Calgene Corporation

Catherine M Houck

Vic C Knauf

Luca Comai

Robert M Goodman

Julie R Pear

Belinda M Martineau

William R Hiatt

Anne Crossway

Novel constructs are provided for expression of physiologically active mammalian proteins in plant cells, either in culture or under cultivation. The constructs provide a promoter functional in a plant host, a structural gene coding for mammalian protein and a terminator functional in a plant host. The construct is introduced into a plant cell to become integrated into the plant genome for expression in the plant cells or plants. The plant cells may be harvested and the mammalian protein isolated in physiologically active form.

Molecular farming

Constructs are provided for expression of physiologically active mammalian proteins in plant cells, either in culture or under cultivation. The constructs provide a promoter functional in a plant host, a structural gene coding for mammalian protein and a terminator functional in a plant host. The construct is introduced into a plant cell to become integrated into the plant genome for expression in the plant cells or plants. The plant cells may be harvested and the mammalian protein isolated in physiologically active form.

Method and transgenic plant for producing mammalian peptides

Regulatory regions from genes expressed during a particular developmental stage or in a specific tissue are identified employing cDNA screening. The resulting regulatory regions are manipulated for use with foreign sequences for introduction into plant cells to provide transformed plants having phenotypic property which can be modulated. The invention is exemplified with light, seed and a fruit-specific promoters.

Methods and compositions for regulated transcription and expression of

Developmentally regulated transcriptional regulatory regions are identified employing cDNA screening. The resulting regulatory regions are manipulated for use with DNA sequences encoding enzymes involved in cytokinin metabolism for introduction into plant cells to provide transformed plants having tissue, particularly fruit, with a modified phenotypic property.

Compositions and methods for modulation of endogenous cytokinin levels

Novel DNA constructs are provided which may be used as molecular probes or inserted into a plant host to provide for modification of transcription of a DNA sequence of interest in ovary tissue, particularly in very early fruit development. The DNA constructs comprise a transcriptional initiation regulatory region associated with gene expression in ovary tissue from immediately prior to anthesis through flower senescence.

Ovary-tissue transcriptional factors

A novel hybridization diagnostic technique is involved employing micromanipulation of cells for detection of DNA or RNA in the cells. Cellular suspensions are employed, the DNA or RNA purified by microextraction using liquid media having differential solubilization properties, whereby the nucleic acid is retained in an aqueous microdrop. The nucleic acid in the microdrop may then be assayed with a nucleic acid probe in accordance with conventional ways.

Microassay for detection of DNA and RNA

Mammalian peptide expression in plant cells

Fruit specific regulatory regions are identified employing cDNA screening. The resulting fruit specific regulatory regions are manipulated for use with foreign sequences for introduction into plant cells to provide transformed plants having fruit with a modified phenotypic property. The invention is exemplified with a tomato fruit specific promoter which is active throughout the stages of fruit ripening.

Growing community of inventors

Vacaville, CA, United States of America

Catherine M Houck