Vetiver

An expression vector comprising

• a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising
• i) a nucleic acid sequence from Vetiveria zizanoides encoding a sesquiterpene synthase having synthase activity comprising isovalencene synthase activity, spirovetiva-1(10),7(11)-diene synthase activity and/or a valencene synthase activity;
• ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising
• 1) an amino acid sequence from Vetiveria zizanoides comprising a sesquiterpene synthase having synthase activity comprising isovalencene synthase activity, spirovetiva-1(10),7(11)-diene synthase activity and/or a valencene synthase activity;
• or
• 2) an amino acid sequence having at least 55%, 60%, 65%70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 1 and having a sesquiterpene synthase activity;
• or
• iii) a nucleotide sequence having at least 55%, 60%, 65%70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting SEQ ID NO:
• 3 and SEQ ID NO:
• 4 and that encodes a sesquiterpene synthase;
• or
• b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a cytochrome P450 polypeptide sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 7, SEQ ID NO:
• 10, SEQ ID NO:
• 12, or SEQ ID NO:
• 14;
• or
• ii the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 6, SEQ ID NO:
• 8, SEQ ID NO:
• 9, SEQ ID NO:
• 11, or SEQ ID NO:
• 13 the encodes a cytochrome P450 polypeptide;
• or
• c) the nucleic acid molecule of a) and the nucleic acid molecule of b).

A method of producing an oxygenated sesquiterpene comprising

• oxidizing a sesquiterpene to an oxygenated sesquiterpene using a chemical or biochemical synthesis or a combination of both with a cytochrome P450 polypeptide and accompanied by a CPR enzyme,
• wherein the P450 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 7, SEQ ID NO:
• 10, SEQ ID NO:
• 12, or SEQ ID NO:
• 14, and
• wherein the CPR enzyme comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:
• 15.