Title

An esterase is involved in geraniol production during palmarosa inflorescence development

Authors

Authors

V. S. Dubey; R. Bhalla;R. Luthra

Abbreviated Journal Title

Phytochemistry

Keywords

Cymbopogon martinii; Gramineae; essential oil; geraniol; geranyl acetate; esterase; monoterpenoids; palmarosa inflorescence; CYMBOPOGON-FLEXUOSUS STAPF; HIGHER-PLANTS; BIOSYNTHESIS; METABOLISM; PURIFICATION; LEAF; MONOTERPENES; MARTINII; PATHWAY; LEAVES; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Plant Sciences

Abstract

Total incorporation of exogenously administered [2-C-14]acetate into essential oil of paltuarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) was found to be relatively higher than that of either [U-C-14]sucrose or [U-C-14]glucose during inflorescence development. Among the major essential oil constituents, biogenesis of geranyl acetate was much higher than that of geraniol. Alkaline hydrolysis of [C-14]labeled geranyl acetate revealed that the majority of the label incorporated into geranyl acetate was present in the geraniol moiety, indicating that only newly synthesized geraniol gets acetylated to form geranyl acetate. Geranyl acetate cleaving esterase (GAE) activity followed a similar pattern during both in vivo and in vitro inflorescence development, with maximum activity at immature inflorescence stages. suggesting the involvement of GAE in geraniol production during inflorescence development. Five esterase isozymes (Est-A to E) were detected in the enzymic fraction of palmarosa inflorescence and all showed GAE activity, with Est-B being significantly increased during inflorescence development. The role of GAE in geraniol production and improving the palmarosa oil quality is discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Phytochemistry

Volume

63

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2003

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

257

Last Page

264

WOS Identifier

WOS:000183045300004

ISSN

0031-9422

Share

COinS