Abstract: There is provided a gene coding for the amino acid sequence listed as SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 70, for example. Co-expression of the 4?CGT gene and AS gene in a plant lacking natural aurone synthesis ability is carried out to successfully accumulate aurones and alter the flower color to have a yellow tint. In addition to the expression of both genes, the flavonoid pigment synthesis pathway of the host plant itself is inhibited to obtain flowers with a more defined yellow color.

Abstract: The invention provides an enzyme having a lignan-hydroxylating activity, particularly an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reaction of transferring a hydroxyl group to a lignan, an enzyme capable of catalyzing the hydroxylation of piperitol to 9-hydroxylpiperitol or pinoresinol to 9-hydroxylpinoresinol. The invention provides a polypeptide having a lignan-hydroxylating activity; a polynucleotide encoding the same; a vector or transformant comprising the polynucleotide; a method for producing a polypeptide having a lignan-hydroxylating activity which comprises using the transformant; and so on. The transformant wherein the polynucleotide is expressibly introduced is useful for the hydroxylation of a lignan or for the production of a product using the same in the food sector and a variety of industry sectors.

Abstract: The invention provides a polynucleotide encoding a furofuran lignan 4-O-glucosyltransferase, and others. The polynucleotide in accordance with the present invention comprises a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 5, or a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes for enzymes having the activity of transferring a methyl group to lignans, plants with an altered lignan composition using these methyltransferases, and so on. More particularly, the present invention relates to enzyme genes having the activity of synthesizing methylated lignans, preferably enzyme genes having the activity of synthesizing sesame-derived methylated lignans, and use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel glucuronosyltransferase, a polynucleotide encoding the same (e.g., a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1362 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 7, or a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 8); and so on. A novel glucuronosyltransferase having a broad substrate specificity and others can thus be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes for enzymes having the activity of transferring a methyl group to lignans, plants with an altered lignan composition using these methyltransferases, and so on. More particularly, the present invention relates to enzyme genes having the activity of synthesizing methylated lignans, preferably enzyme genes having the activity of synthesizing sesame-derived methylated lignans, and use thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an enzyme having a lignan-hydroxylating activity, particularly an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reaction of transferring a hydroxyl group to a lignan, an enzyme capable of catalyzing the hydroxylation of piperitol to 9-hydroxylpiperitol or pinoresinol to 9-hydroxylpinoresinol. The invention provides a polypeptide having a lignan-hydroxylating activity; a polynucleotide encoding the same; a vector or transformant comprising the polynucleotide; a method for producing a polypeptide having a lignan-hydroxylating activity which comprises using the transformant; and so on. The transformant wherein the polynucleotide is expressibly introduced is useful for the hydroxylation of a lignan or for the production of a product using the same in the food sector and a variety of industry sectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme having the lignan glycosidation activity by identifying the enzyme that is involved in the production of lignan glycosides, identifying the amino acid sequence of the enzyme polypeptide and the base sequence for a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, and based on the information of these sequences, preparing the transformants capable of producing the lignan glycosides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and a polynucleotide encoding the same (for example, a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1359 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4, the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1365 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 10, the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1371 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12, and the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1371 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 22; or a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein having one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11, 13 and 23), etc. This provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase with a broad substrate specificity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction producing piperitol from pinoresinol, and a reaction producing sesamin from piperitol. The invention also provides a gene that encodes such enzyme. Further, the invention provides a vector and transformant including a gene encoding the enzyme, and a producing method of the protein using the transformant.

Abstract: There is provided a gene coding for the amino acid sequence listed as SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 70, for example. Co-expression of the 4?CGT gene and AS gene in a plant lacking natural aurone synthesis ability is carried out to successfully accumulate aurones and alter the flower color to have a yellow tint. In addition to the expression of both genes, the flavonoid pigment synthesis pathway of the host plant itself is inhibited to obtain flowers with a more defined yellow color.

Abstract: There is provided a gene coding for the amino acid sequence listed as SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 70, for example. Co-expression of the 4?CGT gene and AS gene in a plant lacking natural aurone synthesis ability is carried out to successfully accumulate aurones and alter the flower color to have a yellow tint. In addition to the expression of both genes, the flavonoid pigment synthesis pathway of the host plant itself is inhibited to obtain flowers with a more defined yellow color.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes for enzymes having the activity of transferring a methyl group to lignans, plants with an altered lignan composition using these methyltransferases, and so on. More particularly, the present invention relates to enzyme genes having the activity of synthesizing methylated lignans, preferably enzyme genes having the activity of synthesizing sesame-derived methylated lignans, and use thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing a transgenic plant for producing polyglutamic acid and a transgenic method prepared by this method are provided. The method of the present invention comprises introducing a nucleic acid encoding the polyglutamic acid synthase A (pgsA), a nucleic acid encoding the polyglutamic acid synthase B (pgsB) and a nucleic acid encoding the polyglutamic acid synthase C (pgsC) into a plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme which catalyzes a reaction to transfer sugar to a hydroxyl group at position 2? of chalcones and a gene thereof, and preferably an enzyme which catalyzes a reaction to transfer glucose to a hydroxyl group at position 2? of the chalcones. Furthermore, the invention provides a plant whose flower color has been changed using the glycosyltransferase. Using probes corresponding to conservative regions of the glycosyltransferase, some tens of glycosyltransferase genes having nucleotide sequences corresponding to the conservative regions were cloned from flower petal cDNA libraries of carnation and the like. Furthermore, each of the glycosyltransferase genes was expressed in Escherichia coli, activity to transfer glucose to position 2? of the chalcone, i.e., the glycosyltransferase activity at position 2? of chalcone was confirmed in an extract solution of the Escherichia coli, and it was confirmed that cloned genes encoded the glycosyltransferase at position 2?.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme having the lignan glycosidation activity by identifying the enzyme that is involved in the production of lignan glycosides, identifying the amino acid sequence of the enzyme polypeptide and the base sequence for a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, and based on the information of these sequences, preparing the transformants capable of producing the lignan glycosides.

Abstract: There is provided a gene coding for the amino acid sequence listed as SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 70, for example. Co-expression of the 4?CGT gene and AS gene in a plant lacking natural aurone synthesis ability is carried out to successfully accumulate aurones and alter the flower color to have a yellow tint. In addition to the expression of both genes, the flavonoid pigment synthesis pathway of the host plant itself is inhibited to obtain flowers with a more defined yellow color.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction producing piperitol from pinoresinol, and a reaction producing sesamin from piperitol. The invention also provides a gene that encodes such enzyme. Further, the invention provides a vector and transformant including a gene encoding the enzyme, and a producing method of the protein using the transformant.

Abstract: A nucleic acid encoding a protein which has an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2, 12, or 14, or the amino acid sequence modified by addition or deletion of one or more amino acids and/or substitution by other amino acids, and which has activity to transfer a glycosyl group to the 3?-position of anthocyanins.

Abstract: A gene encoding a protein which has an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2, 12, or 14, or the amino acid sequence modified by addition or deletion of one or more amino acids and/or substitution by other amino acids, and which has activity to transfer a glycosyl group to the 3?-position of anthocyanins.