Neue Klasse von Methyltransferasen mit Zyklisierungsaktivität

Microorganisms release small volatile metabolites with unique structures, e. g. the polymethylated homosesquiterpene sodorifen from Serratia plymuthica. Two unusual enzymes with novel features are involved in its biosynthesis, a C-methyltransferase with cyclization activity and a terpene synthase that accepts a non-canonical monocyclic C16 substrate. The novel class of methyltransferases represents an alternative route that enlarges terpene diversity.