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Plant Physiol

Title:		Floral scent production in Clarkia breweri. III. Enzymatic synthesis and emission of benzenoid esters
Author(s):		Dudareva N; Raguso RA; Wang J; Ross JR; Pichersky E;
Address:		"Department of Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1048, USA"
Journal Title:		Plant Physiol
Year:		1998
Volume:		116
Issue:		2
Page Number:		599 - 604
DOI:		10.1104/pp.116.2.599
ISSN/ISBN:		0032-0889 (Print) 1532-2548 (Electronic) 0032-0889 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The fragrance of Clarkia breweri (Onagraceae), a California annual plant, includes three benzenoid esters: benzylacetate, benzylbenzoate, and methylsalicylate. Here we report that petal tissue was responsible for the benzylacetate and methylsalicylate emission, whereas the pistil was the main source of benzylbenzoate. The activities of two novel enzymes, acetyl-coenzyme A:benzylalcohol acetyltransferase (BEAT), which catalyzes the acetyl esterification of benzylalcohol, and S-adenosyl-L-methionine:salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase, which catalyzes the methyl esterification of salicylic acid, were also highest in petal tissue and absent in leaves. In addition, the activity of both enzymes in the various floral organs was developmentally and differentially regulated. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine:salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase activity in petals peaked in mature buds and declined during the next few days after anthesis, and it showed a strong, positive correlation with the emission of methylsalicylate. The levels of BEAT activity and benzylacetate emission in petals also increased in parallel as the buds matured and the flowers opened, but as emission began to decline on the 2nd d after anthesis, BEAT activity continued to increase and remained high until the end of the lifespan of the flower"
Keywords:		Acetyltransferases/*metabolism Esters/*metabolism Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Kinetics Methyltransferases/*metabolism Plant Development Plants/enzymology/*metabolism;
Notes:		"MedlineDudareva, N Raguso, R A Wang, J Ross, J R Pichersky, E eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1998/03/07 Plant Physiol. 1998 Feb; 116(2):599-604. doi: 10.1104/pp.116.2.599"