title: Characterization of a multifunctional methyltransferase from the orchid Vanilla planifolia.
abstract: The final enzymatic step in the synthesis of the flavor compound vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is believed to be methylation of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. We have isolated and functionally characterized a cDNA that encodes a multifunctional methyltransferase from Vanilla planifolia tissue cultures that can catalyze the conversion of 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde to vanillin, although 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde is not the preferred substrate. The higher catalytic efficiency of the purified recombinant enzyme with the substrates caffeoyl aldehyde and 5-OH-coniferaldehyde, and its tissue distribution, suggest this methyltransferase may primarily function in lignin biosynthesis. However, since the enzyme characterized here does have 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde-O-methyltransferase activity, it may be useful in engineering strategies for the synthesis of natural vanillin from alternate sources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gropper
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Havkin-Frenkel
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Belanger
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000201:enzymology; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014908:Triticum / Q000201:enzymology; D031669:Vanilla / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008780:Methyltransferases