The biosynthesis of cyanogenic glucosides in Linum usitatissimum (linen flax) in Vitro

Microsomal preparations from dark-grown Linum usitatissimum (linen flax) seedlings synthesize acetone cyanohydrin, the precursor of the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin, from valine in the presence of NADPH. N-Hydroxyvaline and isobutyraldoxime, which are predicted intermediates in the pathway, are also converted into products. These microsomal preparations also convert isoleucine into 2-butanone cyanohydrin the precursor of lotaustralin. The biosynthetic activity is located exclusively in the developing cotyledons.