Triterpene oxidase derived from plant belonging to genus glychyrrhiza, gene encoding the triterpene oxidase, and use of the protein or the gene

Abstract

The present invention provides a protein having an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene, a gene encoding the same, and use of the protein and the gene. The present invention specifically relates to a protein obtainable from a plant belonging to the genus Glychyrrhiza , which has an activity of oxidizing a dammarane-type triterpene, a gene encoding the same, and use of the protein and the gene. The protein is shown in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, or 13, and the gene encoding the same is shown in SEQ ID NO:3, 4, or 14, respectively. Furthermore, a transformant into which the gene is introduced can be produced, by which a triterpene oxidase can be obtained.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1; and   (c) an amino acid sequence having a 90% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.   
     
     
         6 . The isolated protein according to  claim 5 , derived from a plant belonging to the genus  Glychyrrhiza.    
     
     
         7 . The isolated protein according to  claim 6 , wherein the plant belonging to the genus  Glychyrrhiza  is  Glychyrrhiza uralensis  or  Glychyrrhiza glabra.    
     
     
         8 . The protein according to  claim 5 , comprising an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:13. 
     
     
         9 . The isolated protein according to  claim 5 , having an activity of oxidizing a carbon at position 11 of a triterpene compound produced from a dammarane cation, in which 2,3-oxidosqualene is cyclized in a chair-chair-chair-boat conformation.