Ciba-Geigy Corporation

Novartis Corporation

Novartis Finance Corporation

Jean-Marc Neuhaus

John A Ryals

Scott Joseph Uknes

Eric R Ward

James Joseph Beck

Robert M Goodman

Jeffrey R Stinson

Christian T Harms

Leslie B Friedrich

Danny C Alexander

Christoph Sperisen

Mary B Moyer

George B Payne

John H Duesing

Frederich Meins, Jr

Shericca C Williams

Alice Montoya, Deceased

Thomas Boller

The present invention relates to novel peptide fragments [targeting signal] that are obtainable from the C-terminal region [C-terminal extension] of plant vacuole proteins and that, in operable linkage with any desired protein molecule, ensure that the proteins associated with those peptide fragments are directed specifically into the plant vacuole, and to DNA molecules coding for the said peptide fragments. The present invention relates also to recombinant DNA molecules that comprise the DNA sequence according to the invention in operable linkage with an expressible DNA, and to the vectors derived therefrom. Also included are host cells and/or host organisms, including transgenic plants, that comprise the said recombinant DNA or the vectors derived therefrom. The present invention also relates to recombinant DNA molecules and vectors derived therefrom that comprise DNA sequences naturally coding for vacuolar proteins, but which are devoid of vacuole signal sequences and targeted for extracellular secretion.

Signal sequences for vacuolar sorting

The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease. Also provided is a method for the exogenous regulation of gene expression in plants, which comprises obtaining a plant incapable of regulating at least one gene or gene family, or at least one heterologous gene, due to the deactivation of at least one endogenous signal transduction cascade which regulates the gene in the plant, and applying a chemical regulator to the plant at a time when expression of the gene is desired. A novel signal peptide sequence and corresponding DNA coding sequence is also provided. Further provided are assays for the identification and isolation of additional chemically regulatable DNA sequences and cDNAs encoding PR proteins and assays for identifying chemicals capable of exogenously regulating the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention.

Chemically regulatable and anti-pathogenic DNA sequences and uses thereof

The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease. Also provided is a method for the exogenous regulation of gene expression in plants, which comprises obtaining a plant incapable of regulating at least one gene or gene family, or; at least one heterologous gene, due to the deactivation of at least one endogenous signal transduction cascade which regulates the gene in the plant, and applying a chemical regulator to the plant at a time when expression of the gene is desired. A novel signal peptide sequence and corresponding DNA coding sequence is also provided. Further provided are assays for the identification and isolation of additional chemically regulatable DNA sequences and cDNAs encoding PR proteins and assays for identifying chemicals capable of exogenously regulating the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention.

Growing community of inventors

Basel, Switzerland

Jean-Marc Neuhaus