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. 1973 Dec;52(6):651–654. doi: 10.1104/pp.52.6.651

The Biosynthesis of (+)-Tartaric Acid in Pelargonium crispum1

George Wagner a, F Loewus a
PMCID: PMC366564  PMID: 16658623

Abstract

Metabolic conversion of l-galactono-1, 4-lactone and l-ascorbic acid to (+)-tartaric acid and oxalic acid has been studied in Pelargonium crispum, cv. Prince Rupert. Experiments with specifically labeled substrates suggest a path of conversion involving cleavage of l-ascorbic acid, or a metabolic product of l-ascorbic acid, between C2 and C3, such that oxalic acid arises from the two carbon fragment and (+)-tartaric acid from the four carbon fragment.

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Selected References

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