The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Other

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

University of North Texas

Haworth, Inc.

Richard A Dixon

Fang Chen

Chang-Jun Liu

Joseph Noel

Christopher J Lamb

Kirankumar S Mysore

Nancy L Paiva

Xian Z He

Yiji Xia

Gregory J Peel

Chloe Zubieta

Wensheng Li

Srinivasa Rao Uppalapati

Shashi B Sharma

Lloyd W Sumner

Abraham Oommen

Jonathan R DeYoung

Kent Dean Chapman

William L Cleair

Zengyu Wang

Mark R Smith

Qun Zhu

Scott J Leenstra

Michael K Udvardi

Chad J Potinsky

Christopher L Steele

Nicholas Fricano

Elison Blancaflor

Bettina E Broeckling

Nandika D'Souza

Jerome A Verdier

Deyu Xie

Mangesh Nar

Jian Zhao

Rhidaya Shrestha

Dave Timmermann

Joanna DeWeerd

Huanzhong Wang

Victor H Tan

Hui Shen

David A Beurkens

Qiao Zhao

Yongzhen Pang

Justin Borevitz

Christopher Lamb

Eileen A Maher

Dianjing Guo

Chunliu Zhuo

Luzia V Modolo

Li Tian

Bettina Deavours

M S Srinivasa Reddy

The disclosure provides recombinant LAC polynucleotides encoding a laccase (LAC) polypeptide capable of polymerizing caffeyl alcohol, vectors and cells including the recombinant LAC polynucleotide. The disclosure also provides transgenic plants including cells having the recombinant LAC polynucleotide of the present disclosure and methods of increasing production of C-lignin in a plant.

Recombinant LAC polynucleotides and uses thereof to increase production of C-lignin in plants

Poly-(caffeyl alcohol) (PCFA), also known as C-lignin, is a promising new source of both carbon fibers and pure carbon. PCFA can be used to produce carbon fibers by direct electrospinning, without blending with another polymer to reduce breakage. Analyses have shown that the carbon obtained from PCFA is superior to that obtained from other lignins. The fibers formed from PCFA are smoother, have a narrower diameter distribution, and show very low defects. The PCFA can be obtained by extraction from plant seed coats. Examples of these plants include the vanilla orchid,, and. The fibers may be formed through electrospinning, although other methods for forming the fibers, such as extrusion with a carrier polymer, could be used. The fibers may then be carbonized to increase the carbon yield.

Methods for producing carbon fibers from poly-(caffeyl alcohol)

The invention provides methods for increasing the level of fermentable carbohydrates in a biofuel crop plant such as alfalfa or switchgrass, by modification of the lignin biosynthetic pathway. Also provided are plants prepared by the methods of the invention. Methods for processing plant tissue and for producing ethanol by utilizing such plants are also provided.

Biofuel production methods and compositions

The invention provides methods and compositions for making a dicotyledonous plant that is susceptible toRoot Rot (PRR) more resistant to PRR, by metabolic engineering of the plant's flavonoid and isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathways. Thus, methods for increasing the synthesis and accumulation of medicarpin and/or 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone in plants such as alfalfa are provided.

Metabolic engineering for plant disease resistance

The invention provides methods and compositions for the modulation of proanthocynidin ('PA;' condensed tannin) production in plants. The methods of the invention allow creation of plants having novel phenotypes, such as alterations in levels of PA or in the types of tissues in which PAs are produced. Altered expression of PA in plants may be achieved, for instance without significantly affecting anthocyanin content or overall secondary metabolite profiles. Alternatively, expression of PA in plants may be achieved while also affecting anthocyanin content.

Methods and compositions for regulating production of proanthocyanidins

The invention provides methods for modifying lignin, cellulose, xylan, and hemicellulose content in plants, and for achieving ectopic lignification and, for instance, secondary cell wall synthesis in pith cells, by altered regulation of a WRKY transcription factor. Nucleic acid constructs for altered WRKY-TF expression are described. Transgenic plants are provided that comprise modified pith cell walls, and lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose content. Plants described herein may be used, for example, as improved biofuel feedstock and as highly digestible forage crops.

