title: Toward a biosynthetic route to sclareol and amber odorants.
abstract: Ambergris, a waxy substance excreted by the intestinal tract of the sperm whale, has been a highly prized fragrance ingredient for millenia. Because of supply shortage and price inflation, a number of ambergris substitutes have been developed by the fragrance industry. One of the key olfactory components and most appreciated substitutes of ambergris, Ambrox is produced industrially by semisynthesis from sclareol, a diterpene-diol isolated from Clary sage. In the present study, we report the cloning and functional characterization of the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of sclareol. Furthermore, we reconstructed the sclareol biosynthetic pathway in genetically engineered Escherichia coli and reached sclareol titers of ~1.5 g/L in high-cell-density fermentation. Our work provides a basis for the development of an alternative, sustainable, and cost-efficient route to sclareol and other diterpene analogues.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Department, Corporate R&D Division, FIRMENICH SA, Geneva CH-1211, Switzerland. Michel.Schalk@firmenich.com
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schalk
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mirata
authors.forename: Samretthy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khim
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schouwey
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deguerry
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rocci
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daviet
mesh_terms: D018648:Ambergris / Q000737:chemistry*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D010476:Perfume
chemical_list: D018648:Ambergris; D004224:Diterpenes; D010476:Perfume; C070760:sclareol