FACILE ENZYMATIC-SYNTHESIS OF CAFFEOYL COA

p-Hydroxycinnamic acid:CoA ligase (EC 6.2.1.12) was extracted from asp en xylem and its activity with several cinnamic acids was determined. The highest activity was found with p-hydroxycinnamic acid and the ext ract had reasonable activity with ferulic, caffeic and 5-hydroxyferuli c acids but none with sinapic acid. Using this isolated enzyme prepara tion, caffeoyl CoA was synthesized and subsequently purified using rev ersed phase C-18 solid phase extraction. This enzymic synthesis method , which yielded 40% product, is rapid and simple and provides a cost-e ffective alternative to the use of commercial acyl CoA ligase. Copyrig ht (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.