Understanding the Constitutive and Induced Biosynthesis of Mono- and Sesquiterpenes in Grapes (Vitis vinifera): A Key to Unlocking the Biochemical Secrets of Unique Grape Aroma Profiles

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 63; no. 49; pp. 10591 - 10603
• Main Authors: Schwab, Wilfried, Wüst, Matthias
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 16.12.2015
• Subjects: Alkyl and Aryl Transferases - genetics; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases - metabolism; Arabidopsis thaliana; biochemical pathways; biosynthesis; chemistry; enzymes; epicuticular wax; flavor; Fruit - chemistry; Fruit - enzymology; Fruit - metabolism; genes; Genome, Plant; glycoconjugates; grapes; jasmonic acid; Molecular Structure; Monoterpenes - analysis; Monoterpenes - chemistry; Monoterpenes - metabolism; monoterpenoids; odor compounds; Odorants - analysis; odors; Sesquiterpenes - analysis; Sesquiterpenes - metabolism; sesquiterpenoids; signal transduction; small fruits; Smell; tissues; Vitis - genetics; Vitis vinifera; volatile organic compounds; Wine - analysis; winemaking; wines; mevalonic acid pathway (MVA); wine aroma; methyl jasmonate (MeJA); volatile organic compounds (VOCs); methyl erythritol pathway (MEP); wine flavor
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04398

The present review integrates current knowledge on mono- and sesquiterpenes in grapes with a special focus on biochemical and physiological aspects. Recent research has impressively shown the prominence of terpenoid metabolism in grapevine (Vitis sp). The 69 putatively functional mono- and sesquiterpene synthases that were identified by the analysis of the updated 12-fold sequencing and assembly of the grapevine genome deliver the scaffolds for structural diversity and display a surprising expansion of the terpene synthase (TPS) gene family in grapevine when compared to other plants like Arabidopsis thaliana (32 TPS). While monoterpenes occur as highly functionalized compounds and are stored as their corresponding glycoconjugates in berry tissues, sesquiterpenes are mainly present as unsaturated hydrocarbons and accumulate in the epicuticular wax layer of intact berries. Interestingly, both groups of terpenes appear to be involved as volatile organic compounds in plant defense and their biosynthesis is enhanced via the jasmonic acid signaling pathway. These novel aspects will help to understand how environmental cues affect the genes and enzymes of various metabolic pathways of relevant wine aroma compounds with numerous links to enology and wine flavor chemistry.