Functional Characterisation of Highly Conserved and Structurally Prominent Residues of 2‐Methylisoborneol Synthase

Abstract

Abstract2‐Methylisoborneol is a widespread musty odourant that is produced by many bacteria including actinomycetes, cyanobacteria and myxobacteria. Two 2‐methylisoborneol synthases (MIBS) that are phylogenetically distant to the known enzyme from Streptomyces coelicolor were found to be highly active for 2‐methylisoborneol biosynthesis. Based on the enzyme structure and on an amino acid sequence alignment, the MIBS from S. coelicolor was extensively studied through site‐directed mutagenesis.