A detailed view on 1,8-cineol biosynthesis by Streptomyces clavuligerus

Abstract

The stereochemical course of the cyclisation reaction catalysed by the bacterial 1,8-cineol synthase from Streptomyces clavuligerus was investigated using stereospecifically deuterated substrates. In contrast to the well investigated plant enzyme from Salvia officinalis, the reaction proceeds via (S)-linalyl diphosphate and the (S)-terpinyl cation, while the final cyclisation reaction is in both cases a syn addition, as could be shown by incubation of (2-13C)geranyl diphosphate in deuterium oxide.

Keywords

• biosynthesis
• enzyme mechanisms
• isotopic labelling
• stereochemistry
• terpenes