Occurrence of positional isomers of dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid in plant cutins and suberins

Abstract

Positional isomers of dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid have been found in cutin and suberin hydrolysates and identified using combined gas chromatography—mass spectrometry of their TMS derivatives. The acid is usually a mixture of the 10,16-, 9,16-, 8,16- and 7,16-isomers which are eluted as a single peak using packed GLC columns. The major isomers are commonly 10,16- and 9,16- with the other isomers occurring in smaller quantities. The implications of the results in the biosynthesis of cutin and suberin are discussed.