Mellein is a
dihydroisocoumarin
Dihydroisocoumarins are phenolic compounds related to isocoumarin. Dihydroisocoumarin glucosides
A glucoside is a glycoside that is chemically derived from glucose. Glucosides are common in plants, but rare in animals. Glucose is produced whe ...
, a
phenolic compound produced by the mold species ''
Aspergillus ochraceus
''Aspergillus ochraceus'' is a mold species in the genus ''Aspergillus'' known to produce the toxin ochratoxin A, one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins, and citrinin. It also produces the dihydroisocoumarin mellein. It is a fil ...
''.
Derivatives
4-Hydroxymellein is also produced by ''
Aspergillus ochraceus
''Aspergillus ochraceus'' is a mold species in the genus ''Aspergillus'' known to produce the toxin ochratoxin A, one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins, and citrinin. It also produces the dihydroisocoumarin mellein. It is a fil ...
''.
[
6-Hydroxymellein, together with ]S-adenosyl methionine
''S''-Adenosyl methionine (SAM), also known under the commercial names of SAMe, SAM-e, or AdoMet, is a common cosubstrate involved in methyl group transfers, transsulfuration, and aminopropylation. Although these anabolic reactions occur thro ...
, is a substrate of the enzyme 6-hydroxymellein O-methyltransferase to form 6-methoxymellein and S-adenosylhomocysteine in Apiaceae
Apiaceae () or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium,'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot, or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering p ...
.6-methoxymellein biosynthesis pathway on www.biocyc.org
/ref> 6-Methoxymellein is one of the compounds responsible for bitterness in carrots.
References
Dihydroisocoumarins
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