Disclosed are santalene synthases with improved product profile and methods for improving santalene synthases. The invention further relates to santalene compositions produced by fermentation that have a greater beta-santalene content than alpha-santalene content.

The present invention provides a method of producing β-santalene, said method comprising contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). In particular, said method may be carried out in vitro or in vivo to produce β-santalene, a very useful compound in the fields of perfumery and flavoring. The present invention also provides the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide useful in the method of the invention. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of the invention and an expression vector containing said nucleic acid are also part of the present invention. A non-human host organism or a cell transformed to be used in the method of producing β-santalene is also an object of the present invention.

The invention is directed to a santalene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding said santalene synthase, to an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, to a host cell comprising said expression vector, to a method of preparing santalene, to a method of preparing santalol and to a method of preparing a santalene synthase. The invention is further directed to an antibody specific for the santalane synthase.

The invention is directed to a santalene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding said santalene synthase, to an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, to a host cell comprising said expression vector, to a method of preparing santalene, to a method of preparing santalol and to a method of preparing a santalene synthase. The invention is further directed to an antibody specific for the santalane synthase.

The invention is directed to a santalene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding said santalene synthase, to an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, to a host cell comprising said expression vector, to a method of preparing santalene, to a method of preparing santalol and to a method of preparing a santalene synthase. The invention is further directed to an antibody specific for the santalane synthase.

The present invention provides a method of producing -santalene, said method comprising contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). In particular, said method may be carried out in vitro or in vivo to produce -santalene, a very useful compound in the fields of perfumery and flavoring. The present invention also provides the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide useful in the method of the invention. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of the invention and an expression vector containing said nucleic acid are also part of the present invention. A non-human host organism or a cell transformed to be used in the method of producing -santalene is also an object of the present invention.

The present invention relates to methods for preparing patchoulol, -santalene, and sclareol in transgenic moss cells that include heterologous nucleic acid molecules encoding a polypeptide or synthase capable of using FPP or GGPP as a substrate. Methods for producing the transgenic moss cell, as well as the transgenic moss cell itself are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a method of producing -santalene, said method comprising contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). In particular, said method may be carried out in vitro or in vivo to produce -santalene, a very useful compound in the fields of perfumery and flavoring. The present invention also provides the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide useful in the method of the invention. A nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of the invention and an expression vector containing said nucleic acid are also part of the present invention. A non-human host organism or a cell transformed to be used in the method of producing -santalene is also an object of the present invention.

Provided are modified santalene synthase polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules encoding the modified santalene synthase polypeptides, and methods of using the modified santalene synthase polypeptides. The modified santalene synthase polypeptides include those that catalyze production of increased levels of terpenes or altered profiles thereof or both.

The present invention concerns the field of recombinant manufacture of santalene and related products. In particular, it relates to a method for the manufacture of a composition comprising at least one santalene comprising the step of converting farnesyl pyrophosphate into at least one santalene, wherein said conversion is carried out by a polypeptide exhibiting santalene synthase activity. Moreover, the invention contemplates a composition comprising a mixture of beta-santalene and alpha-santalene with an excess of beta-santalene obtainable by the method of the invention. The invention also relates to the use of a santalene synthase polypeptide, a heterologous polynucleotide encoding it, a vector or gene construct comprising said polynucleotide, a host cell or a non-human transgenic organism comprising said gene construct or vector for the manufacture of a composition comprising at least one santalene, preferably, beta-santalene, more preferably a mixture of beta-santalene and alpha-santalene. Further, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composition comprising at least one santalol, preferably beta-santalol, comprising producing a composition comprising at least one santalene by the aforementioned method of the invention and oxidising said at least one santalene, preferably, beta-santalene, into the respective alcohol in order to manufacture a composition comprising at least one santalol, preferably, beta-santalol. Yet, the invention pertains to a kit for the manufacture of a composition comprising at least one santalene comprising the aforementioned polypeptide. heterologous polynucleotide, vector or gene construct, host cell or non-human transgenic organism and to a non-human host cell or non-human transgenic organism expressing a polypeptide exhibiting santalene synthase activity from the aforementioned heterologous polynucleotide. vector or gene construct.