Method for producing monoterpene and monoterpinoid compounds and use thereof

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method and enzyme for forming various compounds, such as monoterpenes and monoterpenoid compounds. In a specific example, the present disclosure provides a method for producing one or more of (−)-ipsdienol, (−)-ipsenol, ipsenone, and ipsdienone. The present disclosure also provides methods of using compounds formed from the disclosed method and enzyme.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An isolated, synthetic, or transgenically expressed polypeptide having oxidation reduction or oxidoreductase activity encoded by a polynucleotide sequence at least 95% homologous to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         2 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide sequence is at least 99% homologous to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         3 . The polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide sequence is the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         4 . A polypeptide encoded by a fragment of a polynucleotide sequence at least 95% homologous to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         5 . A transgenic host cell produced by inserting a polynucleotide into the host cell which encodes a polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising an insect semiochemical selected from at least one compound of ipsenone, ipsdienone, ipsenol, and ipsdienol produced by the action of the polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising at least two compounds. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , comprising at least three compounds. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the insect semiochemical is mixed with other agents to mimic a naturally occurring insect semiochemical blend. 
     
     
         10 . A semiochemical device comprising the composition of any of  claim 6  dispersed in a carrier. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling insects comprising contacting a substance to be protected with a composition of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the composition is a dispersant for a target insect species. 
     
     
         13 . A method of monitoring an insect population comprising placing a composition of  claim 6  in a device proximate the insect population to be monitored. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is an attractant for the target species. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 6 , further comprising an insecticide. 
     
     
         16 . An assay for identifying a functional polypeptide of  claim 1  that retains oxidation or reduction activity, the assay comprising:
 contacting the polypeptide with a substrate molecule under conditions which allow the polypeptide to function; and 
 detecting either a decrease in the level of the substrate or an increase in the level of the specific reaction product of the reaction between the polypeptide and the substrate, wherein a decrease in the level of substrate or an increase in the level of the reaction product indicates a functional polypeptide.