Biosynthetic origin of 2,3-epoxysesamone in a Sesamum indicum hairy root culture.

The incorporation of [1-(13)C]glucose into 2,3-epoxysesamone, the main prenylnaphthoquinone in a hairy root culture of Sesamum indicum, indicated that the naphthoquinone moiety and dimethylallyl group were respectively derived from o-succinylbenzoate produced through a shikimate pathway and non-mevalonate pathway. The labeling pattern also demonstrated that prenylation occurred at C-2 in 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate.