The biosynthesis of xanthones was studied in cell cultures of Hypericum androsaemum L. We have detected a new benzophenone synthase, for which the preferred substrate is benzoyl-CoA, itself supplied by 3-hydroxybenzoate:coenzyme A ligase. The stepwise condensation of benzoyl-CoA with three molecules of malonyl-CoA, catalyzed by benzophenone synthase, yields 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone. This intermediate is subsequently converted by benzophenone 3'-hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. These biosynthetic steps, leading to the formation of 2,3',4,6-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, represent an alternative pathway to that recently proposed for cell cultures of Centaurium erythraea [Peters et al., Planta (1997) in press].