Biosynthesis and metabolism of ascorbic acid in plants and of analogs of ascorbic acid in fungi

Despite the plethora of reviews on L-ascorbic acid, few stray beyond its established roles as an agent in redox-associated reactions or its biomedical importance. Here, an attempt is made to draw attention to L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis and metabolism in plants and to structurally similar compounds in fungi. During the decade since this subject was last addressed, a rational view of ascorbic acid biosynthesis has emerged, fresh evidence of a biosynthetic role for L-ascorbic acid in oxalic acid biosynthesis has been gained, and the biosynthetic and metabolic processes associated with ascorbic acid analogs in fungi have been explored. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.