EC Explorer

4.2.3.120

(-)-β-pinene synthase

geranyl diphosphate = (-)-β-pinene + diphosphate

β-geraniolene synthase, (-)-(1S,5S)-pinene synthase, geranyldiphosphate diphosphate lyase (pinene forming)

geranyl-diphosphate diphosphate-lyase [cyclizing, (-)-β-pinene-forming]

Cyclase II of Salvia officinalis (sage) produces about equal parts (-)-α-pinene, (-)-β-pinene and (-)-camphene, plus traces of other monoterpenoids. The enzyme, which requires Mg²⁺ (preferred to Mn²⁺), can also use (3S)-Linalyl diphosphate (preferred to (3R)-linalyl diphosphate) [1-4]. The enzyme from Abies grandis (grand fir) produces roughly equal parts of (-)-α-pinene and (-)-β-pinene [6-9]. Cyclase IV from Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) produces 63% (-)-β-pinene, 26% 3-carene, and traces of α-pinene [10]. Synthase III from Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) forms (-)-β-pinene with traces of α-pinene and requires Mn²⁺ and K⁺ (Mg²⁺ is ineffective) [11]. A cloned enzyme from Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) gave (-)-β-pinene with traces of (-)-α-pinene [5]. The enzyme from Picea sitchensis (Sika spruce) forms 30% (-)-β-pinene and 70% (-)-α-pinene [12]. See also EC 4.2.3.119, (-)-α-pinene synthase, EC 4.2.3.117, (-)-camphene synthase, and EC 4.2.3.107 (+)-3-carene synthase.

created 2012