Characterization of A cDNA encoding A Novel Phenazine Compound in Hot Pepper

From the PMMV (pepper mild mottle virus)-inducible ESTs differentially expressed in Capsicum chinense PI257284, we isolated a full-length cDNA (CcPHZF： Capsicum chinense phenazine), encoding a phenazine biosynthesis protein which catalyzes the hydroxylation of phenozine-1-carboxylic acid to 2-hydroxyphenazine-1-carboxylic acid. Phenazine compound has been known to exhibit broad-spectrum of antibiotic activity against various species of bacteria and fungus. The entire region of CcPHZF is 879 bp in length and the open reading frame predicted a polypeptide of 292 amino acids. The homolog of CcPHZF is not Present in database except clones of AC004044 and NM100203 from Arabidopsis with 58 and 59％, respectively. Genomic Southern analysis indicated that the pepper genome contains a single copy of CcPHZF. The CcPHZF was strongly induced in the pepper leaves 3 days after PMMV treatment, when HR occurs on the leaf surface. Characterization of CcPHZF is underway to investigate if the CcPHZF is related to disease resistance against pathogens.