Isolated nucleic acid molecules cloned from Artemisia annua encode
artemisinic aldehyde double bond reductase and
artemisinic/dihydroartemisinic aldehyde dehydrogenase. Artemisinic
aldehyde double bond reductase enzymatically reduces artemisinic aldehyde
to dihydroartemisinic aldehyde. Artemisinic/dihydroartemisinic aldehyde
dehydrogenase enzymatically oxidizes dihydroartemisinic aldehyde to
dihydroartemisinic acid and artemisinic aldehyde to artemisinic acid. The
nucleic acid molecules, and the enzymes encoded thereby, may be used in
processes to produce dihydroartemsinic aldehyde, dihydroartemisinic acid
or artemisinic acid in a host cell. Dihydroartemisinic acid is a late
precursor to the a antimalarial compound artemisinin.