Plant biochemistry: An onion enzyme that makes the eyes water

@article{Imai2002PlantBA,
  title={Plant biochemistry: An onion enzyme that makes the eyes water},
  author={Shinsuke Imai and Nobuaki Tsuge and Muneaki Tomotake and Yoshiaki Nagatome and Hiroshi Sawada and Toshiyuki Nagata and Hidehiko Kumagai},
  journal={Nature},
  year={2002},
  volume={419},
  pages={685-685}
}
The irritating lachrymatory factor that is released by onions when they are chopped up has been presumed to be produced spontaneously following the action of the enzyme alliinase, which operates in the biochemical pathway that produces the compounds responsible for the onion's characteristic flavour. Here we show that this factor is not formed as a by-product of this reaction, but that it is specifically synthesized by a previously undiscovered enzyme, lachrymatory-factor synthase. It may be… 
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Highly Influential Citations
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Methods Citations
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132 Citations

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Citation Type

Discovery of overlooked enzyme in onion and its application
  • Takahiro Kamoi
  • Biology
    Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements
  • 2019
TLDR
The discovery of a new enzyme called lachrymatory factor synthase (LFS) is reported, and its application such as non-lachRYmatory onions.
Enzyme That Makes You Cry-Crystal Structure of Lachrymatory Factor Synthase from Allium cepa.
TLDR
These findings reconcile chemical and biochemical information regarding thioaldehyde S-oxide formation and close a long-lasting gap in understanding of the mechanism responsible for LF production in the onion.
First insights into the mode of action of a "lachrymatory factor synthase"--implications for the mechanism of lachrymator formation in Petiveria alliacea, Allium cepa and Nectaroscordum species.
Proton Transfer in a Reaction Catalyzed by Onion Lachrymatory Factor Synthase
TLDR
It is found that onion LFS is an (E)-1-propenylsulfenic acid isomerase, similar to that of (Z)-PRENCSO.
Identification of Amino Acid Residues Essential for Onion Lachrymatory Factor Synthase Activity
TLDR
In the modeled structure of LFS a pocket corresponding to the ligand-binding site in PYL was identified, and Arg71 and Glu88 were located in this pocket.
The sulfur chemistry of shiitake mushroom.
TLDR
Any changes involving the sulfur-containing compounds of shiitake mushroom following cell breakage occur to a far smaller extent than those involving allium plants, presumably reflecting the need in shi itake for action by multiple enzymes, namely a gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and a C-S lyase.
Garlic greening: Pigments biosynthesis and control strategies
TLDR
This review reports an overview on the strategies for controlling discoloration of garlic at industrial level and provides an updated description of the biochemistry of green pigments produced in garlic.
Discovery and Characterization of a Novel Lachrymatory Factor Synthase in Petiveria alliacea and Its Influence on Alliinase-Mediated Formation of Biologically Active Organosulfur Compounds 1 [ W ] [ OA ]
A novel lachrymatory factor synthase (LFS) was isolated and purified from the roots of the Amazonian medicinal plant Petiveria alliacea. The enzyme is a heterotetrameric glycoprotein comprised of two…
Discovery and Characterization of a Novel Lachrymatory Factor Synthase in Petiveria alliacea and Its Influence on Alliinase-Mediated Formation of Biologically Active Organosulfur Compounds1[W][OA]
A novel lachrymatory factor synthase (LFS) was isolated and purified from the roots of the Amazonian medicinal plant Petiveria alliacea. The enzyme is a heterotetrameric glycoprotein comprised of two…
Structure of Allium lachrymatory factor synthase elucidates catalysis on sulfenic acid substrate
TLDR
The crystal structures of onion LFS (AcLFS), the enzyme responsible for natural production of PTSO, are presented and a rational catalytic mechanism based on intramolecular proton shuttling in which the microenvironment of AcLFS can bypass the canonical [1,4]-sigmatropic rearrangement principle established by microwave studies is proposed.
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