Fluoroacetic acid Biosynthesis: a Proposed Mechanism

Abstract

A mechanism for the biosynthesis of fluoroacetic acid is presented. This is based on a correlation of phytochemical and taxonomic data together with the established function of pyridoxal phosphate in general amino acid metabolism. Evidence for this hypothesis is based on the reported incorporation of a wide range of synthetic nucleophiles into corresponding j3-substituted alanines by plant homo-genates. Fluoride ion is considered to be an acceptable nucleophile for a non-specific enzyme synthesizing a range of j3-substituted alanines, many of which occur in plants elaborating fluoroacetic acid.