Abstract:
Acyltransferases catalyze critical acylation of metabolic intermediates in metabolic pathways and are
important in metabolome diversiWcation in secondary metabolism. Terpenes form the largest and most diverse Wed group of secondary metabolites (>35,000 compounds).
Terpene alcohol acetyltransferases (AATs)1 are
responsible for biogeneration of volatile esters that attribute
unique and Wne olfactory aromas to herbs, Xowers,
fruits, and foods. AATs catalyze transfer of an acyl
group from acetyl/acyl coenzyme A to an alcohol, stoichiometrically
generating ester and coenzyme A-SH
(CoASH). Recently, the signiWcance of AATs in the
Xavor and fragrance of phytogenic foods, drinks, and
aromatic oils and in developmental physiology of Xowers
and fruits has attracted their biochemical characterization
in plants [1–5] for metabolic engineering
initiatives. Radioactivity [5] or GC-based quantitation
[1,3,5] of ester formed by the reaction are employed to
monitor the enzyme activity.