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Strategies for the Manipulation of Carbocations by Aristolochene Synthase

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Abstract

Aristolochene synthase is a sesquiterpene cyclase that catalyses the high-precision conversion of farnesyl diphosphate to the sesquiterpene (+)-aristolochene via a tightly chaperoned carbocationic reaction cascade. This article examines recent work focussed on understanding the role this and other related enzymes play in controlling this chemistry. Through the use of X-ray crystallography, site-directed mutagenesis and substrate analogues, a better picture of how such proteins manipulate carbocations to arrive at specific hydrocarbon products is emerging.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the many contributions made by the members of the Allemann group. This work was supported by the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council through research grants 6/B17177, BBS/Q/Q/2004/05499 and BB/G003572/1, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through grant EP/D06958/1, the Royal Society (grant 2007R2) and Cardiff University. We are grateful to Neil Young for preparing Figs. 12.4 and 12.6.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry & Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK

    David J. Miller & Rudolf K. Allemann

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  1. David J. Miller
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  2. Rudolf K. Allemann
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Correspondence to Rudolf K. Allemann .

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  1. Institut de Biologie Moléculaire, Département Réseaux, Université de Strasbourg, 28 rue Goethe, Strasbourg, 67083, France

    Thomas J. Bach

  2. , Institut Le Bel, Université Louis Pasteur, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, Strasbourg CX, 67070, France

    Michel Rohmer

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Miller, D.J., Allemann, R.K. (2012). Strategies for the Manipulation of Carbocations by Aristolochene Synthase. In: Bach, T., Rohmer, M. (eds) Isoprenoid Synthesis in Plants and Microorganisms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4063-5_12

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