The Biosynthesis of Linalool in Cinnamomum Camphora Sieb. var. linalooliferum Fujita

Abstract

The labelling pattern in linalool biosynthesized from [2-14C] mevalonic acid in Cinnamomum Camphora Sieb. var. linalooliferum Fujita was found to be consistent with the predicted biosynthetic pathway involving the condensation of isopentenyl pyrophosphate with 3,3-dimethylallyl pyrophosphate. The radioactivities at C-4 and C-8 (and/or C-10) were about equal, in contrast to the asymmetric pattern of labelling observed for bicyclic monoterpenes, which contained a tracer predominantly in one position of the skeleton derived from isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The efficiency of the incorporation of the tracer into linalool was almost independent of the season of the examination, although a slight increase was observed in the season of the active growth of the plant.