Echinacea purpurea biosynthesizes a unique set of compounds called alkamides, branched chain amides with a variety of polyunsaturated fatty acids containing a 2E double bond. The biosynthetic potential of these plants has been largely unexplored and it is our goal is to better map the genetic and metabolic requirements for alkamide biosynthesis. Understanding this pathway can lead to the discovery of new metabolic processes for the production of biorenewable products. Herein, we report the synthesis of 2E-dodec-, tridec-, and tetradecenoic acids, and their isobutylamides that will be fed to E. purpurea seedlings on the basis of toxicity. After confirming that these standards are not toxic to E. purpurea, alkamides and unsaturated acids labeled at the acyl end with either [2H3] or [13C2] will be used to examine the involvement of a unique acyl chain in alkamide biosynthesis. Also, the activities of cloned and characterized ?12-acetylenases from E. purpurea expressed in Yarrowia lipolytica with the unsaturated acids and amides will be reported. These experiments could potentially allow us to identify key elements involved in the biosynthetic pathway of alkamides.

Exploring the role of a, �-unsaturated acyl groups in alkamide biosynthesis by <i>Echinacea purpurea</i>

246th National Meeting (2013)

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Exploring the role of a, �-unsaturated acyl groups in alkamide biosynthesis by Echinacea purpurea