Metabolism of Acetate in Hevea brasiliensis

Abstract

THERE is now considerable evidence to show that the synthesis of isoprenoid compounds in both plants and animals may proceed by the utilization of acetate as the sole primary carbon source^1,2, and that the pathways by which the isoprenoid monomer is derived from acetate may have a number of carboxylate intermediates in common, for example, ββ′-dimethyl acrylate and β-hydroxy-β-methyl glutarate^1,3. Before taking part in these metabolic reactions acetate first undergoes activation by coupling with coenzyme A, and this form of carboxyl activation is then transmitted through subsequent intermediates arising from acetate. An examination of the latex and tissues of Hevea brasiliensis for such activation systems is briefly reported here.