The genus Thapsia produces a wide variety of sesquiterpenoids. The Mediterranean plant Thapsia laciniata Rouy
is known to have a product profile that differs from several other species in the genus. Thus, the biosynthesis of
sesquiterpenoids in Thapsia laciniata Rouy was investigated. Here we describe three terpene synthases,
TlTPS820, TlTPS509 and TlTPS18983. TlTPS18983 is a multi-product enzyme with farnesene as the major
product, while TlTPS509 produces guaiol and bulnesol along with other major and several minor unknown
products. TlTPS820 is orthologous to TgTPS2 from Thapsia garganica L. and is an epikunzeaol synthase.
TgCYP76AE2 from Thapsia garganica performs a triple hydroxylation of epikunzeaol at C-12 to make dihydrocostunolide.
It was therefore investigated if the cytochrome P450, TlCYP76AE4 was able to use epikunzeaol
as a substrate. It was found that TlCYP76AE4 hydroxylates epikunzeaol at C-8 to yield tovarol instead of dihydrocostunolide.