Monsanto Company

James Scott Elmer

Stephen G Rogers

Harry John Klee

Robert T Fraley

Robert B Horsch

Daniel Nathans

Leslie Brand

David Bisaro

The invention relates to novel plant plasmid vectors comprising geminivirus DNA or a portion thereof having inserted therein a heterologous DNA sequence or gene, to processes and DNA intermediates useful in producing said vectors and to methods utilizing such vectors to replicate and express heterologous DNA sequences or genes in plants. In some embodiments, methods and compositions are provided for Ti plasmid delivery of these novel vectors into plants. In other embodiments, methods and compositions are provided which allow for the generation of geminivirus DNA containing plant plasmids in stably transformed plants. In still other embodiments, methods and compositions are provided for replicating and expressing heterologous DNA sequences or genes in plants employing the geminivirus DNA containing vectors of the present invention without causing disease symptoms.

Plant vectors

A plant promoter that is a nucleic acid region located upstream of the 5' end of a plant DNA structural coding sequence that is transcribed at high levels in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells. This promoter region is capable of conferring high levels of transcription in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells when used as a promoter for a heterologous coding sequence in a chimeric gene. The promoter and any chimeric gene in which it may be used can be used to obtain transformed plants or plant cells. A DNA coding sequence that codes for a gene that is highly transcribed in meristematic tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana is also disclosed. This coding sequence can be used to obtain a cDNA probe useful in obtaining analogous promoters from a homologous coding sequence in other plant species. Chimeric genes including the isolated promoter region, transformed plants containing the isolated promoter region, transformed plant cells and seeds are also disclosed.

Plant promoter

DNA sequences encoding plant viral proteins which contain modifications of the amino acid sequence -Gly1-Xaa1-Xaa2-Xaa3-Xaa4-Gly2-Lys- are disclosed. These modified proteins confer viral resistance when expressed in transformed plants. A method for providing resistance to infection by a geminivirus in a susceptible plant are disclosed. Plants expressing the modified genes which are resistant to viral infection are also disclosed.

Modified plant viral replicase genes

A plant promoter that is a nucleic acid region located upstream of the 5' end of a plant DNA structural coding sequence that is transcribed at high levels in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells. This promoter region is capable of conferring high levels of transcription in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells when used as a promoter for a heterologous coding sequence in a chimetic gene. The promoter and any chimeric gene in which it may be used can be used to obtain transformed plants or plant cells. A DNA coding sequence that codes for a gene that is highly transcribed in meristematic tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana is also disclosed. This coding sequence can be used to obtain a cDNA probe useful in obtaining analogous promoters from a homologous coding sequence in other plant species. Chimeric genes including the isolated promoter region, transformed plants containing the isolated promoter region, transformed plant cells and seeds are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Ellisville, MO, United States of America

James Scott Elmer