A cytochrome P450 (heme-thiolate) protein. This enzyme catalyses a step in the pathway of abietic acid biosynthesis. The activity has been demonstrated in cell-free stem extracts of Abies grandis (grand fir) and Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) [1], and the gene encoding the enzyme has been identified in Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) [3]. The recombinant enzyme catalyses the oxidation of multiple diterpene alcohol and aldehydes, including levopimaradienol, isopimara-7,15-dienol, isopimara-7,15-dienal, dehydroabietadienol and dehydroabietadienal. It is not able to oxidize abietadiene.
