Inactivation of pea genes by RNAi supports the involvement of two similar O-methyltransferases in the biosynthesis of (+)-pisatin and of chiral intermediates with a configuration opposite that found in (+)-pisatin

RNAi was used to confirm that the biosynthesis of the pterocarpan (+)-pisatin involves chiral intermediates with opposite configuration to that found at C-6a in (+)-pisatin. Cell free extracts convert a chiral isoflavan-4-ol to an achiral symmetrical isoflavene, which might serve as the intermediate through which the configuration is changed to that found in (+)-pisatin.