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Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
Published on: August 14, 2019
Biosynthesis of floral scent 2-phenylethanol in rose flowers
Hiroshi Hirata1, Toshiyuki Ohnishi2,3, Naoharu Watanabe1,4
1a Graduate School of Science and Technology , Shizuoka University , Shizuoka , Japan.
Abstract:
Plants emit chemically diverse volatile compounds for attracting pollinators or putting up a chemical defense against herbivores. 2-Phenylethanol (2PE) is one of the abundantly emitted scent compounds in rose flowers. Feeding experiments with l-[(2)H8]phenylalanine into rose flowers and subsequent analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the hypothetical biosynthetic intermediates to [(2)H8]-2PE, and the biochemical and genetic analyses elucidated the principal pathway to [(2)H8]-2PE. We recently found season-specific 2PE pathway producing [(2)H7]-2PE from l-[(2)H8]phenylalanine. This is a unique example where the dominant pathway to a specific compound changes with the seasons. This review focuses on the biosynthesis of floral volatiles and their regulation to adapt to the changes in the environment.
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