Novartis Finance Corporation

Novartis Ag

Syngenta Participations Ag

Marie A Johnson

Sandra L Volrath

Eric R Ward

Peter B Heifetz

Eric Russell Ward

Sharon L Potter

The present invention provides novel DNA sequences coding for protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzymes from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, oilseed rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an herbicide tolerant form of a plant protox enzyme. The present invention further provides shuffled DNA molecules encoding protox enzymes having enhanced tolerance to a herbicide that inhibits the protox activity encoded by a template DNA molecule from which the shuffled DNA molecule is derived.

Herbicide-tolerant protox genes produced by DNA shuffling

The present invention relates to methods for controlling the growth of undesired vegetation comprising applying an effective amount of a protox-inhibiting herbicide to a population of transgenic plants or plant seed transformed with a DNA sequence coding for a modified protox enzyme that is tolerant to a protox-inhibiting herbicide or to the locus where a population of the transgenic plants or plant seeds is cultivated.

Herbicide-tolerant plants and methods of controlling the growth of undesired vegetation

The present invention provides novel DNA sequences coding for protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzymes from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, oilseed rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an herbicide tolerant form of a plant protox enzyme.

Herbicide-tolerant protoporphyrinogen oxidase ('protox') genes

The present invention provides novel DNA sequences isolated from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane that coding for enzymes having protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) activity. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an inhibitor-resistant from of a plant protox enzyme.

DNA molecules encoding plant protoporphyrinogen oxidase

Promoters naturally associated with plant protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) coding sequences, and derivatives thereof, are provided. These promoters can be used to control the expression of an operably linked heterologous coding sequence in a plant cell. These promoters are particularly useful for expressing modified forms of herbicide target enzymes, particularly modified forms of protox, to achieve tolerance to herbicides that inhibit the corresponding unmodified enzymes. Recombinant DNA molecules and chimeric genes comprising these promoters are provided, as well as plant tissue and plants containing such chimeric genes.

Promoters from plant protoporphyrinogen oxidase genes

The present invention provides novel DNA sequences coding for plant protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzymes from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, rape, rice and sorghum. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an inhibitor-resistant from of a plant protox enzyme.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Marie A Johnson