Synthesis of polyprenyltolouquinols from homogentisate and polyprenyl pyrophosphates in particulate fractions of Euglena and sugar beet

Chloroplast-rich particles of sugar beet and Euglena gracilis are able to carry out the light-, H(2)O(2)- and O(2)-independent syntheses of a nonaprenyltoluquinol, an octaprenyltoluquinol and a phytyltoluquinol from homogentisate and nonaprenyl, octaprenyl and phytyl pyrophosphate. The formation of these compounds probably takes place by the concomitant polyprenylation (or phytylation) and non-oxidative decarboxylation of homogentisate.