Patent ID: 7879586

Claim:
An isolated gene encoding an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of at least one methylated catechin selected from the group consisting of: a) an epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate derivative represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R 1 through R 6 are each a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and at least one of R 1 through R 6 is a methyl group, b) an epicatechin-3-O-gallate derivative represented by the following general formula (II): wherein R 1 through R 5 are as defined above and at least one of R 1 through R 5 is a methyl group and c) isomers thereof, wherein the gene contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 and 5.