Large Scale Biology Corporation

Biosource Technologies, Inc.

Other

The Dow Chemical Company

Biosource Genetics Corporation

Guy R Della-Cioppa

Monto H Kumagai

Laurence K Grill

Stephen J Garger

Michael J McCulloch

Genadie G Sverlow

Jonathan Donson

Richard Barry Holtz

Damon A Harvey

Ignacio Mario Larrinua

Gregory P Pogue

Daniel Gachotte

Avutu Sambi Reddy

Wayne P Fitzmaurice

David R McGee

Philip J Savickas

Robert L Erwin

Randy J Pell

Max Otto Ruegger

Gary Mark Hellmann

Barbara A Miller

Beth Blakeslee

David A McCrery

J Vincent B Oriedo

Rodney Crosley

Ted Weglarz

Wenjin Zheng

Gerson Wolfe

This invention relates to putative known and unknown deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and amino acid sequences identified in one or more metabolic pathways that lead to dwarfism and stunting in plants and the use of these sequences in agriculture to create dwarf varieties of any plant species. This invention also relates to nucleic acids sequences and polypeptides that produce altered metabolism phenotypes in plants.

Nucleic acids compositions conferring dwarfing phenotype

The present invention relates to a method for conferring herbicide, pest, and disease resistance in plant hosts. Specifically, the present invention employs transient viral expression vectors to express proteins or enzymes conferring resistance in plant hosts. In addition, a library of nucleotide sequence variants in a sense or antisene orientation may be used to determine the targets of an herbicide or pathogen and to screen suitable viral nucleic acids for herbicide, pest, and disease resistance.

Method for conferring herbicide, pest, or disease resistance in plant hosts

The invention provides novel genetic constructions for the expression of inhibitory RNA in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The inhibitory RNA may be an anti-sense RNA or a co-suppressor RNA, and functions to reduce the expression of a gene of interest in the target cell. The genetic constructions of the invention are capable of replicating in the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell and comprise a promoter region in functional combination with an encoding polynucleotide. The genetic constructions may be designed so as to replicate in the cytoplasm of plant cells, yeast cells, and mammalian cells. When the eukaryotic cell of interest is a plant cell, the genetic construction is preferably derived from a plant RNA virus. Plant RNA virus derived genetic constructions may employ a plant virus subgenomic promoter, including subgenomic promoters from tobamoviruses in functional combination with the RNA encoding region. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, plant cells are induced to produce elevated levels of the carotenoid phytoene. The elevated levels of phytoene are achieved by inhibiting the expression of the enzyme phytoene desaturase using the vectors of the invention.

Cytoplasmic inhibition of gene expression

Cytoplasmic inhibition of gene expression by viral RNA

The present invention provides a method of compiling a plant functional gene profile, a method of changing the phenotype or biochemistry of a plant, a method of determining a change in phenotype or biochemistry of a plant, and a method of determining the presence of a trait in plant. The methods comprise expressing transiently a nucleic acid sequence of a plant into a host plant to affect phenotypic or biochemical changes in the host plant. A viral vector functional genomic screen has been developed to identify nucleotide sequences in transfected plants by systemically knocking out endogenous gene expression in an antisense mechanism. Once the presence of a trait in a plant is identified by phenotypic or biochemical changes in the host plant, the nucleic acid insert in the cDNA clone or in the vector that results in the changes is then sequenced. The present invention exemplifies that genes encoding GTP binding proteins in one plant can silence endogenous gene expression in a different plant.

Method of compiling a functional gene profile in a plant by transfecting a nucleic acid sequence of a donor plant into a different host plant in an anti-sense orientation

Cytoplasmic inhibition of gene expression in a plant

DNA sequences isolated from Nicotiana species (e.g., Nicotiana benthamiana and Nicotiana tabacum) have SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5 and 7. The DNA sequences encode polypeptides having enzymatic activity for producing zeta-carotene. The polypeptides are referred to as phytoene desaturase.

DNA sequences encoding enzymes useful in carotenoid biosynthesis

A process for the in vitro production of chemically modified polyphenolic polymer (PPP). First, stable, highly active extracellular tyrosinase is produced from genetically transformed microorganism such as Streptomyces antibioticus. The tyrosinase is then incubated with a reaction substrate such as 1-tyrosine, hydrolyzed protein, or an oligopeptide in combination with 1-tyrosine. The ratio of the oligopeptide/tyrosine combination as well as variation in the concentration of tyrosinase can be used to modify the color, the molecular size, and the spectral absorbance properties of the PPP produced. Alternatively, or additionally, oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite can be used to modify the color of the PPP, regardless of the method used to produce the PPP, and the PPP can subsequently be fractionated using molecular weight cut-off ultrafiltration. Organic solvents can also be used in the method of making PPP to produce PPPs having variable but reproducible physical properties.

Method for making stable, extracellular tyrosinase and synthesis of

A process for the in vitro production of chemically modified polyphenolic polymer (PPP). First, stable, highly active extracellular tyrosinase is produced from genetically transformed microorganism such as Streptomyces antibioticus. The tyrosinase is then incubated with a reaction substrate such as l-tyrosine, hydrolyzed protein, or an oligopeptide in combination with l-tyrosine. The ratio of the oligopeptide/tyrosine combination as well as variation in the concentration of tyrosinase can be used to modify the color, the molecular size, and the spectral absorbance properties of the PPP produced. Alternatively, or additionally, oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite can be used to modify the color of the PPP, regardless of the method used to produce the PPP, and the PPP can subsequently be fractionated using molecular weight cut-off ultrafiltration. Organic solvents can also be used in the method of making PPP to produce PPPs having variable but reproducible physical properties.

Growing community of inventors

Vacaville, CA, United States of America

Guy R Della-Cioppa