Terpene cyclases from social Amoebae

Genome sequences of social amoebae reveal the presence of terpene cyclases (TCs) in these organisms. Two TCs from Dictyostelium discoideum converted farnesyl diphosphate into (2S,3R,6S,9S)-(−)-protoillud-7-ene and (3S)-(+)-asterisca-2(9),6-diene. The enzyme mechanisms and EI-MS fragmentations of the products were studied by labeling experiments.