The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Other

Jeffrey M Becker

Gary Stacey

Mark A Lubkowitz

A oligopeptide transport gene, OPT1, was cloned from a genomic library through heterologous expression in the di-/tripeptide transport mutant PB1X-9B. When transformed with a plasmid harboring OPT1, PB1X-9B, which did not express tetra-/pentapeptide transport activity under the conditions used, was conferred with an oligopeptide transport phenotype as indicated by growth on the tetrapeptide Lysyl-Leucyl-Leucyl-Glycine, sensitivivity to toxic tetra- and pentapeptides, and an increase in the initial uptake rate of the radiolabeled tetrapeptide Lysyl-Leucyl-Glycyl-&lsqb; H&rsqb;Leucine. The entire 3.8 kb fragment containing the oligopeptide transport activity was sequenced and an open reading frame of 2349 nucleotides containing a 58 nucleotide intron was identified. The deduced protein product of 783 amino acid residues contained twelve hydrophobic regions suggestive of a membrane transport protein. The oligopeptide transporter facilitates targeting of antifungal, especially anticandidal drugs.

Isolated Candida albicans oligopeptide transporter gene

A plant peptide transport gene and its nucleotide sequence are disclosed. The gene may be used to confer herbicide resistance to plants, and to render plants resistant to insect pests. The invention also relates to plants that possess non-naturally occurring alleles of peptide transport gene.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Jeffrey M Becker