SEQUENTIAL EXTRACTION OF DEHYDRODIFERULATES SHOWS HETEROGENEITY IN THEIR DEGREE OF ASSOCIATION WITH ZEA-MAYS COLEOPTILE CELL-WALLS

Sequential extraction of Zea mays coleoptile cell walls with increasin g concentration of potassium hydroxide (1 mM-4 M) rendered different c ell wall fractions soluble: carbohydrate and phenolic analyses of each extracted fraction were performed, Ferulic acid was the main monomeri c phenolic acid extracted from cell walls, while some p-coumaric and 8 -8', 8-5', 8-O-4' and 5-5' dehydrodiferulic acids were also extracted, the 8-8' dimer being the main one extracted by saponification from ma ize coleoptile cell walls. The different potassium hydroxide concentra tions at which the various phenolic acids, both monomeric and dimeric, were extracted showed that they were associated with cell walls at di fferent degrees. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.