Transcription factors for modification of lignin content in plants

The invention provides methods for modifying lignin content and composition in plants and achieving associated benefits therefrom involving altered expression of newly discovered MYB4 transcription factors. Nucleic acid constructs for modifying MYB4 transcription factor expression are described. By over-expressing the identified MYB4 transcription factors, for example, an accompanying decrease in lignin content may be achieved. Plants are provided by the invention comprising such modifications, as are methods for their preparation and use.

Compositions and methods for improved plant feedstock

The invention provides enzymes that encode O-methyltransferases (OMTs) fromthat allow modification to plant (iso)flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. In certain aspects of the invention, the genes encoding these enzymes are provided. The invention therefore allows the modification of plants for isoflavonoid content. Transgenic plants comprising such enzymes are also provided, as well as methods for improving disease resistance in plants. Methods for producing food and nutraceuticals, and the resulting compositions, are also provided.

Plant isoflavone and isoflavanone O-methyltransferase genes

The invention provides methods for decreasing lignin content and for increasing the level of fermentable carbohydrates in plants by down-regulation of the NST transcription factor. Nucleic acid constructs for down-regulation of NST are described. Transgenic plants are provided that comprise reduced lignin content. Plants described herein may be used, for example, as improved biofuel feedstock and as highly digestible forage crops. Methods for processing plant tissue and for producing ethanol by utilizing such plants are also provided.

Plants with modified lignin content and methods for production thereof

The invention provides methods and compositions for the modulation of epicatechin glucosyltransferase activity in plants. Increased expression of epicatechin glucosides, and ultimately anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, in plants may be used to increase the nutritional value of food plants for both human and animal consumption. Increased proanthocyanidin content also reduces the potential for bloat in animals fed certain forage plants low in condensed tannin content.

Epicatechin glucosyltransferase

The invention provides transgenic plants with resistance to infection by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen such as. Also provided are methods of making such plants. Further provided are nucleic acid vectors for producing such a plant. Additionally, methods are provided for growing a dicotyledonous plant that is resistant to root rot disease in soil that comprises, or another pathogen.

Disease resistant plants

The invention provides plant isoflavonoid hydroxylase coding sequences. Also provided are constructs comprising these sequences, plants transformed therewith and methods of use thereof. In certain aspects of the invention, plants transformed with the nucleic acids are provided exhibiting improved pest and disease resistance. Plants provided by the invention may also exhibit improved nutritional qualities.

Plant isoflavonoid hydroxylases and methods of use thereof

The invention provides crystalline O-methyltransferases and isolated non-native O-methyltransferases as well as sets of their structural coordinates. Also provided are methods of predicting the activity or substrate specificity of putative O-methyl-transferases, methods of identifying potential substrates of O-methyltransferases, and methods of identifying potential inhibitors of methyltransferases.

Method of identifying a potential substrates of an O-methyltransferase

Methods for transforming forage legumes or woody plants with a DNA construct comprising at least one open reading frame encoding for a caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase enzyme and a caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase enzyme or fragment thereof in either a sense or antisense orientation under a lignification-associated tissue specific promoter have been found, resulting in the down-regulation of the corresponding homologous gene either through antisense inhibition or sense suppression, as well as reduced lignin content and modified lignin composition in the transgenic plants. The expression of the caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase transgene produces an increased syringyl lignin to guaiacyl lignin ratio in the transformed plant, and greatly improved forage digestibility.

Method for modifying lignin composition and increasing in vivo digestibility of forages

The invention provides method and compositions for the modulation of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin production in plants. The methods of the invention allow creation of plants having novel phenotypes. Increased expression of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in plants may be used to increase the nutritional value of food plants for both human and animal consumption. Increased proanthocyanidin content also reduces the potential for bloat in animals fed certain forage plants low in condensed tannin content. The invention may also be used to modify plant pigmentation, and for nutraceutical and food colorant production.

Production of proanthocyanidins to improve forage quality

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Ardmore, OK, United States of America

Richard A Dixon