title: Recombinant squalene synthase. synthesis of cyclopentyl non-head-to-tail triterpenes.
abstract: Incubation of farnesyl diphosphate with recombinant yeast squalene synthase in the absence of NADPH gives a mixture of triterpene hydrocarbons and alcohols, including botryococcene-like compounds with 1'-3 linkages between the farnesyl units. One of these molecules has an unusual cyclopentane structure similar to those recently reported in plant extracts and lakebed sediments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
authors.forename: Jian-Jung
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Tim S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Bugni
authors.forename: C Dale
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Poulter
mesh_terms: D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003517:Cyclopentanes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014315:Triterpenes; D013186:Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase