DIOXYGENASES IN HIGHER PLANTS-A REVIEW

Several pathways have been delineated for the degradation of aromatic compounds in microorganisms and higher animals. However very few reports have appeared in the literature on the elucidation of such, pathways in higher plants. Studies from our laboratory and elsewhere have revealed the occurrence of  several ring cleaving systems in plants. Dioxygenases, such as, indole oxidase, homogenHsate dioxygenase, profocatechuate 3, 4-dioxygenase and pyrocatechuate 2, 3-dioxygenase have been partially purified from plants. The properties of these enzymes have been compared with the microbial enzymes. Our current knowledge on these dioxygenases and other dioxygenases in plants have been reviewed.