A method for the decrease of phenolic content in commercial canola meal using an enzyme preparation secreted by the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor

An enzymatic process for upgrading the quality of canola meal (CM) by decreasing its phenolic content was investigated. The new method was based on the addition of the enzyme preparation from white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor to the meal-buffer slurry. A 98% decrease in the concentration of SAE was observed after 1 h of the treatment. The following process variables were considered for optimizing the process: pH, temperature, enzyme, meal, and oxygen concentrations. It was found that: (1) the natural buffering capacity of CM resulted in a negligible effect of the pH of the buffer, which was used as the continuous phase in the process, on the extent of decrease in sinapic acid esters (SAE); (2) the system was saturated with the enzyme when its concentration was 4 nkat/mL of the continuous phase; and (3) the optimum temperature was 50 degrees C. The process could be carried out even at higher temperatures due to the protective action of CM, which resulted in an increase in the thermal stability of the enzyme. The particle size influenced the extraction of the SAE from the meal, indicating that, at lower SAE concentrations, the process became diffusion limited. This result, together with those showing no effect of the intensity of agitation, indicated that the enzymatic process can be characterized by high Biot numbers. During the enzymatic process, the molar concentration of available oxygen can become a limiting factor when it is more than four times lower than the molar concentration of phenolics in the treated meal. The new enzymatic method was compared with other methods reported in the literature for the decrease in the phenolic content of rapeseed meals. It was found that, among the methods tested, the enzymatic treatment was the most effective, followed by the lime treatment. The enzymatic process did not reduce the quality of the protein isolates prepared from the CM. After the addition of a simple acetone-washing step, the isolate from the enzymatically treated meal had even better properties. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enzymatic decrease in the phenolic content of canola meal using concentrated aqueous or aqueous/hexane slurries

An enzymatic process to decrease the phenolic content in canola meal was investigated. The new method was based on the addition of an enzyme preparation from the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor to concentrated meal-buffer slurries. This approach eliminated the extraction of the valuable meal components such as proteins and carbohydrates. Two systems were considered: (i) slurries with canola meal concentrations higher than 33% [w/v]; (ii) slurries with canola meal concentrations equal to or less than 12.5% [w/v] with n-hexane as the main component of the continuous phase. The concentration of sinapic acid esters decreased by 99% after a 1.5, 2 and 3 hour long treatment of the meal with an initial moisture content of 75% at 90°C, 70°C and 50°C, respectively. The process was carried out at temperaturs as high as 110°C. Both the enzyme and the moisture concentrations influenced the enzymatic process and their action was coupled. The concentration of oxygen strongly affected the process. The enzymatic process was able to be carried out in the presence of hexane as the main component of the continuous phase. The optimum temperature for such a process was 30–40°C, At 30°C, after 1 h of treatment, the meal phenolic content was decreased by 97%. The water uptake by the meal was diminished in the presence of hexane.     

Production of a Laccase and Decrease of the Phenolic Content in Canola Meal during the Growth of the Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus in Solid State Fermentation Processes

Solid state fermentation of canola meal was carried out with the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus DAOM 197961, which is a producer of laccase. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of moisture content, inoculum size, homogenisation of inoculum and particle size of canola meal on the growth of the fungus, the production of a laccase and the decrease of the content of sinapic acid esters (SAE) in a solid state process. The results showed that the optimum moisture content, which was varied in the media between 50% and 75%, for the growth and enzyme production was 60%. The initial rate of SAE content decrease was faster in the media with 70% and 75% moisture than in those with lower moisture levels. In the study of the effects of inoculum concentration in the range of 1.1 mg to 5.5 mg/g of the medium, it was found that larger amounts of biomass and enzyme were produced in the media with inoculum concentrations from 1.1 mg to 3.3 mg/g of the medium than in the media with a higher inoculum concentration. The final and approximately the same concentrations of SAE were reached at the same time regardless of the inoculum concentration. Considering that the fungus formed pellets under the conditions at which it was grown during the inoculum preparation, it was necessary to break them by homogenisation prior to their utilisation as an inoculum. The homogenisation was carried out during a period between 15s and 200s. Although higher biomass concentrations and enzyme activities were obtained in the media which were inoculated with the inoculum homogenised for 15s and 30s, the maximum enzyme activities and biomass concentrations were reached in the media inoculated with the inoculum, which was homogenised for 120s and 200s. The time of inoculum homogenisation did not influence the kinetics of the SAE decrease. When the effects of the particle size of canola meal on the process were studied, it was found that larger particles of the meal in the solid media were more favourable for the production of the biomass and enzyme, and for a faster decrease of the SAE content than those of smaller sizes. From the obtained results it can be concluded that the tested variables have a significant influence on the growth of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus DAOM 197961, the production of laccase and the decrease of the SAE content in canola meal. The data could be useful for the development of a solid state process for the production of laccase and for the decrease of the phenolics content in canola meal.     

