New Substrate for Synthesis of Monoterpenes

Researchers at the Michigan State University have identified two new genes in tomato that are essential in the manufacture of monoterpenes, a large family of compounds used by plants to attract pollinators, ward off pests and protect themselves from diseases. Monoterpenes are also responsible for giving many plants their unique smell and taste. The aroma of many leaf spices, such as mint and basil come from terpenes.

Scientists thought that plants always use a specific compound, geranyl diphosphate, to make monoterpenes. But Robert Last and colleagues found that tomato plants use a different compound, neryl diphosphate, as the substrate for making the compounds. The team identified two new enzymes: neryl diphosphate synthase 1 (NDPS1) and phellandrene synthase 1 (PHS1) by sequencing the DNA of tomato trichomes (hair in plant stem and leaves).

According to the scientists, the new discoveries will allow them to look for similar genes in other plants and perhaps discover new enzymes that make monoterpenes, which could lead to new ways to protect plants from pests.

The original story is available at http://news.msu.edu/story/6374/ The paper by Last and Colleagues appear in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.