STRUCTURE OF A FUNCTIONAL GERANYLGERANYL PYROPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE GENE FROM CAPSICUM-ANNUUM

A geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GGPPS) gene from Capsicum ann uum (bell pepper) was cloned. The nucleotide sequence shows that this gene, like the capsanthin/capsorubin gene but unlike the phytoene synt hase gene from C. annuum, is not interrupted by an intron. Southern bl ot analysis of C. annuum genomic DNA suggests the presence of a single gene highly similar to the cDNA and also of additional related sequen ces. The present data suggest that this cloned gene is functional.