METHOD FOR PRODUCING MONOTERPENE AND MONOTERPINOID COMPOUNDS AND USE THEREOF
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method and enzyme for forming various compounds, such as monoterpenes and monoterpenoid compounds. In a specific example, the present disclosure provides a method for producing one or more of (−)-ipsdienol, (−)-ipsenol, ipsenone, and ipsdienone. The present disclosure also provides methods of using compounds formed from the disclosed method and enzyme.
1 . An isolated, synthetic, or transgenically expressed polypeptide having oxidation reduction or oxidoreductase activity encoded by a polynucleotide sequence at least 95% homologous to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
2 . The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide sequence is at least 99% homologous to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
3 . The polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide sequence is the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
4 . A polypeptide encoded by a fragment of a polynucleotide sequence at least 95% homologous to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.
5 . A transgenic host cell produced by inserting a polynucleotide into the host cell which encodes a polypeptide of claim 1 .
6 . A composition comprising an insect semiochemical selected from at least one compound of ipsenone, ipsdienone, ipsenol, and ipsdienol produced by the action of the polypeptide of claim 1 .
7 . The composition of claim 6 , further comprising at least two compounds.
8 . The composition of claim 6 , comprising at least three compounds.
9 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the insect semiochemical is mixed with other agents to mimic a naturally occurring insect semiochemical blend.
10 . A semiochemical device comprising the composition of any of claim 6 dispersed in a carrier.
11 . A method of controlling insects comprising contacting a substance to be protected with a composition of claim 6 .
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition is a dispersant for a target insect species.
13 . A method of monitoring an insect population comprising placing a composition of claim 6 in a device proximate the insect population to be monitored.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the composition is an attractant for the target species.
15 . The composition of claim 6 , further comprising an insecticide.
16 . An assay for identifying a functional polypeptide of claim 1 that retains oxidation or reduction activity, the assay comprising:
contacting the polypeptide with a substrate molecule under conditions which allow the polypeptide to function; and
detecting either a decrease in the level of the substrate or an increase in the level of the specific reaction product of the reaction between the polypeptide and the substrate, wherein a decrease in the level of substrate or an increase in the level of the reaction product indicates a functional polypeptide.