Metabolix, Inc.

Karen Bohmert-Tatarev

Oliver P Peoples

Kristi D Snell

Thomas Martin Ramseier

Jihong Tang

Jixiang Han

Nii Patterson

Zhigang Zhang

Venkata Tavva

Andrew Hertig

Susan McAvoy

Transgenic plants, plant material, plant cells, and genetic constructs for synthesis of biopolymers, for example polyhydroxyalkanoates ('PHA') are provided. In one embodiment, the transgenic plants synthesize polyhydroxybutyrate ('PHB'). In one embodiment the transgenic plant encodes siRNA for one or more of the genes encoding enzymes for producing PHA. In a more preferred embodiment, the siRNA expression is under the control of an inducible regulatory element. In another embodiment, the transgenic plant contains transgenes that encode expression enzymes that will degrade the polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the expression of these enzymes is under the control of a germination specific, inducible, or minimal promoter. In another embodiment, the transgenic plant contains transgenes encoding enzymes that increase carbon flow for polymer synthesis. In a preferred embodiment, these transgenes encode enzymes that increase carbon flow in the Calvin Cycle.

Generation of high polyhydroxybutyrate producing oilseeds

Transgenic plants that produce high levels of polyhydroxybutyrate and methods of producing them are provided. In a preferred embodiment the transgenic plants are produced using plastid transformation technologies and utilize genes which are codon optimized. Stably transformed plants able to produce greater than 10% dwt PHS in tissues are also provided.

Stable, fertile, high polyhydroxyalkanoate producing plants and methods of producing them

Growing community of inventors

Brookline, MA, United States of America

Karen Bohmert-Tatarev