BIOSYNTHESIS OF (-)-BETA-BARBATENE FROM C-13-LABELED AND H-2-LABELED ACETATE, MEVALONATE AND GLYCEROL

The H-2 and C-13 enrichment, C-13-C-13 coupling patterns and beta-H-2 isotope shifts observed in beta-barbatanol prepared from (-)-beta-barb atene incorporating variously H-2- and C-13-labelled mevalonates, acet ates and glycerol verifies a 1,4-hydrogen shift and a double 1,2-methy l migration in the formation of beta-barbatene in cultured cells of He teroscyphus planus, and also indicates the diversity of regulation and the sole operation of the mevalonate pathway in extrachloroplastidic sesquiterpene biosynthesis.