First in vitro norlignan formation with Asparagus officinalis enzyme preparation

We report for the first time that an enzyme preparation from fungal-elicited Asparagus officinalis cultured cells catalyses the formation of a norlignan, (Z)-hinokiresinol, from two non-identical phenylpropanoid monomers, 4-coumaryl alcohol and 4-coumaroyl CoA, and from a dimer, 4-coumaryl 4-coumarate, without any additional cofactors.