Publications

• Vitis vinifera terpenoid cyclases: functional identification of two sesquiterpene synthase cDNAs encoding (+)-valencene synthase and (-)-germacrene D synthase and expression of mono- and sesquiterpene synthases in grapevine flowers and berries.

  Lucker J., Bowen P., Bohlmann J.

  Valencene is a volatile sesquiterpene emitted from flowers of grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. A full-length cDNA from the cultivar Gewürztraminer was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli and found to encode valencene synthase (VvVal). The two major products formed by recombinant VvVal enzyme ac ... >> More

  Valencene is a volatile sesquiterpene emitted from flowers of grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. A full-length cDNA from the cultivar Gewürztraminer was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli and found to encode valencene synthase (VvVal). The two major products formed by recombinant VvVal enzyme activity with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) as substrate are (+)-valencene and (-)-7-epi-alpha-selinene. Grapevine valencene synthase is closely related to a second sesquiterpene synthase from this species, (-)-germacrene D synthase (VvGerD). VvVal and VvGerD cDNA probes revealed strong signals in Northern hybridizations with RNA isolated from grapevine flower buds. Transcript levels were lower in open pre-anthesis flowers, flowers after anthesis, or at early onset of fruit development. Similar results were obtained using a third probe, (-)-alpha-terpineol synthase, a monoterpenol synthase. Sesquiterpene synthase and monoterpene synthase transcripts were not detected in the mesocarp and exocarp during early stages of fruit development, but transcripts hybridizing with VvVal appeared during late ripening of the berries. Sesquiterpene synthase transcripts were also detected in young seeds. << Less

  Phytochemistry 65:2649-2659(2004) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 3 other entries.

• Mechanism and stereochemistry of the germacradienol/germacrene D synthase of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).

  He X., Cane D.E.

  Incubation of farnesyl diphosphate (1, FPP) with recombinant germacradienol synthase from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) gave, in addition to (4S,7R)-germacra-1(10)E,5E-diene-11-ol (2), 15% of (-)-germacrene D (5). Incubations of [1,1-2H2]FPP (1a), (1R)-[1-2H]FPP (1b), and (1S)-[1-2H]FPP (1c) with ... >> More

  Incubation of farnesyl diphosphate (1, FPP) with recombinant germacradienol synthase from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) gave, in addition to (4S,7R)-germacra-1(10)E,5E-diene-11-ol (2), 15% of (-)-germacrene D (5). Incubations of [1,1-2H2]FPP (1a), (1R)-[1-2H]FPP (1b), and (1S)-[1-2H]FPP (1c) with germacradienol/germacrene D synthase and analysis of the resulting samples of germacradienol (2) and germacrene D (5) by a combination of 1H, 2H, and 13C NMR and mass spectrometry established that it is H-1si of FPP that is lost in the formation of germacradienol (2) and that undergoes 1,3-hydride transfer in the formation of (-)-germacrene D (5). The proportion of the two products was also sensitive to isotopic labeling, with cyclization of (1S)-[1-2H]FPP (1c) giving an increased proportion (35%) of 5. These results could be explained by a mechanism involving partitioning of a common helminthogermacradienyl cation intermediate 7. << Less

  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126:2678-2679(2004) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Expression and mechanistic analysis of a germacradienol synthase from Streptomyces coelicolor implicated in geosmin biosynthesis.

  Cane D.E., Watt R.M.

  The PCR has been used to amplify a 2,181-bp ORF from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), designated SC9B1.20 (= SCO6073), encoding a protein of 726 amino acids and showing significant sequence similarity at the deduced amino acid level in both the N-terminal and C-terminal halves to the known sesquiter ... >> More

