Syngenta Participations Ag

Bp Corporation North America Inc.

Rene Quadt

Aron Silverstone

Tricia C Moser

Brian Steer

Shaun Healey

Carl A Miller

George W Aux

Christopher J Batie

Alireza Esteghlalian

Stacy Marie Miles

Edward S Cates

Jay Austin Dinwiddie

Kenneth A Dallmier

Kenneth Barrett

Greg Crabb

Aron Louis Silverstone

Methods are disclosed for distinguishing and identifying plants by measuring partial hydrolysis of polysaccharides on account of polysaccharide-hydrolyzing enzyme activity at pre-determined incubation times and temperatures. Methods also are disclosed for identifying the source organism of a heterologous polysaccharide-hydrolyzing enzyme in a plant by measuring partial hydrolysis of polysaccharides on account of polysaccharide-hydrolyzing enzyme activity at pre-determined incubation times and temperatures. The reaction mixture has unique chemical and physical properties that can be used to construct viscosity curves for measuring polysaccharide-hydrolyzing enzyme activity. The viscosity curves can be compared among plants to distinguish or identify the plants from one another. Likewise, viscosity curves can be compared among source organisms to identify the source organism of the heterologous polysaccharide-hydrolyzing enzyme in the plant.

Methods for distinguishing and identifying plant varieties

The invention relates to polypeptides having glucanase, e.g., endoglucanase, mannanase, xylanase activity or a combination of these activities, and polynucleotides encoding them. In one aspect, the glucanase activity is an endoglucanase activity (e.g., endo-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucano hydrolase activity) and comprises hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages in cellulose, cellulose derivatives (e.g., carboxy methyl cellulose and hydroxy ethyl cellulose) lichenin, beta-1,4 bonds in mixed beta-1,3 glucans, such as cereal beta-D-glucans or xyloglucans and other plant material containing cellulosic parts. In addition, methods of designing new enzymes and methods of use thereof are also provided. In alternative aspects, the new glucanases e.g., endoglucanases, mannanases, xylanases have increased activity and stability, including thermotolerance or thermostability, at increased or decreased pHs and temperatures.

Glucanases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them

Compositions and methods for producing a crop having a predetermined level of at least one primary trait of interest are provided. The compositions comprise seeds and plants exhibiting a primary trait of interest. Primary traits include traits that improve or otherwise facilitate the conversion of harvested plant material into a commercially useful product. The predetermined level of the primary trait is obtained by blending harvested plant material from at least two varieties of plants, wherein at least one of the varieties exhibits the primary trait. The blend can be customized for use in a variety of commercially important industrial or agricultural downstream uses.

Methods for the commercial production of transgenic plants

The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved processes for processing starch from plant sources, including processes for starch liquefaction, for simultaneous liquefaction and saccharification, and for the preparation of ethanol. These processes can be performed without a pH adjustment and at relatively low temperatures. The processes can involve the use of starch-containing plant material derived from plants that express starch-digesting enzymes. The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to improved processes for the preparation of other starch-derived products, including dried distiller grain (dried distiller grain) and dried distiller grain and solubles (dried distiller grain and solubles), and to the starch-derived products, themselves.

Process for starch liquefaction and fermentation

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Rene Quadt