Cloning and functional characterization of volatile-terpene synthase genes from Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana

Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana is significant as a precious and endemic plant in Taiwan. The trunk, renowned for its excellent texture and color, is ideal for construction materials and furniture. Moreover, the entire plant is rich in aroma, which can be made into essential oils, fragrances, and a series of related products. Volatile terpenoids are the major compounds in the composition of essential oils, many of which can only be found in C. obtusa var. formosana. In this study, we successfully identified 12 volatile terpene synthases from C. obtusa var. formosana. Most of the selected TPSs displayed the ability to catalyze precursors into cyclic terpenoids, except for CovfTPS8, which also exhibited the capability to react with FPP and GPP. CovfTPS10 is particularly noteworthy for its multi-product characteristics and the ability to synthesize acoradiene. Moreover, it produces a novel compound, cis-isoduacene. Through the investigation of these volatile-terpenoid synthases, we can gain a better understanding of the cyclization process for terpenoids.