Phenylpropanoids

The phenylpropanoids are a family of organic compounds that are synthesized by plants from the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine. Phenylalanine is converted to cinnamic acid by the action of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Some plants, mainly monocotyledonous, use tyrosine to synthesize p-coumaric acid by the action of the bifunctional enzyme Phenylalanine/tyrosine ammonia-lyase (PTAL). This category gathers phenylpropanoid reference materials not listed in the flavonoid, coumarin or chalcone categories.