Plant isoprenoid synthase enzymes

By studying the mechanisms plants use to protect themselves against microbial pathogens, researchers at the University of Kentucky derived isoprenoid synthase variants. The group examined the three-dimensional structure of active sites of natural tobacco 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (TEAS), both isolated and bound to a substrate, to identify key amino acids to improve activity of the enzymes. The resultant enzymes could be useful in the commercial production of isoprenoids.