Ciba-geigy Corporation

Novartis Corporation

The Pennsylvania Research Corporation

John H Duesing

Scott Joseph Uknes

John A Ryals

Eric R Ward

James Joseph Beck

Jeffrey R Stinson

Robert M Goodman

Christian T Harms

Leslie B Friedrich

Danny C Alexander

Christoph Sperisen

Mary B Moyer

George B Payne

Frederich Meins, Jr

Jean-Marc Neuhaus

Alice Montoya, Deceased

Shericca C Williams

Mary-Dell Matchett Chilton

Georgia Helmer

Steven Rothstein

Liliana Scarafia

Chen-Pei D Tu

Hui-Chen J Lai

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.

The invention relates to plant cells and dicotyledonous plants transformed with chimeric rat glutathione-S-transferase gene constructs. Transgenic tobacco plants and progeny expressed the chimeric gene constructs under the control of a plant promoter. The transgenic plants and progeny demonstrated resistance to a herbicide which is normally inhibitory to plants not expressing the chimeric construct.

Herbicidal tolerant plants containing rat glutathione S-transferase gene

Growing community of inventors

Riehen, Switzerland

John H Duesing