title: Characterization of a monoterpene synthase from Paeonia lactiflora producing α-pinene as its single product.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify a terpene synthase that catalyzes the conversion of geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) to α-pinene and is involved in the biosynthesis of paeoniflorin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two new terpene synthase genes were isolated from the transcriptome data of Peaonia lactiflora. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence characterization revealed that one gene, named PlPIN, encoded a monoterpene synthase that might be involved in the biosynthesis of paeoniflorin. In vitro enzyme assay showed that, in contrast to most monoterpene synthases, PlPIN encoded an α-pinene synthase which converted GPP into α-pinene as a single product.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This newly identified α-pinene synthase could be used for improving paeoniflorin accumulation by metabolic engineering or for producing α-pinene via synthetic biology.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, People's Republic of China.|State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China.|Beijing Key Laboratory of Protection and Application of Chinese Medicinal Resources, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Baolong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhilai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China. y_yuan0732@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People's Republic of China. huangluqi01@126.com.
authors.forename: Luqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D029596:Paeonia / Q000201:enzymology*; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D011106:Polyisoprenyl Phosphates; D013729:Terpenes; C015234:geranyl pyrophosphate; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C108877:terpene synthase; C005451:alpha-pinene
keywords: Monoterpene synthase; Paeonia lactiflora; Paeoniflorin biosynthesis; Terpene synthase; α-Pinene