Reaction: (2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate + H2O = (3S,6E)-nerolidol + diphosphate
For diagram of reaction click here.
Glossary: (3S,6E)-nerolidol = (3R,6E)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,6,10-trien-3-ol
Other name(s): (E)-nerolidol synthase; nerolidol synthase; (3S)-(E)-nerolidol synthase; FaNES1
Systematic name: (2E,6E)-farnesyl-diphosphate diphosphate-lyase [(3S,6E)-nerolidol-forming]
Comments: The enzyme catalyses a step in the formation of 4,8-dimethyl-1,3(E),7-nonatriene, a key signal molecule in induced plant defense mediated by the attraction of enemies of herbivores [2]. Nerolidol is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene found in the essential oils of many types of plants.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Aharoni, A., Giri, A.P., Verstappen, F.W., Bertea, C.M., Sevenier, R., Sun, Z., Jongsma, M.A., Schwab, W. and Bouwmeester, H.J. Gain and loss of fruit flavor compounds produced by wild and cultivated strawberry species. Plant Cell 16 (2004) 3110-3131. [PMID: 15522848]
2. Bouwmeester, H.J., Verstappen, F.W., Posthumus, M.A. and Dicke, M. Spider mite-induced (3S)-(E)-nerolidol synthase activity in cucumber and lima bean. The first dedicated step in acyclic C11-homoterpene biosynthesis. Plant Physiol. 121 (1999) 173-180. [PMID: 10482672]
3. Degenhardt, J. and Gershenzon, J. Demonstration and characterization of (E)-nerolidol synthase from maize: a herbivore-inducible terpene synthase participating in (3E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene biosynthesis. Planta 210 (2000) 815-822. [PMID: 10805454]
4. Arimura, G., Garms, S., Maffei, M., Bossi, S., Schulze, B., Leitner, M., Mithofer, A. and Boland, W. Herbivore-induced terpenoid emission in Medicago truncatula: concerted action of jasmonate, ethylene and calcium signaling. Planta 227 (2008) 453-464. [PMID: 17924138]