Biochemical characterization of microbial type terpene synthases in two closely related species of hornworts, Anthoceros punctatus and Anthoceros agrestis

The hornworts Anthoceros punctatus and Anthoceros agrestis each contains a small family of microbial-terpene synthase like (MTPSL) genes. Recombinant proteins expressed in E. coli from most Anthoceros MTPSL genes showed sesquiterpene synthase activities, converting farnesyl diphosphate to a few to nearly 20 sesquiterpenes.164