Abstract:To elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of potato terpenoids, we identified a terpene synthase gene named as StHcS from potato genome data. StHcS was successfully cloned from potato variety ‘Feurita’ with infection of Phytophthora infestans by RTPCR. Bioinformatics analysis, biochemical characterization and gene expression pattern analysis were conducted for StHcS. The results are as follows: (1) the coding sequence length of StHcS is 1 497 bp and it eventually encodes 498 amino acids with a molecular mass of 74.78 kD; (2) the encoded StHcS contains the conserved DDXXD catalytic motif, and exhibits the highest similarity to the hedycaryol synthase in Camellia maliflora; (3) in vitro assay and E. coli metabolic engineering experiments reveal that StHcS can react with trans farnesene pyrophosphate (FPP) to produce the sesquiterpenehedycaryol; (4) RTPCR analysis indicates that StHcS can be induced by infection of P. infestans in potato tubers and the highest expression was observed at 72 h post inoculation. Hedycaryol was also successfully detected in the infected potato tubers by GCMS analysis. The identification of StHcS biochemical function provides diversity for the studies regarding sesquiterpene synthase, and it is also the first hedycaryol synthase found in potato, which provides a reference for the analysis of potato terpene biosynthesis.