Valencene synthase

Valencene synthase (EC 4.2.3.73) is an enzyme with systematic name (2E,6E)-farnesyl-diphosphate diphosphate-lyase (valencene-forming). It is a terpene cyclase enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of valencene, a sesquiterpene, using farnesyl pyrophosphate as its substrate. The first such enzyme was isolated using orange cDNA. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction


 * (2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate $$\rightleftharpoons$$ (+)-valencene + diphosphate

The recombinant enzyme from Vitis vinifera forms (+)-valencene and (-)-7-epi-α-selinene.