Sesquiterpene synthases for bungoene, pentalenene and epi-isozizaene from Streptomyces bungoensis.

A sesquiterpene synthase from Streptomyces bungoensis was characterised and produces the new compound bungoene. The enzyme mechanism was deeply investigated using isotopically labelled substrates. Two other enzymes from S. bungoensis made epi-isozizaene and pentalenene. Synthetic oxidative chemistry towards structurally related fusagramineol and pentalenal was explored.