Bristol-myers Squibb Compnay

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Christopher L Steele

Kin S Lam

Richard A Dixon

Wenying Li

Brian A Dougherty

Sandra J Hofstead

Zizhuo Xing

Yijun Chen

Isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for phenylalanine aminomutase enzyme and methods for purifying this enzyme are provided. Methods for altering biosynthesis of compounds in plant cell cultures are also provided. In particular, methods for altering production of taxanes and taxane-related compounds are provided.

Compositions and methods for altering biosynthesis of taxanes and taxane-related compounds

Soybean andCYP93C genes have been isolated which encode a cytochrome P450 that can catalyze the aryl migration of a flavanone to yield an isoflavanone intermediate or an isoflavone. Plants can now be genetically engineered to produce isoflavones that provide potential human health benefits and increase disease resistance in plants. Isoflavones can now be produced in transgenic plants species in which isoflavones do not naturally occur, i.e., in species other than legumes. Alternatively, introducing infection-inducible isoflavonoid biosynthesis into non-legumes qualitatively complements these plants phytoalexin defenses against microbial pathogens, whereas over-expression of the isoflavonoid pathway in legumes quantitatively increases this defense response. Finally, modifying the extend of production of isoflavonoids in legume roots positively impacts nodulation efficiency and therefore plant yield.

Genetic manipulation of isoflavonoids

Growing community of inventors

Manlius, NY, United States of America

Christopher L Steele