farnesol
Farnesol is a natural organic compound which is an acyclic sesquiterpene alcohol found as a colorless liquid. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with oils.
Farnesol is the alcohol derivative of farnesol pyrophosphate and is the building block of most (possibly all) acyclic sesquiterpenoids.
Bacteriology
In 2007, farnesol was shown to bind the Pseudomonas aeruginosa transcriptional regulator PqsR and alter the properties of its binding to the promoter region of the pqsABCDE cluster.
In nature
It is present in many essential oils such as citronella, neroli, cyclamen, lemon grass, tuberose, rose, musk, balsam and tolu. It is used in perfumery to emphasize the odors of sweet floral perfumes. Its method of action for enhancing perfume scent is as a co-solvent that regulates the volatility of the odorants. It is especially used in lilac perfumes.
Farnesol is a natural pesticide for mites and is a pheromone for several other insects.
See also
farnesylation
terpene
- sesquiterpene
geranylgeraniol
dolichol