Synthesis of hydroxycinnamic acid esters of betacyanins via 1-O-acylglucosides of hydroxycinnamic acids by protein preparations from cell suspension cultures of Chenopodium rubrum and petals of Lampranthus sociorum.

Protein preparations from cell suspension cultures of Chenopodium rubrum L. and petals of Lampranthus sociorum (L.Bol.) N.E.Br. (Mes.C.L.Bol.) catalyzed the formation of acylated betacyanins, i.e. celosianin I and II (p-coumaroyl-and feruloylamaranthins) and lampranthin I and II (p-coumaroyl- and feruloylbetanins), from 1-O-(p-coumaroyl)-and 1-O-feruloyl-β-glucoses as acyldonors and the respective acceptor molecules amaranthin (betanidin 5-O-sophorobiuronic acid = betanidin 5-O-β-[1″→2']-glucuronosyl-β-glucoside) and betanin (betanidin 5-O-β-glucoside). The enzymes involved could generally be classified as 1-O-hydroxycinnamoyl-β-glucose:betanidinglycoside O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferases (EC 2.3.1.-).