THE ENZYMATIC FORMATION OF DELTA-CADINENE FROM FARNESYL DIPHOSPHATE IN EXTRACTS OF COTTON

Incubation of extracts of cotton stele tissue which had been infected with Verticillium dahliae led to the enzymatic incorporation of [1-H-3 ]-farnesyl diphosphate into hydrocarbons soluble in hexane-ethyl aceta te. The mixture of [H-3]-hydrocarbons was separated into components by HPLC. The hydrocarbon with a retention time of 17.5-18.0 min, biosynt hetically prepared from (1RS)-[1-H-2]-(E,E)-farnesyl diphosphate, was analysed by GC-MS. The data not only agree with the reported mass spec trum of delta-cadinene but also support the proposed hydride shift in the biosynthesis of delta-cadinene from farnesyl diphosphate.