Functional characterization of three Coffea arabica L. monoterpene synthases: Insights into the enzymatic machinery of coffee aroma

► We report the isolation of terpene synthase genes from Coffea arabica. ► Three recombinant proteins are functionally characterized as monoterpene synthases. ► Tissue specificity and cladistic data are presented. ► One of the proteins produces limonene, one of the main monoterpenes in coffee aroma.