The University of Texas System

University of Nevada

David K Shintani

Dean DellaPenna, Jr

Dean DellaPenna

Disclosed is are gene sequences encoding &#x3b3;-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme &#x3b3;-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of &#x3b3;-tocopherol to yield &#x3b1;-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. &#x3b3;-tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a &#x3b3;-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered &#x3b3;-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have &#x3b1;-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Transgenic plants with tocopherol methyltransferase

Disclosed is are gene sequences encoding &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of &ggr;-tocopherol to yield &agr;-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have &agr;-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Transgenic plants with &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase

Disclosed is a gene sequence which has been identified as encoding 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase from synechoeystis. By introducing a genetic construct having a 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase expression, to effect changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have altered tocopherol levels in their tissues.

Manipulation of tocopherol levels in transgenic plants by transformation with a synechocystis 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase

Growing community of inventors

Reno, NV, United States of America

David K Shintani