Cytochrome P-450 dependent (+)-limonene-6-hydroxylation in fruits of caraway (Carum carvi)

Microsomal preparations from fruits of annual and biennial forms of caraway (Carum carvi L.) catalyze the C-6 hydroxylation of (+)-limonene to (+)-trans-carveol, the key intermediate in the biosynthesis of carvene. The enzyme activities from both caraway forms had similar properties (pH optimum, K-m, cofactor requirements, etc). Both activities were dependent on NADPH and O-2, and were inhibited by N-substituted imidazoles, metyrapone, cytochrome c and CO, and thus meet many of the established criteria for cytochrome P-450-dependent mixed function oxygenases. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.