Citrus is the world's largest fruit, rich in various healthy and beneficial active substances, among which flavonoids are important functional factors affecting the nutritional quality of citrus fruits. Polymethoxylated flavonoids (PMFs) are unique flavonoids in citrus, synthesized only in a few citrus plants. Numerous studies have shown that PMFs have a wide range of biological activities, with significant activity in antioxidant, anticancer, anti obesity, and anti-inflammatory aspects. Therefore, the analysis of the biosynthetic pathways of citrus PMFs has become a current research hotspot.

 

Recently, Plant Physiology published a research paper online titled "A multifunctional true caffeoyl coenzyme A O-methyltransferase enzyme participates in the biosynthesis of polymethoxylated flavones in citrus", revealing the molecular mechanism by which citrus true CCoAOMT member CsCCoAOMT1 participates in the biosynthesis of citrus PMFs.

 

The research results further improved the biosynthetic mechanism of citrus PMFs, changed people's limited understanding of the specific involvement of true CCoAOMT subgroup members in the lignin pathway, and revealed new functions of true CCoAOMT subgroup members in plants.