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Metabolism and Enzymology

Metabolism of Monoterpenes ¹

Metabolic Fate of (+)-Camphor in Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6340

The bicyclic monoterpene ketone (+)-camphor undergoes lactonization to 1,2-campholide in mature sage (Salvia officinalis L.) leaves followed by conversion to the -D-glucoside-6-O-glucose ester of the corresponding hydroxy acid (1-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxy-2,2,3-trimethyl cyclopentane). Analysis of the disposition of (+)-[G-³H]camphor applied to midstem leaves of intact flowering plants allowed the kinetics of synthesis of the bis-glucose derivative and its transport from leaf to root to be determined, and gave strong indication that the transport derivative was subsequently metabolized in the root. Root extracts were shown to possess -glucosidase and acyl glucose esterase activities, and studies with (+)-1,2[U-¹⁴C]campholide as substrate, using excised root segments, revealed that the terpenoid was converted to lipid materials. Localization studies confirmed the radiolabeled lipids to reside in the membranous fractions of root extracts, and analysis of this material indicated the presence of labeled phytosterols and labeled fatty acids (C₁₄ to C₂₀) of acyl lipids. Although it was not possible to detail the metabolic steps between 1,2-campholide and the acyl lipids and phytosterols derived therefrom because of the lack of readily detectable intermediates, it seemed likely that the monoterpene lactone was degraded to acetyl CoA which was reincorporated into root membrane components via standard acyl lipid and isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways. Monoterpene catabolism thus appears to represent a salvage mechanism for recycling mobile carbon from senescing oil glands on the leaves to the roots.

³ Present address: Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

¹ This investigation was supported in part by United States Department of Energy Contract DE-AM06-76RL02221, Agreement DE-AT06-82ER12027. Scientific Paper No. 7644, Project 0268, from the Research Center, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164.