Metabolix, Inc.

Nii Patterson

Oliver P Peoples

Kristi D Snell

Maurice M Moloney

Thomas Martin Ramseier

Jihong Tang

Mariya Somleva

Jixiang Han

Karen Bohmert-Tatarev

Zhigang Zhang

Venkata Tavva

Andrew Hertig

Julie Beaulieu

Bradley Garrison

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, plant material, and plant cells for synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates, preferably poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (also referred to a as PHB) are provided. Preferred plants that can be genetically engineered to produce PHB include plants that do not normally produce storage products such as oils and carbohydrates, and plants that have a CNAD-malic enzyme photosynthetic pathway. Such plants also advantageously produce lignocellulosic biomass that can be converted into biofuels. An exemplary plant that can be genetically engineered to produce PHB and produce lignocellulosic biomass is switchgrass,L. A preferred cultivar of switchgrass is Alamo. Other suitable cultivars of switchgrass include but are not limited to Blackwell, Kanlow, Nebraska 28, Pathfinder, Cave-in-Rock, Shelter and Trailblazer.

Production of polyhydroxybutyrate in switchgrass

Methods and systems to modify fatty acid biosynthesis and oxidation in plants to make new polymers are provided. Two enzymes are essential: a hydratase such as D-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase, for example, the hydratase obtained from and a &bgr;-oxidation enzyme system. Some plants have a &bgr;-oxidation enzyme system which is sufficient to modify polymer synthesis when the plants are engineered to express the hydratase. Examples demonstrate production of polymer by expression of these enzymes in transgenic plants. Examples also demonstrate that modifications in fatty acid biosynthesis can be used to alter plant phenotypes, decreasing or eliminating seed production and increasing green plant biomass, as well as producing polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Modification of fatty acid metabolism in plants

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Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Nii Patterson