Plant polyketide synthases leading to stilbenoids have a domain catalyzing malonyl-CoA:CO2 exchange, malonyl-CoA decarboxylation, and covalent enzyme modification and a site for chain lengthening.

Stilbene synthases and the related bibenzyl synthases are plant polyketide synthases whose biological functions lie in the formation of antimicrobial phytoalexins. The formation of hydroxystilbenes from one molecule of acyl-CoA and three molecules of malonyl-CoA is catalyzed by a homodimeric 90 kDa protein and includes Claisen condensations and cleavage of a thioester followed by decarboxylation. Combining inhibitor studies, protein modifications, and site-directed mutagenesis, we were able to differentiate between the binding sites for malonyl-CoA and the regions responsible for the selection of the primer, p-coumaroyl-CoA or m-hydroxyphenylpropionyl-CoA, respectively. Mutations in the C-terminal part of the molecule or modification by photolabeling with p-azidocinnamoyl-CoA influence the overall reaction, the formation of hydroxystilbenes, but leave partial reactions, such as the malonyl-CoA:CO2 exchange and the malonyl-CoA-dependent modification of the enzyme, unaffected. Data obtained with several kinds of stilbene synthase and mutant forms suggest that the malonyl-CoA-dependent covalent modification takes place at a cysteine residue in the N-terminal part of the enzyme. Mutations in the C-terminal half of the enzyme molecule do not interfere with the malonyl-CoA-dependent reactions.