Nucleotide sequences encoding pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase proteins and their methods of use

The present invention relates to isolated dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases from and , to nucleic acid sequences which code for dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases from and , and to vectors containing the sequences, host cells containing the sequences and methods of producing recombinant pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases, recombinant dirigent protein and their mutants. Dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases have been isolated, together with cDNAs encoding dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases. Accordingly, isolated DNA sequences are provided from source species , and , which code for the expression of dirigent proteins and pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases. In other aspects, replicable recombinant cloning vehicles are provided which code for dirigent proteins or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases or for a base sequence sufficiently complementary to at least a portion of dirigent protein or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase DNA or RNA to enable hybridization therewith. In yet other aspects, modified host cells are provided that have been transformed, transfected, infected and/or injected with a recombinant cloning vehicle and/or DNA sequence encoding dirigent protein or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductase. Thus, systems and methods are provided for the recombinant expression of dirigent proteins and/or pinoresinol/lariciresinol reductases.