Bioconversion of aliphatic and aromatic alcohols to their corresponding esters in melons (Cucumis melo L. cv. Prince melon and cv. Earl's favorite melon)

Alcohol acetyltransferase (AAT) (EC 2.3.1.84) catalyzes the reactions of aliphatic and aromatic alcohols to their esters in the presence of acyl CoA in fruit and flowers. In this study, Prince melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Prince) and Earl's favorite melon (C. melo L. cv. Earl's favorite) were used to study the production of aliphatic and aromatic esters. After incubation of melon pulp slices with alcohols for 1-48 h at 30 °C, corresponding esters were produced. Although most alcohols were converted into their corresponding esters, efficiency and duration of bioconversion varied among the varieties. Isobutyl acetate and benzyl acetate were the most highly produced esters among aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, respectively, in these melons. These findings indicate that melon AAT has broad substrate specificity including aliphatic and aromatic alcohols.