Characterization of a sabinene synthase gene from rough lemon ( Citrus jambhiri)

We previously isolated two putative monoterpene synthase genes, RlemTPS1 and RlemTPS2, from rough lemon ( Citrus jambhiri) and showed that gene expression of RlemTPS2 was induced by microbial attack. The protein product of RlemTPS2 was obtained using a prokaryotic expression system, and GC and GC-MS of monoterpene synthesis by RlemTPS2 determined that RlemTPS2 encodes a sabinene synthase. Sabinene has antifungal activity toward Alternaria alternata. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis identified one amino acid, Ile, located at the front of the metal ion binding motif as an important residue for the product specificity of sabinene synthase.