Biosynthesis of irregular diterpenes in Anisotome lyallii by head-to-head coupling of geranyl diphosphate

Abstract

Anisotomenes, bicyclic irregular diterpenes found in the genus Anisotome (family Apiaceae), are shown to be products of a unique biosynthetic pathway, involving head-to-head coupling of two geranyl diphosphate units. ¹³C labelling studies with [1-¹³C]-glucose on plantlets of A. lyallii also revealed that the isoprene subunits were formed via the MEP pathway. The in vitro-cultured plant material also yielded a new irregular, linear diterpene alcohol, that shares the same biosynthetic pathway.