| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject new enzyme comprising a polypeptide containing a specific amino acid sequence and having an (S)-3'-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine 4'-O-methyltransferase activity and useful for the production, etc., of various alkaloids. SOLUTION: This new polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence described in the formula or an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids are added, deleted or replaced in the amino acid sequence and having an enzyme activity of (S)-3'-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine 4'-O-methyltransferase (4'-OMT) and is useful for the efficient production, etc., of recitculin and/or various alkaloids which are plant secondary alkaloids biosynthesized from the reticulin. The enzyme is obtained by searching for a cDNA library derived from a cultured cell of Coptis japonica Makino prepared on the basis of an internal amino acid sequence of the 4'-OMT isolated from the cultured cell of the Coptics japonica Makino, integrating the resultant gene into a vector and expressing the gene in Escherichia coli. |