  The PCR has been used to amplify a 2,181-bp ORF from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), designated SC9B1.20 (= SCO6073), encoding a protein of 726 amino acids and showing significant sequence similarity at the deduced amino acid level in both the N-terminal and C-terminal halves to the known sesquiterpene synthase pentalenene synthase. The full-length recombinant protein was expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli and shown to catalyze the Mg(2+)-dependent conversion of farnesyl diphosphate to the sesquiterpene alcohol (4S, 7R)-germacra-1 (10)E, 5E-diene-11-ol. The enzymatic cyclization had a k(cat) of 6.2 +/-0.5 x 10(-3) s(-1) and a K(m) for farnesyl diphosphate of 62 +/-8 nM. Expression of the N-terminal (366 amino acids) domain of the SC9B1.20 protein also gave a fully functional cyclase which converted farnesyl diphosphate to the identical sesquiterpene alcohol with a slightly lower k(cat) of 3.2 +/- 0.4 x 10(-3) s(-1) and a twofold greater k(m) of 115 +/-14 nM. By contrast, the expressed C-terminal domain of SC9B1.20 had no farnesyl diphosphate cyclase activity. The formation of the germacradienol seems to be the committed step in the formation of geosmin, the characteristic odoriferous constituent of Streptomyces species. << Less

  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100:1547-1551(2003) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• PCR-targeted Streptomyces gene replacement identifies a protein domain needed for biosynthesis of the sesquiterpene soil odor geosmin.

  Gust B., Challis G.L., Fowler K., Kieser T., Chater K.F.

  Streptomycetes are high G+C Gram-positive, antibiotic-producing, mycelial soil bacteria. The 8.7-Mb Streptomyces coelicolor genome was previously sequenced by using an ordered library of Supercos-1 clones. Here, we describe an efficient procedure for creating precise gene replacements in the cosmi ... >> More

  Streptomycetes are high G+C Gram-positive, antibiotic-producing, mycelial soil bacteria. The 8.7-Mb Streptomyces coelicolor genome was previously sequenced by using an ordered library of Supercos-1 clones. Here, we describe an efficient procedure for creating precise gene replacements in the cosmid clones by using PCR targeting and lambda-Red-mediated recombination. The cloned Streptomyces genes are replaced with a cassette containing a selectable antibiotic resistance and oriT(RK2) for efficient transfer to Streptomyces by RP4-mediated intergeneric conjugation. Supercos-1 does not replicate in Streptomyces, but the clones readily undergo double-crossover recombination, thus creating gene replacements. The antibiotic resistance cassettes are flanked by yeast FLP recombinase target sequences for removal of the antibiotic resistance and oriT(RK2) to generate unmarked, nonpolar mutations. The technique has been used successfully by >20 researchers to mutate around 100 Streptomyces genes. As an example, we describe its application to the discovery of a gene involved in the production of geosmin, the ubiquitous odor of soil. The gene, Sco6073 (cyc2), codes for a protein with two sesquiterpene synthase domains, only one of which is required for geosmin biosynthesis, probably via a germacra-1 (10) E,5E-dien-11-ol intermediate generated by the sesquiterpene synthase from farnesyl pyrophosphate. << Less

  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100:1541-1546(2003) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Geosmin biosynthesis. Streptomyces coelicolor germacradienol/germacrene D synthase converts farnesyl diphosphate to geosmin.

  Jiang J., He X., Cane D.E.

  Geosmin is responsible for the characteristic odor of moist soil. Incubation of recombinant germacradienol synthase, encoded by the SCO6073 (SC9B1.20) gene of the Gram-positive soil bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor, with farnesyl diphosphate (2, FPP) in the presence of Mg2+ gave a mixture of (4S, ... >> More

  Geosmin is responsible for the characteristic odor of moist soil. Incubation of recombinant germacradienol synthase, encoded by the SCO6073 (SC9B1.20) gene of the Gram-positive soil bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor, with farnesyl diphosphate (2, FPP) in the presence of Mg2+ gave a mixture of (4S,7R)-germacra-1(10)E,5E-diene-11-ol (3) (74%), (-)-(7S)-germacrene D (4) (10%), geosmin (1) (13%), and a hydrocarbon, tentatively assigned the structure of octalin 5 (3%). Individual incubations of recombinant germacradienol synthase with [1,1-2H2]FPP (2a), (1R)-[1-2H]-FPP (2b), and (1S)-[1-2H]-FPP (2c), as well as with FPP (2) in D2O, and GC-MS analysis of the resulting deuterated products supported a mechanism of geosmin formation involving proton-initiated cyclization and retro-Prins fragmentation of the initially formed germacradienol to give intermediate 5, followed by protonation of 5, 1,2-hydride shift, and capture of water. << Less

  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128:8128-8129(2006) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 4 other entries.