The present disclosure relates to a novel method, expression vectors, and host cells for producing abienol by converting geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) to abienol in the presence of a combination of a class II diterpene synthase and a bifunctional class I/II abienol synthase.

The present disclosure relates to a novel method, expression vectors, and host cells for producing abienol by converting geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) to abienol in the presence of a combination of a class II diterpene synthase and a bifunctional class I/II abienol synthase.

Disclosed is a method for the manufacture of at least one C-20 terpenoid alcohol comprising the steps of converting geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate into copalyl diphosphate (CPP) or labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP) and converting CPP or LPP into at least one C-20 terpenoid alcohol, wherein said conversion is carried out by a polypeptide exhibiting diterpene alcohol synthase activity capable of converting CPP into manool, LPP into sclareol and/or LPP into abienol, and wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence as specified in the claims. The invention further relates to the aforementioned polypeptide exhibiting diterpene alcohol synthase activity as well as a fusion protein comprising said polypeptide, a polynucleotide encoding it, a vector or gene construct comprising said polynucleotide, a host cell comprising said vector or gene construct. a non-human transgenic organism comprising the polynucleotide, vector, gene construct or host cell, as well as uses thereof for the manufacture of at least one C-20 terpenoid alcohol.