Amber: A Botanical Inquiry

Langenheim, Jean H.

doi:10.1126/science.163.3872.1157

Cited by 252 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Based on the observed band pattern, it is more likely that Mexican amber is older than the others 16 . In the spectrum for this sample, the band for out-of-plane deformation of end groups =CH 2 is almost absent.…”

Section: Issn 1424-6376mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assignment of vibrational spectra of labdatriene derivatives and ambers: A combined experimental and density functional theoretical study

Villanueva-García¹,

Martínez‐Richa²,

Robles³

2005

Arkivoc

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In this paper we present a theoretical study of the observed IR spectra of some samples of amber. We compare them to theoretically obtained spectra for a model of this natural polymer. The model assumes that communic acid and communol are plausible precursors in the natural polymerization of amber. We employ an electronic structure method at the BP86 density functional theory level. Our electronic structure methodology is found to be appropriate for the study and rationalization of the spectra of the chosen amber samples, with very good agreement with the observed spectra.

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Section: Issn 1424-6376mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assignment of vibrational spectra of labdatriene derivatives and ambers: A combined experimental and density functional theoretical study

Villanueva-García¹,

Martínez‐Richa²,

Robles³

2005

Arkivoc

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“…Abundant deposits of fossiliferous Miocene [16] amber from the Santiago region of the Dominican Republic have been attributed with confidence to the leguminous tree genus Hymenaea [17], for which modern taxa produce large volumes of resin in response to injury [11,17]. Dominican amber is considered to have formed as a result of catastrophic events in an established moist tropical forest [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect outbreaks produce distinctive carbon isotope signatures in defensive resins and fossiliferous ambers

et al. 2011

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Despite centuries of research addressing amber and its various inclusions, relatively little is known about the specific events having stimulated the production of geologically relevant volumes of plant resin, ultimately yielding amber deposits. Although numerous hypotheses have invoked the role of insects, to date these have proven difficult to test. Here, we use the current mountain pine beetle outbreak in western Canada as an analogy for the effects of infestation on the stable isotopic composition of carbon in resins. We show that infestation results in a rapid (approx. 1 year) 13 C enrichment of fresh lodgepole pine resins, in a pattern directly comparable with that observed in resins collected from uninfested trees subjected to water stress. Furthermore, resin isotopic values are shown to track both the progression of infestation and instances of recovery. These findings can be extended to fossil resins, including Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic and Late Cretaceous New Jersey amber, revealing similar carbon-isotopic patterns between visually clean ambers and those associated with the attack of wood-boring insects. Plant exudate d 13C values constitute a sensitive monitor of ecological stress in both modern and ancient forest ecosystems, and provide considerable insight concerning the genesis of amber in the geological record.

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“…(FDP; 125 Ci͞mol) (30), and [1][2][3] H]geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP; 120 Ci͞mol) (31) were prepared as described previously. Authentic (E)-␣-bisabolene was a gift from Larry Cool (University of California, Berkeley) and was used to confirm the presence of both (E)-and (Z)-isomers as components of opoponax oil (32).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Terpenoid-based defenses in conifers: cDNA cloning, characterization, and functional expression of wound-inducible ( E )-α-bisabolene synthase from grand fir ( Abies grandis )

Bohlmann

Crock

Jetter

et al. 1998

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

163

103

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ABSTRACT(E)-␣-Bisabolene synthase is one of two wound-inducible sesquiterpene synthases of grand fir (Abies grandis), and the olefin product of this cyclization reaction is considered to be the precursor in Abies species of todomatuic acid, juvabione, and related insect juvenile hormone mimics. A cDNA encoding (E)-␣-bisabolene synthase was isolated from a wound-induced grand fir stem library by a PCR-based strategy and was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to produce (E)-␣-bisabolene as the sole product from farnesyl diphosphate. The expressed synthase has a deduced size of 93.8 kDa and a pI of 5.03, exhibits other properties typical of sesquiterpene synthases, and resembles in sequence other terpenoid synthases with the exception of a large aminoterminal insertion corresponding to Pro 81 -Val 296 . Biosynthetically prepared (E)-␣-[ 3 H]bisabolene was converted to todomatuic acid in induced grand fir cells, and the time course of appearance of bisabolene synthase mRNA was shown by Northern hybridization to lag behind that of mRNAs responsible for production of induced oleoresin monoterpenes. These results suggest that induced (E)-␣-bisabolene biosynthesis constitutes part of a defense response targeted to insect herbivores, and possibly fungal pathogens, that is distinct from induced oleoresin monoterpene production.

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Amber: A Botanical Inquiry

Cited by 252 publications

References 46 publications

Assignment of vibrational spectra of labdatriene derivatives and ambers: A combined experimental and density functional theoretical study

Assignment of vibrational spectra of labdatriene derivatives and ambers: A combined experimental and density functional theoretical study

Insect outbreaks produce distinctive carbon isotope signatures in defensive resins and fossiliferous ambers

Terpenoid-based defenses in conifers: cDNA cloning, characterization, and functional expression of wound-inducible ( E )-α-bisabolene synthase from grand fir ( Abies grandis )

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