Expression of herbicide metabolizing cytochromes P450

A recombinant plasmid comprising

• A) segments selected from the group consisting of
• i) the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU1 comprising:
• ##STR11## ii) the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU2 comprising:
• ##STR12## iii) either of the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU1 of i) or the DNA sequence P450 enzyme P450SU2 of ii) in combination with the DNA sequence encoding iron sulfur protein FeS-B comprising:
• ##STR13## and iv) either of the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU1 of i) or the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450SU2 of ii) in combination with the DNA sequence encoding iron sulfur protein FeS-A comprising:
• ##STR14## B) a plant promoter sequence operably linked to each said DNA sequence in the upstream position;
• C) a 5'-untranslated sequence operably linked to each said DNA sequence in the upstream position;
• D) a 3'-untranslated sequence which enables the mRNA transcribed from the plasmids to be polyadenylated on its 3' end operably linked to each said DNA sequence in the downstream position;
• and
• E) a transit peptide coding sequence or a transit peptide coding sequence plus additionally mature coding sequence of nuclear genes that encode proteins that are normally imported into the chloroplasts of plants operably linked to the DNA encoding for the amino terminus of the cytochrome P450, or to the DNA encoding for the amino terminae of the cytochrome P450 and the FeS protein, and downstream from the promoter.

A plant transformed with

• A) the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU1 comprising:
• ##STR18## in combination with the DNA sequence encoding iron sulfur protein FeS-A comprising:
• ##STR19## B) the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU2 comprising:
• ##STR20## in combination with the DNA sequence encoding iron sulfur protein FeS-B comprising:
• ##STR21##

A transformed plant containing a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of

• A) the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU1 comprising:
• ##STR22## B) the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU2 comprising:
• ##STR23## C) either of the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU1 of A) or the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU2 of B) in combination with the DNA sequence encoding iron sulfur protein FeS-B comprising:
• ##STR24## or D) either of the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU1 of A) or the DNA sequence encoding cytochrome P450 enzyme P450SU2 of B) in combination with the DNA sequence encoding iron sulfur protein FeS-A comprising:
• ##STR25## which can metabolize herbicides.