Reaction: (2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate = δ-guaiene + diphosphate
For diagram of reaction click here.
Glossary: δ-guaiene = α-bulnesene
Systematic name: (2E,6E)-farnesyl-diphosphate diphosphate-lyase (cyclizing, δ-guaiene-forming)
Comments: Requires Mg2+. In Aquilaria crassna three clones of the enzyme gave about 80% δ-guaiene and 20% α-guaiene (see also EC 4.2.3.87). A fourth clone gave 54% δ-guaiene and 45% α-guaiene [2]. The enzyme from Pogostemon cablin gives 13% δ-guaiene as well as 37% (–)-patchoulol (see EC 4.2.3.70), 13% α-guaiene (see EC 4.2.3.87), and traces of at least ten other sesquiterpenoids [1].
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Deguerry, F., Pastore, L., Wu, S., Clark, A., Chappell, J. and Schalk, M. The diverse sesquiterpene profile of patchouli, Pogostemon cablin, is correlated with a limited number of sesquiterpene synthases. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 454 (2006) 123-136. [PMID: 16970904]
2. Kumeta, Y. and Ito, M. Characterization of δ-guaiene synthases from cultured cells of Aquilaria, responsible for the formation of the sesquiterpenes in agarwood. Plant Physiol. 154 (2010) 1998-2007. [PMID: 20959422]