Leucoanthocyanidin Explained

Leucoanthocyanidin (flavan-3,4-diols) are colorless chemical compounds related to anthocyanidins and anthocyanins. Leucoanthocyanins can be found in Anadenanthera peregrina and in several species of Nepenthes including N. burbidgeae, N. muluensis, N. rajah, N. tentaculata, and N. × alisaputrana.

Such compounds include:

• Leucocyanidin
• Leucodelphinidin
• Leucofisetinidin
• Leucomalvidin
• Leucopelargonidin
• Leucopeonidin
• Leucorobinetinidin
• Melacacidin
• Teracacidin from Acacia obtusifolia and Acacia maidenii heartwoods^[1]

Leucoanthocyanidins have been demonstrated to be intermediates in anthocyanidin biosynthesis in flowers of Matthiola incana.^[2]

Bate-smith recommended in 1954 the use of the Forestal solvent for the isolation of leuco-anthocyanins.^[3]

Metabolism

Leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase uses flavan-3,4-diols to produce 3-hydroxyanthocyanidins.^[4] The gene encoding the enzyme (PpLDOX) has been identified in peach^[5] and expression has been studied in Vitis vinifera.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Clark-Lewis . JW . Dainis . I . 1967. Flavan derivatives. XIX. Teracacidin and isoteracacidin from Acacia obtusifolia and Acacia maidenii heartwoods; Phenolic hydroxylation patterns of heartwood flavonoids characteristic of sections and subsections of the genus Acacia . Australian Journal of Chemistry . 20 . 10. 2191–2198 . 10.1071/CH9672191 .
2. Leucoanthocyanidins as intermediates in anthocyanidin biosynthesis in flowers of Matthiola incana R. Br. . 10.1007/BF00393505 . 1985 . Heller . Werner . Britsch . Lothar . Forkmann . Gert . Grisebach . Hans . Planta . 163 . 2 . 191–196 . 24249337 . 20854538 .
3. 1269852 . 13198862 . 58 . 1 . Leuco-anthocyanins. 1. Detection and identification of anthocyanidins formed leuco-anthocyanins in plant tissues . September 1954 . Biochem. J. . 122–5 . Bate-SMITH . EC . 10.1042/bj0580122.
4. Web site: leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase on mondofacto.com . 2009-09-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120304214423/http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?leucoanthocyanidin+dioxygenase . 2012-03-04 . dead .
5. Leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase gene (PpLDOX): A potential functional marker for cold storage browning in peach . 10.1007/s11295-007-0130-0 . 2008 . Ogundiwin . E. A. . Peace . C. P. . Nicolet . C. M. . Rashbrook . V. K. . Gradziel . T. M. . Bliss . F. A. . Parfitt . D. . Crisosto . C. H. . Tree Genetics & Genomes . 4 . 3 . 543–554 . 22579882 .
6. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/01689452/2001/00000161/00000003/art00445 Regulation of the leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase gene expression in Vitis vinifera, Gollop R; Farhi S.; Perl A. 2001