Acyltransferase-catalysed p-coumarate ester formation is a committed step of lignin biosynthesis

An acyltransferase (HCT) catalyses the production of p-coumaroyl-shikimate/quinate esters, the substrates of the 3-hydroxylase involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The heterologously expressed enzyme was shown to transfer the acyl group of p-coumaroyl-CoA to shikimate or quinate. HCT gene silencing in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in changes in lignin amount and composition, thus demonstrating HCT function in planta.