Reduction of phytic acid content in canola meal by Aspergillus ficuum in solid state fermentation process

Summary Solid state fermentation (SSF) of canola meal has been carried out to reduce its phytic acid content using Aspergillus ficuum NRRL 3135. In certain batches, a complete reduction of phytic acid content in canola meal was achieved in 48 h. A larger amount of biomass in the inoculum and older inoculum increased the rate of phytic acid hydrolysis. The optimum moisture content of the medium was found to be 67% for phytic acid hydrolysis in an SSF process. The substitution of water in the semi-solid medium with acetate buffer resulted in faster reduction of the phytic acid content. A 15% increase in the amount of protein after 120 h of incubation was observed in the treated meal. The crude phytase preparation extracted from the canola meal after it was treated in an SSF process was also used for reduction of the phytic acid content in new batches of canola meal both in semi-solid medium and in liquid medium. In the semi-solid medium, 58% of the phytic acid was hydrolysed at 45°C in 20 h, while 100% hydrolysis was recorded at 50°C in 12 h in the liquid medium. The SSF process seems to be beneficial for the upgrading of canola meal by reducing both its phytic acid content and increasing the amount of protein.Offprint requests to: Z. Duvnjak     

Modeling the enzymatic transformation of 3,5-dimethoxy,4-hydroxy cinnamic acid by polyphenoloxidase from the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor

A mechanism for transforming sinapic acid by a polyphenoloxidase from Trametes versicolor was investigated using changes in sinapic acid and oxygen concentrations during the reaction. The experiments were performed in a closed system without supplemental oxygen. The effects of temperature and initial oxygen concentration on the reaction rates were examined. To compare the obtained results with those from spectrophotometric studies, some runs were performed using an open system with supplemental oxygen. Sinapic acid transformation can be described by the Theorell-Chance Bi-Bi or Ordered Bi-Bi mechanisms. This reacting system consisted also of additional enzymatic reactions between the products of sinapic acid transformation and oxygen. A mathematical model was developed using four ordinary differential equations that represent the Theorell-Chance Bi-Bi mechanism with three alternate substrates. Model parameters (i.e., rate constants) were determined using the data collected at three different temperatures. On the basis of the transition state theory, relationships between these constants and temperature were established. It is shown that, in the open system, the observed change in the enzyme activity at higher temperatures was caused by two opposing phenomena: an Arrhenius effect which increased the rate, and a solubility effect which reduced the rate due to a lower oxygen concentration. This finding allows us to recommend better conditions for spectrophotometric methods, the assay most commonly used to evaluate this and similar enzymes. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effect of phosphate concentration on phytase production and the reduction of phytic acid content in canola meal by Aspergillus carbonarius during a solid-state fermentation process

The use of canola meal, an abundant side-product of canola oil processing in Canada, as animal feed is hampered by high phytic acid levels that reduce metal cation availability. Aspergillus carbonarius grows well in a solid canola meal medium, produces phytase and reduces the phytic acid content to zero. Inorganic phosphate addition at a concentration of 1 mg and 5 mg/110 g solid-state culture system results in better growth of the microorganism, higher rates and levels of phytase production, and faster reduction of phytic acid content. Phosphate concentrations of 50mg and 100 mg/110 g inoculated system had a negative effect affecting primarily the initial rates of biomass and phytase production and phytic acid content reduction. Models that predict biomass production (expressed as glucosamine content) and phytase, as well as the reduction of phytic acid content in the solid-state cultures supplemented with phosphate are reported. They fit the experimental results reasonably well (with a maximum deviation of 7%).     

