Functional identification of AtTPS03 as (E)-beta-ocimene synthase: a monoterpene synthase catalyzing jasmonate- and wound-induced volatile formation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abstract

(E)-beta-Ocimene is one of the most commonly found monoterpenes of the volatile blends that are emitted from leaves in response to damage by herbivores or mechanical wounding. (E)-beta-Ocimene is also a component of many floral scents. Airborne (E)-beta-ocimene emitted from plants can serve as a chemical cue for the attraction of parasitoids or predators of plant herbivores and also as an attractant for pollinating insects. Furthermore, exposure of plants to (E)-beta-ocimene can activate defense gene expression. In this paper, we describe cDNA cloning and functional characterization of a gene encoding a highly specialized (E)-beta-ocimene synthase, AtTPS03, from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. AtTPS03 was identified as a member of the large AtTPS gene family of putative terpene synthases. A cDNA for AtTPS03 was expressed in Escherichia coli and the enzyme function identified in vitro. The A. thaliana (E)-beta-ocimene synthase produces almost exclusively (E)-beta-ocimene (94%) with minor amounts of the related acyclic monoterpenes (Z)-beta-ocimene (4%) and myrcene (2%). Transcripts for AtTPS03 were up-regulated in leaves of Arabidopsis in response to mechanical wounding and treatment with jasmonic acid, concurrent with induced emission of (E)-beta-ocimene. AtTPS03 provides an important gene for probing plant-insect and possibly plant-plant interactions mediated by terpenoid volatiles.

• Authors: Jenny Fäldt, Gen-ichiro Arimura, Jonathan Gershenzon, Junji Takabayashi, Jörg Bohlmann
• Journal: Planta (Planta) Vol. 216 Issue 5 Pg. 745-51 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 0032-0935 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12624761 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Alkenes
• Arabidopsis Proteins
• Cyclopentanes
• DNA, Complementary
• Monoterpenes
• Oxylipins
• beta-ocimene
• jasmonic acid
• Intramolecular Lyases
• TPS10 protein, Arabidopsis

Topics

• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Alkenes (chemistry, metabolism)
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Arabidopsis (enzymology, genetics)
• Arabidopsis Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Cloning, Molecular
• Cyclopentanes (metabolism)
• DNA, Complementary (chemistry, genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
• Intramolecular Lyases (genetics, metabolism)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Monoterpenes (metabolism)
• Oxylipins
• Sequence Analysis, DNA
• Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
• Stress, Mechanical
• Volatilization