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Phytochemistry

Title:		"Molecular and biochemical evolution of maize terpene synthase 10, an enzyme of indirect defense"
Author(s):		Kollner TG; Gershenzon J; Degenhardt J;
Address:		"Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute for Pharmacy, Hoher Weg 8, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany. Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoll Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany. Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute for Pharmacy, Hoher Weg 8, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany. Electronic address: joerg.degenhardt@pharmazie.uni-halle.de"
Journal Title:		Phytochemistry
Year:		2009
Volume:		20090729
Issue:		9
Page Number:		1139 - 1145
DOI:		10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.011
ISSN/ISBN:		1873-3700 (Electronic) 0031-9422 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Maize plants attacked by lepidopteran larvae emit a volatile mixture that consists mostly of the sesquiterpene olefins, (E)-alpha-bergamotene and (E)-beta-farnesene. These volatiles are produced by the herbivore-induced terpene synthase TPS10 and attract natural enemies to the damaged plants. A survey of volatiles in maize lines and species of teosinte showed that the TPS10 products (E)-alpha-bergamotene and (E)-beta-farnesene are consistently induced by herbivory, indicating that release of TPS10 volatiles is a defense trait conserved among maize and its wild relatives. Sequence comparison of TPS10 from maize and its apparent orthologs from four teosinte species demonstrated stabilizing selection on this defense trait. The teosinte volatiles and the enzymatic activity of the apparent TPS10 orthologs were not completely uniform but varied in the ratio of (E)-alpha-bergamotene to (E)-beta-farnesene products formed. We identified a single amino acid in the active center which determines the ratio of (E)-alpha-bergamotene to (E)-beta-farnesene and has changed during the evolution of maize and teosinte species. Feeding experiments with the substrate (Z,E)-farnesyl diphosphate revealed that this amino acid controls the rate of isomerization of the (E,E)-farnesyl carbocation intermediate to the (Z,E)-configuration"
Keywords:		"Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/genetics/*metabolism Animals Base Sequence Bridged Bicyclo Compounds/chemistry/*pharmacology Chromatography, Gas Feeding Behavior Larva/drug effects Lepidoptera/drug effects/*growth & development Models, Molecular Mutagenesis P;"
Notes:		"MedlineKollner, Tobias G Gershenzon, Jonathan Degenhardt, Jorg eng England 2009/08/04 Phytochemistry. 2009 Jun; 70(9):1139-1145. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.011. Epub 2009 Jul 29"