Cloning and functional characterization of a 4-coumarate CoA ligase from liverwort Plagiochasma appendiculatum.

Pa4CL1 showed high activity toward p-coumaric acid, along with the conversion of cinnamic acid and caffeic acid to their corresponding CoA thioesters; in particular, the enzyme participates in the conversion of dihydro-p-coumaric acid into dihydro-p-coumaroyl CoA, which is the precursor for bis-bibenzyl synthesis in liverworts.