Reaction: (2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate + H2O = α-eudesmol + diphosphate
For diagram of reaction click here and mechanism click here
Glossary: (–)-α-eudesmol = 2-[(2R,4aR,8aR)-4a,8-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,8a-octahydronaphthalen-2-yl]propan-2-ol
Systematic name: (2E,6E)-farnesyl-diphosphate diphosphate-lyase (α-eudesmol-forming)
Comments: The recombinant enzyme from ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) gives 62.6% β-eudesmol, 16.8% 10-epi-γ-eudesmol, 10% α-eudesmol, and 5.6% aristolene. cf. EC 4.2.3.68 (β-eudesmol synthase) and EC 4.2.3.84 (10-epi-γ-eudesmol synthase)
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Yu, F., Harada, H., Yamasaki, K., Okamoto, S., Hirase, S., Tanaka, Y., Misawa, N. and Utsumi, R. Isolation and functional characterization of a β-eudesmol synthase, a new sesquiterpene synthase from Zingiber zerumbet Smith. FEBS Lett. 582 (2008) 565-572. [PMID: 18242187]