The effect of feeding expeller-pressed canola meal on growth performance and diet nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs

The effects of feeding increasing levels of expeller-pressed (EP) canola meal in substitution for soybean meal as an energy and amino acid source were evaluated in 240 weaned pigs with an initial body weight of 7.3 ± 0.6 kg. Five pelleted wheat-based diets containing 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 g EP canola meal/kg were formulated to contain 10.0 MJ net energy (NE)/kg and 1.18 g standardised ileal digestible (SID) lysine/MJ NE and were fed for 4 wk starting 1 wk after weaning at 19 days of age. Expeller-pressed canola meal was added at the expense of soybean meal and the diets were balanced for NE using canola oil and for amino acids using crystalline lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan. Increasing inclusion of EP canola meal linearly reduced (P<0.001) the apparent total tract digestibility of energy, dry matter and crude protein and the digestible energy content of diets. From 0 to 28 days on trial, increasing inclusion of EP canola meal did not affect body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency. In conclusion, up to 200 g EP canola meal/kg can replace soybean meal in diets formulated to equal NE and SID amino acid content and fed to nursery pigs starting 1 wk after weaning without reducing growth performance.     

Modifications in lignin and accumulation of phenolic glucosides in poplar xylem upon down-regulation of caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase, an enzyme involved in lignin biosynthesis

Caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) methylates, in vitro, caffeoyl-CoA and 5-hydroxyferuloyl-CoA, two possible precursors in monolignol biosynthesis in vivo. To clarify the in vivo role of CCoAOMT in lignin biosynthesis, transgenic poplars with 10% residual CCoAOMT protein levels in the stem xylem were generated. Upon analysis of the xylem, the affected transgenic lines had a 12% reduced Klason lignin content, an 11% increased syringyl/guaiacyl ratio in the noncondensed lignin fraction, and an increase in lignin-attached p-hydroxybenzoate but otherwise a lignin composition similar to that of wild type. Stem xylem of the CCoAOMT-down-regulated lines had a pink-red coloration, which coincided with an enhanced fluorescence of mature vessel cell walls. The reduced production of CCoAOMT caused an accumulation of O(3)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-caffeic acid, O(4)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-vanillic acid, and O(4)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-sinapic acid (GSA), as authenticated by (1)H NMR. Feeding experiments showed that O(3)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-caffeic acid and GSA are storage or detoxification products of caffeic and sinapic acid, respectively. The observation that down-regulation of CCoAOMT decreases lignin amount whereas GSA accumulates to 10% of soluble phenolics indicates that endogenously produced sinapic acid is not a major precursor in syringyl lignin biosynthesis. Our in vivo results support the recently obtained in vitro enzymatic data that suggest that the route from caffeic acid to sinapic acid is not used for lignin biosynthesis.     

Stability of a polyphenol oxidase from the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor in the presence of canola meal

The stability of a polyphenol oxidase (PPO) preparation from the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor during a process for the enzymatic decrease of the phenolic content of commercial canola meal (CM) was investigated. The effects of temperature, pH, protein origin and concentration, and meal particles were considered. The results showed that the thermal stability of the enzyme preparation was significantly increased in the presence of CM. The half-life times for the enzyme preparation, pre-incubated with CM at 50, 60, 70 and 75°C, were 45, 10.5, 3.5 and 1.5 hours, respectively; this represents an increase in the thermal stability of the enzyme preparation of up to four times in the presence of CM compared to the stability in the absence of CM. This effect was caused by the protective actions of both the CM particles and CM proteins, with the former responsible for 90% of the observed effect. The thermal stability of the enzyme in the presence of CM, from which 20% of the extractable proteins was extracted, was 5% lower compared to the stability in the presence of untreated CM. Changes in pH level from 5.0 to 3.2 resulted in a loss of stability comparable to that observed when the pre-incubation temperature was increased from 50 to 70°C. A semi-empirical model describing the changes in the concentration of the active enzyme pre-incubated in the presence and absence of CM at various incubation temperatures was proposed. A very good agreement between the model and experimental data was obtained. The proposed model, together with a general set of model parameters, can be used as a tool for the optimization of a process for the upgrade of CM by enzymatically decreasing the meal's phenolic content.     

