NOVEL CAROTENOID HYDROXYLASE GENE, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HYDROXYLATED CAROTENOID, AND NOVEL GERANYLGERANYL PYROPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE GENE

摘要

A peptide obtained from Brevundimonas strain SD-212 and having a beta-ionone ring-2-hydroxylase activity; and a gene coding for the same. Thus, it becomes feasible to realize mass production of a carotenoid having hydroxyl introduced at the carbon of 2-(2'-)position of beta-ionone ring, which carotenoid occurs in nature only in minute amount. There is further provided a novel gene coding for an enzyme for introduction of hydroxyl at the carbon of 3-(3'-)position of carotenoid having a beta-ionone ring, and provided a novel gene coding for geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase.