Cloning of eggplant hypocotyl cDNAs encoding cytochromes P450 belonging to a novel family (CYP77)

Abstract
From eggplant hypocotyl tissues we have cloned two closely related cDNAs encoding cytochromes P450 (P450s) by PCR amplification using a primer designed based on the highly conserved sequence among the known eggplant P450s. One cDNA lacks the NH2-terminal short sequence that is present in the other, full-length cDNA. The two predicted protein sequences are 71% identical with each other and show less than 30% identity with any other known P450s. It is concluded that these P450s, which are termed CYP77A1 and -A2, belong to a hitherto unknown P450 family.