| Types | DnaRegion
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| Roles | CDS
Coding
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Description
This is the enzyme required to cleave zeaxanthin at the 7, 8 position to begin the enzymatic process of making crocin, picrocrocin and safranal. ZCD seems to be unique to the species Crocus sativus, and has been found to be highly expressed in the style branch tissues of this species. Also, it has been shown to produce insoluble inclusion bodies when over expressed in E. coli. As a result, the functional expression of this protein requires the use of a soluble fusion proteins, such as thioredoxin, and induction at 20degrees.
Notes
This modified version of ZCD has been codon optimized for the species Synechocystis 6803.
Source
This enzyme was first identified in Crocus sativus, the saffron plant. The originally identified gene can be found here
AJ489276.1
