Synthesis of polyprenyltoluquinols from homogentisate and polyprenyl pyrophosphates in particulate fractions of Euglena and sugar beet

Abstract

Chloroplast-rich particles of sugar beet and Euglena gracilis are able to carry out the light-, H2O2- and O2-independent syntheses of a nonaprenyltoluquinol, an octaprenyltoluquinol and a phytyltoluquinol from homogentisate and nonaprenyl, octaprenyl and phytyl pyrophosphate. The formation of these compounds probably takes place by the concomitant polyprenylation (or phytylation) and non-oxidative decarboxylation of homogentisate.