Glucosinolate

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/glucosinolate

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the biosynthetic pathway?Involves amino acid precursors, cytochrome P450 enzymes, and glucosyltransferases
2. What is the enzymatic hydrolysis?Catalyzed by myrosinase, yielding glucose and an unstable aglycone
3. What are glucosinolates?They are special molecules found in some vegetables that have a sugar part, a sulfur part, and a side chain from amino acids. They help plants protect themselves.
4. How do glucosinolates make vegetables taste spicy?When a vegetable is cut or chewed, an enzyme called myrosinase mixes with glucosinolates and turns them into compounds like isothiocyanates that give a peppery taste.

Specialized Metabolites: Organic compounds produced by plants that are not essential for basic growth but serve ecological functions.
Myrosinase: A plant enzyme that hydrolyzes glucosinolates upon tissue damage.
Isothiocyanates: A class of pungent organic compounds derived from glucosinolates, known for their biological activity.
Chemoprotective: Having the ability to protect cells from damage caused by chemicals, particularly carcinogens.