Coordinate induction by UV light of stilbene synthase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase in leaves of vitaceae.

A stilbene synthase catalyzing the formation of resveratrol from 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA was found in the leaves of several Vitaceae. This stilbene synthase and two other enzymes functioning on the route from phenylalanine to stilbenes were induced concurrently upon irradiation of the leaves with UV light. With leaves of Cissus antarctica, an increase of stilbene synthase activity, more than hundred-fold, was observed with a maximum appearing 15 h after the induction with UV light.