Elucidation of the biochemical pathway of 2-phenylethanol from shikimic acid using isolated protoplasts of rose flowers.

The isolated protoplasts of rose flowers were used to investigate the metabolic pathway in rose flower leading from shikimic acid or L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) to 2-phenylethanol (2PE), a dominant volatile compound in hybrid roses such as Rosa damascena Mill., R. 'Hoh-Jun', and R.

Production of 2-phenylethanol in roses as the dominant floral scent compound from L-phenylalanine by two key enzymes, a PLP-dependent decarboxylase and a phenylacetaldehyde reductase.

We investigated the biosynthetic pathway for 2-phenylethanol, the dominant floral scent compound in roses, using enzyme assays. L-[(2)H8] Phenylalanine was converted to [(2)H8] phenylacetaldehyde and [(2)H8]-2-phenylethanol by two enzymes derived from the flower petals of R. 'Hoh-Jun,' these being identified as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and phenylacetaldehyde reductase (PAR).