achieved is not well understood at this time. However, since no reaction proceeds in the absence of oxidative enzymes, dirigent protein does not itself appear to catalyze the oxidation of coniferyl alcohol to form radicals.

The activity of dirigent protein from Forsythia intermedia is specific to coniferyl alcohol. When other monolignols, such as p-coumaryl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol, are reacted in vitro