NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE ENCODING AN ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE FROM ARTEMISIA ANNUA AND USES THEREOF

摘要

An isolated nucleic acid molecule cloned from Artemisia annua encodes an alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh1). Artemisia annua Adh1 enzymatically oxidizes artemisinic alcohol to artemisinic aldehyde. The nucleic acid molecule, and the enzyme encoded thereby, may be used in processes to produce artemisinic aldehyde, dihydroartemsinic aldehyde, artemisinic acid and/or dihydroartemisinic acid in a host cell. Artemisinic aldehyde, dihydroartemisinic aldehyde, artemisinic acid and/or dihydroartemisinic acid can be chemically converted to the antimalarial compound artemisinin.