic acid-containing glucosinolates in the seeds

The specific set of reactions that lead to the synthesis of benzoic acid in plants is still unclear, and even the subcellular compartment in which these reactions occur is unknown. Biosynthesis of both vegetative tissues and seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana contain a class of defense compounds termed glucosinolates, but only the seeds synthesize and store high levels of two glucosinolate compounds that contain a benzoic acid moiety. To identify genes involved in the synthesis of benzoic acid (directly or via benzaldehyde) in Arabidopsis, we analysed the levels of benzoylated glucosinolates in several lines that carry mutations in genes with homology to Pseudomonas fluorescens feruloyl-CoA hydratase, an enzyme that converts feruloyl-CoA to vanillin and acetyl-CoA, a reaction analogous to the conversion of cinnamoyl-CoA to benzaldehyde. We show here that mutations in the gene At5g65940, previously shown to encode a peroxisomal protein with beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase activity and designated as Chy1, lead to a deficiency of benzoic acid-containing glucosinolates in the seeds. Furthermore, Chy1 exhibits cinnamoyl-CoA hydrolase activity with a K(m) of 2.9 mum. Our findings suggest that at least a part of benzoic acid biosynthesis occurs in the peroxisomes, although the specific pathway that leads to benzoic acid and the specific biochemical role of Chy1 remain unclear.

An aldehyde oxidase in developing seeds of Arabidopsis converts benzaldehyde to benzoic Acid

Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) siliques synthesize high levels of benzoic acid (BA), which is incorporated into several glucosinolate compounds. The origin of BA in the siliques has not yet been determined. Here, we show that siliques have higher levels of benzaldehyde (BD)-oxidizing activity relative to leaves. The BD-oxidizing activity was purified from siliques in several chromatographic steps, and a 145-kD protein was identified as the enzyme most likely to possess this activity. The protein was trypsinized, and the sequence of the resulting peptides was determined by mass spectrometry, identifying it as the product of gene At1g04580, also designated as AAO4 (for ARABIDOPSIS ALDEHYDE OXIDASE4). AAO4 had previously been shown to be highly and specifically expressed in developing seeds, and its protein was shown to belong to a family of aldehyde oxidases. Here, we show that the AAO4 protein is an aldehyde oxidase that can use several substrates but that, among the substrates tested, has the lowest K(m) value (23 microm) with BD. AAO4 is able to oxidize BD without NAD(+), but its activity increases by 50% when this cofactor is added. The pH optimum of AAO4 is 7.0. Plants homozygous for a null allele in AAO4 showed a reduction of 30% to 45% in the total levels of BA in seeds as well as 7% to 9% and 32% to 38% decreases in the levels of 3-benzoyloxypropylglucosinolate and 4-benzoyloxybutylglucosinolate, respectively. Expressing AAO4 in Escherichia coli resulted in a 3-fold increase of BD-oxidizing activity in crude bacterial extracts over endogenous levels. These findings indicate that in Arabidopsis seeds, oxidation of BD contributes in part to the synthesis of BA.