Comment on "Discovery of a polyketide carboxylate phytotoxin from a polyketide glycoside hybrid by β-glucosidase mediated ester bond hydrolysis" by X. Wang, D.-K. Kong, H.-R. Zhang, Y. Zou, , 2024, , 17183.

We challenge the conclusion that the β-glucosidase in question directly catalyses hydrolysis of the substrate ester linkage. Rather we propose that this enzyme performs a normal glucoside hydrolysis and that the released aglycone undergoes rearrangement with formation of a quinone methide-like species through spontaneous cleavage of the ester.