Expression of a synthetic Artemesia annua amorphadiene synthase in Aspergillus nidulans yields altered product distribution

A gene encoding a plant terpene cyclase, Artemisia annua amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS), was expressed in Aspergillus nidulans under control of a strong constitutive promoter, (p)gpdA. The transformants produced only small amounts of amorphadiene, but much larger amounts of similar sesquiterpenes normally produced as minor by-products in planta. In contrast, expression of ADS in Escherichia coli produced almost exclusively amorpha-4,11-diene. These results indicate that the host environment can greatly impact the terpenes produced from terpene synthases.