Stop to smell the roses
Some roses smell beautiful, yet others only look beautiful. Magnard
et al.
leveraged this distinction to study the biosynthesis of geraniol, a monoterpene alcohol in rose scent (see the Perspective by Tholl and Gershenzon). Enzymes known for geraniol synthesis in other plants, such as basil, did not seem to provide that function for roses. Instead, a diphosphohydrolase, which functions in the cytoplasm of cells in rose petals, generates the geraniol emitted by fragrant roses. Identification of the enzyme and its gene enables marker-assisted breeding to put the perfume back into beauty.
Science
, this issue p.
81
; see also p.
28
停下来闻玫瑰花的香气
有些玫瑰花闻起来很美,而有些只是看起来美。Magnard等人利用这个区别研究了玫瑰芬芳香气中单萜醇松油醇的生物合成(见Tholl和Gershenzon的透视文章)。在其他植物中已知用于松油醇合成的酶,如罗勒,似乎并没有为玫瑰提供这种功能。相反,一种双磷酸水解酶,在玫瑰花瓣细胞的细胞质中起作用,产生了散发出来的松油醇。鉴定出这种酶及其基因可以进行标记辅助育种,将香气重新注入美丽之中。
Science,本期第81页;另见第28页。