Abstract:
PURPOSE: Mutant genes of human beta, beta-carotene 15, 15'-dioxygenase having improved enzyme activity are provided, so that enzyme proteins expressed from the mutant genes can be used in various fields related to the vitamin A production. CONSTITUTION: Mutant genes of human beta, beta-carotene 15, 15'-dioxygenase are produced by error-prone PCR using a human beta, beta-carotene 15, 15'-dioxygenase gene as templates, and have the enzyme activity of the expressed protein of 1100 pmol/h. A method for producing vitamin A comprises digesting beta-carotene using the expressed human beta, beta-carotene 15, 15'-dioxygenase. A method for producing vitamin A comprises transforming a host cell using the mutant genes of human beta, beta-carotene 15, 15'-dioxygenase, and culturing the transformed host cell in a medium, wherein the host cell is a plant cell, a prokaryotic cell, a yeast cell, an insect cell, a mammal cell or a poultry cell.