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Plant J

Title:		Acetyl-CoA:benzylalcohol acetyltransferase--an enzyme involved in floral scent production in Clarkia breweri
Author(s):		Dudareva N; D'Auria JC; Nam KH; Raguso RA; Pichersky E;
Address:		"Department of Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1048, USA"
Journal Title:		Plant J
Year:		1998
Volume:		14
Issue:		3
Page Number:		297 - 304
DOI:		10.1046/j.1365-313x.1998.00121.x
ISSN/ISBN:		0960-7412 (Print) 0960-7412 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Volatile esters impart distinct characteristics to the floral scent of many plants, and are important in attracting insect pollinators. They are also important flavor compounds in fruits. The ester benzylacetate is a major constituent of the floral scent of Clarkia breweri, an annual plant native to California. The enzyme acetyl-CoA:benzylalcohol acetyltransferase (BEAT), which catalyzes the formation of benzylacetate, has been purified from C. breweri petals, and a cDNA encoding this enzyme has been isolated and characterized. The sequence of the 433-residue BEAT protein does not show high similarity to any previously characterized protein, but a 35-residue region from position 135-163 has significant similarity (42-56% identity) to several proteins known or suspected to use an acyl-CoA substrate. E. coli cells expressing C. breweri BEAT produced enzymatically active protein, and also synthesized benzylacetate and secreted it into the medium. Of the different parts of the C. breweri flower, petals contained the majority of BEAT transcripts, and no BEAT mRNA was detected in leaves. The levels of BEAT mRNA in the petals increased as the bud matured, and peaked at anthesis, paralleling changes in BEAT activity. However, three days after anthesis, mRNA levels began a steep decline, whereas BEAT activity remained high for the next two days, suggesting that the BEAT protein is relatively stable"
Keywords:		"Acetyl Coenzyme A/*metabolism Acetyltransferases/genetics/*metabolism Amino Acid Sequence Base Sequence Blotting, Southern DNA, Complementary Escherichia coli/genetics Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic Gene;"
Notes:		"MedlineDudareva, N D'Auria, J C Nam, K H Raguso, R A Pichersky, E eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. England 1998/06/17 Plant J. 1998 May; 14(3):297-304. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-313x.1998.00121.x"