Isolation of a cDNA from tomato coding for an unregulated, cytosolic chorismate mutase

A cDNA coding for chorismate mutase was isolated from tomato by complementing a chorismate mutase-deficient Escherichia coli strain with a cDNA library. Southern blot analysis suggests the existence of a single gene of this chorismate mutase type per haploid tomato genome. The abundance of the corresponding transcripts was highest in roots, lower in stems and cotyledons, and even lower in flowers and leaves. The activity of the protein expressed in E. coli was not regulated by the three aromatic amino acids. Characteristics of the sequence and of the enzymatic activity suggest that the identified cDNA encodes a cytosolic, unregulated CM-2 type chorismate mutase.