Abstract
The active turnover of chlorogenic acid (3-caffeoylquinic acid(3)), a major phenolic component of Xanthium leaves and potato tuber disks, has been demonstrated in these tissues. Pulse-labelling experiments with radioactive l-phenylalanine and trans-cinnamic acid as well as direct feeding experiments with chlorogenic acid-(14)C labelled in the caffeoyl moiety have been employed in the turnover studies. The rate of turnover is calculated to be on the order of 50 to 100 mmumoles per hour per gram fresh weight of tissue.In Xanthium leaves chlorogenic acid is in part converted to an isochlorogenic acid identified by silica gel chromatography as 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Radioactivity of the caffeoyl moiety of chlorogenic acid is also incorporated into lignin-like insoluble polymers in the leaf. Turnover of chlorogenic acid in tuber tissue is largely accounted for by the incorporation of the caffeoyl moiety into insoluble polymers in the tissue.The significance of chlorogenic acid turnover is discussed in relation to the perception of the photoperiodic stimulus by leaves and to the possible role of chlorogenic acid in lignin synthesis.