Enzymatic synthesis of structured phenolic lipids by incorporation of selected phenolic acids into triolein

The synthesis of structured phenolic lipids by lipase-catalyzed transesterification of selected phenolic acids, including p-hydroxyphenyl acetic, p-coumaric, sinapic, ferulic and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids, with triolein was investigated. The highest enzymatic activity (248 nmol esterified phenolic acid/g solid enzyme/min) and bioconversion (62%) was obtained for the transesterification of p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid with triolein. In addition, the transesterification of p-coumaric with triolein resulted in a higher enzymatic activity (87 nmol esterified phenolic acid/g solid enzyme/min) and bioconversion (46%) than those obtained for the transesterfication of ferulic and sinapic acids. The results also showed that using p-hydroxyphenyl acetic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids as substrate, the maximum bioconversion of phenolic monoacylglycerols was close to that of phenolic diacylglycerols. Although p-coumaric acid had very low radical scavenging activity (2%) compared to that of ferulic acid (62%), the p-coumaroylated lipids demonstrated a higher scavenging potency (16%) than that of the feruloylated one (10%).     

Phytic acid content reduction in canola meal by various microorganisms in a solid state fermentation process

Solid state fermentation of canola meal has been carried out for the reduction of its phytic acid content using the following microorganisms: Rhizopus oligosporus NRRL 2990, Aspergillus niger NRC 5765 and NRC 401 121, Aspergillus ficuum NRRL 3135 and a wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. The results showed that all these microorganisms can be used for the reduction of the phytic acid content in the tested material. A. ficuum which completely hydrolyzed the phytic acid in 48 hours was the most efficient. Buffered systems, aeration and an increase in inoculum concentration caused faster and higher reduction of phytic acid content in canola meal.     

Heat treatment of soybean meal and rapeseed meal suppresses rumen degradation of phytate phosphorus in sheep

The effect of heat treatment on rumen degradation of phytate in soybean meal and rapeseed meal was studied on three sheep fitted with rumen cannula. Soybean meal and rapeseed meal were roasted at 133°, 143° or 153°C for 3 h and the rumen degradation of phytate phosphorus in untreated and heat treated oilseed meals was examined using the nylon-bag technique. Effective degradability of phytate phosphorus in soybean and rapeseed meals, estimated at ruminal outflow rates of 0.02, 0.05 and 0.08 h⁻¹, was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by heat treatment. The reduction was more marked in rapeseed meal than in soybean meal. These results suggest that heat processing of oilseed meals suppresses phytate degradation in the rumen and leads to a low availability of dietary phytate phosphorus.     

Scopoletin and Polyphenol-Induced Lag in Peroxidase Catalyzed Oxidation of Indole-3-acetic Acid

The rate of initial indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) oxidation with horseradish peroxidase is modified with scopoletin, scopolin and other phenolic derivatives. In the presence of phenolics there is an initial lag phase in the oxidation. The early lag is dissipated enzymatically after which the rale of IAA oxidation again returns to normal. Chlorogenic and sinapic acids produce the longest lag periods of the compounds reported here, whereas the glucoside, scopolin, produced the least inhibition. Scopoletin is more than 10× as inhibitory as scopolin.     

Enzymatic synthesis of structured phenolic lipids by incorporation of selected phenolic acids into triolein

The synthesis of structured phenolic lipids by lipase-catalyzed transesterification of selected phenolic acids, including p-hydroxyphenyl acetic, p-coumaric, sinapic, ferulic and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids, with triolein was investigated. The highest enzymatic activity (248?nmol esterified phenolic acid/g solid enzyme/min) and bioconversion (62%) was obtained for the transesterification of p-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid with triolein. In addition, the transesterification of p-coumaric with triolein resulted in a higher enzymatic activity (87?nmol esterified phenolic acid/g solid enzyme/min) and bioconversion (46%) than those obtained for the transesterfication of ferulic and sinapic acids. The results also showed that using p-hydroxyphenyl acetic, p-coumaric and ferulic acids as substrate, the maximum bioconversion of phenolic monoacylglycerols was close to that of phenolic diacylglycerols. Although p-coumaric acid had very low radical scavenging activity (2%) compared to that of ferulic acid (62%), the p-coumaroylated lipids demonstrated a higher scavenging potency (16%) than that of the feruloylated one (10%).     

