The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Other

The Salk Institute of Biological Studies

Joanne Chory

Jianming Li

Detlef Weigel

Michael M Neff

Zhiyong Wang

John R Cashman

Xuelu Wang

Susan K Christensen

Christian Fankhauser

Yunde Zhao

Xuelin Wu

Pablo Cerdan

Jessica Vu

The disclosure provides nucleic acid constructs that include a TPR-domain suppressor of STIMPY (TSS) promoter operably linked to an isopentenyl-transferase 7 (IPT7) coding sequence. The introduction of such a construct into a plant or plant cell generates transgenic plants having increased root mass and greater carbon sequestration capacity. Plants generated using the methods are provided. Such plants can include other desirable traits.

Expression of IPT7 frompromoter increases root mass and carbon sequestration

This invention provides recombinant cells and transgenic plants that display selectively increased or decreased response to brassinosteroids, resulting in increased yield. Methods of modulating brassinosteroid responses, and of modulating plant phenotypes, are provided.

Compositions, cells, and plants that include BKI1, a negative regulator of BRI1-mediated BR signaling

The PFT1 (Phytochrome and Flowering Time 1) locus is described and identified. PFT1 acts in a light-quality pathway downstream of phyB that acts through modulation of FT transcription. Plants containing a truncated pft1 gene display an altered shade avoidance syndrome including an increase in time to flowering. The corresponding PFT1 gene has been isolated and characterized. Recombinant vectors, recombinant plants containing the PFT1 gene and methods of using the PFT1 gene to modulate a photosensitive trait, especially time to flowering, are described.

Modulation of flowering time by the pft1 locus

Disclosed are plants and methods of making plants that have a dwarf stature in comparison to wildtype plants. By transforming a wildtype plant with a 'bas1' gene, or functional homolog thereof, the plant grows to have a dwarf stature.

Genetically modified plants having modulated brassinosteroid signaling

The present invention provides a BZR1 gene and an altered gene, bzr1-D, involved in the brassinosteroid response pathway. The expression of BZR1 genes in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Genes involved in brassinosteroid hormone action in plants

The present invention provides a cytochrome P450-encoding gene, DAS5, as well as an altered gene, das5-D, which are involved in the synthesis of the plant steroid hormone brassinolide. The das5-D mutant has an insertion of a T-DNA containing transcriptional enhancers into its promoter region. Overexpression of the mutant thus produces large amounts of DAS5 transcript. The expression of this das5-D mutation or overexpression of the DAS5 gene in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Das5, a P450 protein involved in the brassinosteroid biosynthesis pathway in plants

A novel plant steroid receptor, BIN1, is provided, as well as polynucleotides encoding BIN1. The function of BIN1, an extracellular steroid-binding receptor, is provided as well as its primary binding affinity with brassinolide. BIN1 polypeptide is useful in promoting increased plant yield and/or increased plant biomass.

Receptor kinase, BIN1

The invention disclosed herein provides a purified polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid encoding a plant DFD kinase polypeptide, methods for using same, and transgenic plants containing the polynucleotide.

Plant kinases and methods of modulation of their activity in plants

The present invention provides cytochrome P450s useful in for producing genetically modified plants characterized as having the phenotypic trait of modulated brassinolide synthesis or signaling, for example, resulting in insect resistance, dwarfism and darker-green foliage compared with wild type plants. Such plants can be modified, for example, using &ldquo;bas1&rdquo;, or functional homologues thereof, a polypeptide encoded by bas1 that modulates brassinolide synthesis and/or signaling in plants. The invention also provides methods for modulating ecdysteroid activity in a plant and for assaying brassinosteroid function in a plant. The latter method can be used to create a gain-of-function allelic series of plants characterized by increasing levels of overexpression of a cytochrome P450 to screen for brassinolide activity in a plant species.

The present invention provides methods for using enhanced expression of nucleotide sequences encoding a flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) and suitable homologs thereof, to elicit desired traits, study biochemical pathways, and oxidize xenobiotics in plants.

Expression of flavin-containing monoxygenases in plants

A novel plant steroid 5&agr;-reductase, DET2, is provided, as well as polynucleotides encoding DET2. DET2 is useful in promoting increased plant yield and/or increased plant biomass. Genetically modified plants characterized as having increased yield and methods for producing such plants are also provided.

Plant steroid 5&agr;-reductase, det2

A novel plant steroid receptor, Bin1, is provided, as well as polynucleotides encoding Bin1. Bin1 polypeptide is useful in promoting increased plant yield and/or increased plant biomass. Genetically modified plants characterized as having increased yield and methods for producing such plants are also provided.

Receptor kinase, Bin1

A novel plant steroid 5.alpha. reductase, DET2, is provided, as well as polynucleotides encoding DET2. DET2 is useful in promoting increased plant yield and/or increased plant biomass. Genetically modified plants characterized as having increased yield and methods for producing such plants are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Joanne Chory