The biosynthesis of the odorant 2-methylisoborneol is compartmentalized inside a protein shell.

Terpenoids are the largest class of natural products, found across all domains of life. One of the most abundant bacterial terpenoids is the volatile odorant 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), partially responsible for the earthy smell of soil and musty taste of contaminated water. Many bacterial 2-MIB biosynthetic gene clusters were thought to encode a conserved transcription factor, named EshA in the model soil bacterium . Here, we revise the function of EshA, now referred to as Enc, and show that it is a Family 2B encapsulin shell protein. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we find that Enc forms an icosahedral protein shell and encapsulates 2-methylisoborneol synthase (2-MIBS) as a cargo protein. Enc contains a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) binding domain (CBD)-fold insertion and a unique metal-binding domain, both displayed on the shell exterior. We show that Enc CBDs do not bind cAMP. We find that 2-MIBS cargo loading is mediated by an N-terminal disordered cargo-loading domain and that 2-MIBS activity and Enc shell structure are not modulated by cAMP. Our work redefines the function of EshA and establishes Family 2B encapsulins as cargo-loaded protein nanocompartments involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis.