O-Methyltransferases of Tetrahydrobenzylisoquinoline Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Papaver Somniferum
AssigneeDonald Danforth Plant Science Center
InventorsToni M. Kutchan, Anan Ounaroon, Susanne Frick, Stefanie Haase-Fernando
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methyl transfer enzymes involved in alkaloid biosynthesis in opium poppy. More particularly, the invention relates to proteins having (R,S)-reticuline 7-O-methyltransferase activity, to proteins having (R,S)-norcoclaurine 6-O-methyltransferase activity and to derivatives and analogues of these proteins. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding the proteins, and their derivatives and analogues, and to their use in the production of methylated catechols and tetrahydrobenzylisoquinolines.
Claims25
-18. (canceled)
An isolated or purified protein comprising the amino acid sequence of FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:
- 21) or a variant of the amino acid sequence of FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:
- 21), said variant having at least 70% identity with the PSOMT2 amino acid sequence of FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:
- 21) over a length of at least 300 amino acids and, said variant having 0-methyltransferase activity.
A protein or peptide comprising of a fragment of the protein illustrated in FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:
- 25), said fragment having a length of 100 to 345 amino acids, including the portion spanning at least one of positions 93, 150, 233, 245 and 274, wherein X93, X150, X233, X245, X274 are chosen from the following amino acids:
- X93:
- Pro, Val
- X150:
- Val, Glu
- X233:
- Ser, Pro
- X245:
- Ala, Gly;
- X274:
- Gly, Val,
- with the proviso that X93 is not Pro when X150, X233, X245, X274 have the following meanings:
- Xaa150 is Glu, Xaa233. is Ser, Xaa245 is Ala and Xaa274 is Gly, said protein or peptide having O-methyltransferase activity.
-45. (canceled)
(canceled)
-64. (canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.