31P NMR analysis of red blood cell UDPGlucose and UDPGalactose: comparison with HPLC and enzymatic methods.

The levels of uridine diphosphogalactose (UDPGal) and uridine diphosphoglucose (UDPGlu) in trichloroacetic acid extracts of human red blood cells (RBC) were measured by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Individual determinations were compared to results obtained by enzymatic and high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods. The characteristic doublet of the P beta resonance signals of both UDPGal and UDPGlu were detected in proton-decoupled spectra of extracts. Quantitative analyses were obtained by employing a standard, methylene diphosphonate, in an external capillary tube during data acquisition for periods of 14 to 24 h using an "inverse-gated" pulse sequence. The ratio of the integrated area of each of the uridine sugar nucleotide doublets to the area of the external reference peak was linear with concentrations between 0.03 and 0.50 mM. There was no difference between the mean value obtained by 31P NMR of 6.6 +/- 1.4 mumol UDPGlu/100 g Hgb or 2.1 +/- 0.6 mumol UDPGal/100 gHgb and the corresponding levels determined enzymatically or by HPLC in identical RBC extracts. When analyzed as paired data, only UDPGlu by NMR was found to be lower than the value obtained by HPLC. As a quantitative analytical tool, NMR spectrometry validated both the enzymatic and HPLC methods used for measurement of uridine sugar nucleotides in our laboratories.     

Fungal delignification of lignocellulosic biomass improves the saccharification of cellulosics

The biological delignification of lignocellulosic feedstocks, Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara was carried out with Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, a white rot fungus, at different scales under solid-state fermentation (SSF) and the fungal treated substrates were evaluated for their acid and enzymatic saccharification. The fungal fermentation at 10.0 g substrate level optimally delignified the P. juliflora by 11.89% and L. camara by 8.36%, and enriched their holocellulose content by 3.32 and 4.87%, respectively, after 15 days. The fungal delignification when scaled up from 10.0 g to 75.0, 200.0 and 500.0 g substrate level, the fungus degraded about 7.69–10.08% lignin in P. juliflora and 6.89–7.31% in L. camara, and eventually enhanced the holocellulose content by 2.90–3.97 and 4.25–4.61%, respectively. Furthermore, when the fungal fermented L. camara and P. juliflora was hydrolysed with dilute sulphuric acid, the sugar release was increased by 21.4-42.4% and the phenolics content in hydrolysate was decreased by 18.46 and 19.88%, as compared to the unfermented substrate acid hydrolysis, respectively. The reduction of phenolics in acid hydrolysates of fungal treated substrates decreased the amount of detoxifying material (activated charcoal) by 25.0–33.0% as compared to the amount required to reduce almost the same level of phenolics from unfermented substrate hydrolysates. Moreover, an increment of 21.1–25.1% sugar release was obtained when fungal treated substrates were enzymatically hydrolysed as compared to the hydrolysis of unfermented substrates. This study clearly shows that fungal delignification holds potential in utilizing plant residues for the production of sugars and biofuels.     

A review of processing of feed ingredients to enhance diet digestibility in finfish

Replacement of fish meal with plant proteins in aquaculture diets presents several problems. Firstly, aquaculture diets, particularly diets for carnivorous fish species, are nutrient dense and may contain up to 450 g crude protein (CP)/kg. Such diets preclude the use of ingredients with only moderate CP content, such as pulses including peas and faba beans or oilseed meals including canola/rapeseed meal and flax. Secondly, virtually all crops contain heat-labile and heat-stable secondary compounds including protease inhibitors, tannins, lectins, phytate, dietary fibre and starch. Removal of heat-labile secondary compounds may be accomplished by extrusion or other heat treatment. However, elimination of heat-stable secondary compounds, and increasing the nutrient concentration of diets, requires fractionation of crops. Fractionation technologies range from low technology processes such as dehulling to medium technologies such as air classification to sophisticated technologies such as aqueous and solvent protein purification. Studies on the nutritional value of processed plant proteins in various fish species have consistently shown improved digestibility and growth compared to feeding unprocessed ingredients. This review examines effects of processing technologies on nutritional properties of soybean meal, canola meal, peas, lupins and flax in aquaculture diets.     

