Metabolic engineering of monoterpene biosynthesis: two-step production of (+)-trans-isopiperitenol by tobacco

Plant J. 2004 Jul;39(1):135-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2004.02113.x.

Abstract

Monoterpenoid biosynthesis in tobacco was modified by introducing two subsequent enzymatic activities targeted to different cell compartments. A limonene-3-hydroxylase (lim3h) cDNA was isolated from Mentha spicata L. 'Crispa'. This cDNA was used to re-transform a transgenic Nicotiana tabacum'Petit Havana' SR1 (tobacco) line expressing three Citrus limon L. Burm. f. (lemon) monoterpene synthases producing (+)-limonene, gamma-terpinene and (-)-beta-pinene as their main products. The targeting sequences of these synthases indicate that they are probably localized in the plastids, whereas the sequence information of the P450 hydroxylase indicates targeting to the endoplasmatic reticulum. Despite the different location of the enzymes, the introduced P450 hydroxylase proved to be functional in the transgenic plants as it hydroxylated (+)-limonene, resulting in the emission of (+)-trans-isopiperitenol. Some further modifications of the (+)-trans-isopiperitenol were also detected, resulting in the additional emission of 1,3,8-p-menthatriene, 1,5,8-p-menthatriene, p-cymene and isopiperitenone.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Citrus / enzymology
  • Citrus / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / chemical synthesis
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Flowers / enzymology
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Mentha spicata / genetics
  • Mentha spicata / metabolism
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / chemical synthesis
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / genetics
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monoterpenes / chemistry
  • Monoterpenes / metabolism*
  • Nicotiana / genetics*
  • Nicotiana / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Terpenes / chemistry
  • Terpenes / metabolism*
  • Transformation, Genetic
  • Volatilization

Substances

  • Monoterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • isopiperitenol
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • limonene-3-hydroxylase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF124815
  • GENBANK/AF124816
  • GENBANK/AF124817
  • GENBANK/AY622319