The C12 'earthy' odorant geosmin is derived from the C15 metabolite farnesyl diphosphate. Metabolic transformation now seems to be catalyzed by a bifunctional protein having two operatively independent sesquiterpene synthase domains. The domains are catalytically linked through the passive diffusion of a C15 alcohol product of the N-terminal catalytic domain to the C-terminal catalytic domain for the final steps of geosmin formation.
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J.P.N. is a scientific cofounder of and stockholder in Allylix, Inc., which is engaged in the commercial production of high-value sesquiterpene products.
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Noel, J. Digging for answers, smelling a hint of success and tasting triumph. Nat Chem Biol 3, 690–691 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio1107-690
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio1107-690