Feeding‐induced phenol production in Capsicum annuum L. influences Spodoptera litura F. larval growth and physiology

We studied the role of induced plant phenols as a defense response to insect herbivory. Phenolic compounds were induced in Capsicum annuum L., the source of many culinary peppers, after feeding by different stages of the insect pest, Spodoptera litura F. The phenols were identified and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and effects produced by these phenols on larval development were studied. Vanillic acid was identified in plants challenged by second, fourth, and fifth instar larvae, but not in plants challenged by third instar nor unchallenged plants. Syringic acid production was induced in chili plants infested with second (0.429 ± 0.003 μg/g fresh weight, fourth (0.396 ± 0.01 μg/g fresh weight), and fifth instar (5.5 ± 0.06 μg/g fresh weight) larvae, compared to untreated plants (0.303 ± 0.01 μg/g fresh weight) plants. Leaves surface treated with the rutin deterred oviposition. Dietary exposure to chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, sinapic acid, and rutin led to enhanced activities of detoxifying enzymes, β‐glucosidase, carboxyl esterase, glutathione S‐transferase, and glutathione reductase in the midgut tissues of all the larval instars, indicating the toxic nature of these compounds. Protein carbonyl content and acetylcholinesterase activity was analyzed to appreciate the role of induced plant phenols in insect protein oxidation and terminating nerve impulses.     

Radical scavenging potential of phenolics from Bryophyllum pinnatum (LAM.) OKEN

Optimization of the extraction process of phenolics from Bryophyllum pinnatum was carried out using response-surface methodology (RSM). The effect of different variables such as ratio of solvents, plant material/solvent ratio, extraction time, and temperature were investigated. An optimal phenolics yield of 7.952 mg/g gallic acid equivalence (GAE) was achieved at reduced levels of methanol/water ratio (1:1, v/v). During optimization, the product yield was enhanced by ～2-fold at reduced extraction solvent (methanol/water) up to 37%. Validation of the RSM model for extraction of total phenolic content (TPC) was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The obtained experimental values were in good agreement with the predicted values, thereby indicating the appropriateness of the model generated. Phenolic extracts from B. pinnatum were further examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) methods for determining the radical scavenging activities. EC(50) values of B. pinnatum extracts (BPEs) obtained by these methods were in accordance with the amount of phenolics present in the extract. Significant correlation was found between total phenolic content and antioxidant activities (p < 0.05).     

The hyper-fluorescent trichome phenotype of the brt1 mutant of Arabidopsis is the result of a defect in a sinapic acid: UDPG glucosyltransferase

Sinapoylmalate is a major phenylpropanoid that is accumulated in Arabidopsis. Its presence causes the adaxial surface of leaves to fluoresce blue under UV light, and mutations that lead to lower levels of sinapoylmalate decrease UV-induced leaf fluorescence. The Arabidopsis bright trichomes 1 (brt1) mutant was first identified in a screen for mutants that exhibit a reduced epidermal fluorescence phenotype; however, subsequent examination of the mutant revealed that its trichomes are hyper-fluorescent. The results from genetic mapping and complementation analyses showed that BRT1 (At3g21560) encodes UGT84A2, a glucosyltransferase previously shown to be capable of using sinapic acid as a substrate. Residual levels of sinapoylmalate and sinapic acid:UDP-glucose glucosyltransferase activity in brt1 leaves suggest that BRT1 is one member of a family of partially redundant glycosyltransferases that function in Arabidopsis sinapate ester biosynthesis. RT-PCR analysis showed that BRT1 is expressed through all stages of plant life cycle, a result consistent with the impact of the brt1 mutation on both leaf sinapoylmalate levels and seed sinapoylcholine content. Finally, the compound accumulated in brt1 trichomes was identified as a sinapic acid-derived polyketide, indicating that when sinapic acid glycosylation is reduced, a portion of it is instead activated to its CoA thioester, which then serves as a substrate for chalcone synthase.