Abstract: In order to clone and sequence the cDNA encoding caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase (COMT) from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort,the cDNA,encoding COMT,was amplified by RT-PCR with cDNA library of rhizome as the template.The full-length cDNA of COMT was 1328 bp with an open reading frame encoding 360 amino acids of protein.The accession number of COMT from L.chuanxiong in GenBank was KU942388.The COMT from L.chuanxiong has 70% and 69% nucleotide sequence homology to the sequence of COMT from Coffea canephora and Ipomoea nil, respectively.Comparison of the sequence L.chuanxiong with COMT from C.canephora and I.nil showed that COMT from L.chuanxiong possessed the same functional regions involved with COMT,suggesting L.chuanxiong COMT can participate in oxygen methylation of caffeic acid.This work underlaid the first step for using biotechnology to produce ferulic acid.

Key words: Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase, gene cloning, sequence analysis