Abstract
Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), which is known to have a variety of terpene-hydroxylating activities, was screened for a P450 mono-oxygenase to convert (+)-valencene to (+)-nootkatone. A novel P450 cDNA was identified in a chicory root EST library. Co-expression of the enzyme with a valencene synthase in yeast, led to formation of trans-nootkatol, cis-nootkatol and (+)-nootkatone. The novel enzyme was also found to catalyse a three step conversion of germacrene A to germacra-1(10),4,11(13)-trien-12-oic acid, indicating its involvement in chicory sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis. Likewise, amorpha-4,11-diene was converted to artemisinic acid. Surprisingly, the chicory P450 has a different regio-specificity on (+)-valencene compared to germacrene A and amorpha-4,11-diene
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 178-182 |
Journal | FEBS Letters |
Volume | 585 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- functional-characterization
- yeast expression
- nootkatone
- valencene
- biosynthesis
- sesquiterpenes
- artemisinin
- synthase
- cloning