Key step for biosynthesis of vitamin C uncovered

Research Lead

Researchers from Wageningen University and the universities of Groningen and Pavia (Italy), have elucidated the key mechanism involved in the natural production of vitamin C, a complex process that occurs in plants, fungi and many animals.

While this discovery opens the way to the biosynthesis of vitamin C, there is a chemical synthesis route that is cheaper and yields an identical product. However, the researchers note the mechanism they have uncovered is also applicable to similar biochemical reactions, for example, the preparation of vanilla. They say it may also be relevant to biosynthesis of other products.