title: Identification, Functional Characterization, and Evolution of Terpene Synthases from a Basal Dicot.
abstract: Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is an agriculturally and economically important dioecious tree in the basal dicot family Lauraceae used in food and drugs and in the cosmetics industry. Bay leaves, with their abundant monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, are used to impart flavor and aroma to food, and have also drawn attention in recent years because of their potential pharmaceutical applications. To identify terpene synthases (TPSs) involved in the production of these volatile terpenes, we performed RNA sequencing to profile the transcriptome of L. nobilis leaves. Bioinformatic analysis led to the identification of eight TPS complementary DNAs. We characterized the enzymes encoded by three of these complementary DNAs: a monoterpene synthase that belongs to the TPS-b clade catalyzes the formation of mostly 1,8-cineole; a sesquiterpene synthase belonging to the TPS-a clade catalyzes the formation of mainly cadinenes; and a diterpene synthase of the TPS-e/f clade catalyzes the formation of geranyllinalool. Comparison of the sequences of these three TPSs indicated that the TPS-a and TPS-b clades of the TPS gene family evolved early in the evolution of the angiosperm lineage, and that geranyllinalool synthase activity is the likely ancestral function in angiosperms of genes belonging to an ancient TPS-e/f subclade that diverged from the kaurene synthase gene lineages before the split of angiosperms and gymnosperms.
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Mosaab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yahyaa
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuba
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doron-Faigenboim
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McClain
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davidovich-Rikanati
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Efraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lewinsohn
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.).
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pichersky
authors.affiliation: Newe Yaar Research Center, Agriculture Research Organization, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel (M.Y., A.D.-F., E.B., R.D.-R., E.L., M.I.);Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (Y.M., A.M., E.P.); andDepartment of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany (W.B.) mwafaq@volcani.agri.gov.il.
authors.forename: Mwafaq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibdah
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D027442:Laurus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003511:Cyclohexanols; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013729:Terpenes; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C108877:terpene synthase; D019753:Intramolecular Lyases; C040265:pinene cyclase I; D000077591:Eucalyptol