Cropdesign

Cropdesign N.v.

Universidad Politècnica De València

Roc Ros Palau

Ramon Serrano Salom

Arthur Rodolphe Kanhonou

Oscar Vicente Meana

Marta Roldan Medina

José Javier Forment Millet

Miguel Angel Naranjo Olivero

Rodolpho Arthur Kahnonou

Rodolphe Arthur Kahnonou

This invention describes the identification of pre-messenger RNA processing as a novel target of environmental stress caused for example by lithium and sodium toxicity. Overexpression of different types of proteins (or protein fragments) from different organisms but all involved in pre-mRNA processing, protects yeast from salt stress, which indicates that any stimulation of this process, independently of its mechanism, may counteract the toxic effects of mineral salts. A similar phenotype of tolerance to NaCl and to LiCl has been observed by overexpression of these types of proteins in transgenicplants, demonstrating the generality of this protective effect in eukaryotic cells and organisms.

Protection against environmental toxicity through manipulation of the processing of messenger RNA precursors

The present invention relates to isolated genes originating from, sugar beet, that are involved in responses to stress situations. The genes were isolated from a sugar beet cDNA library screened in a functional selection procedure with transformed yeast cells that were able to grow in selection medium with high salt concentrations. Subsequently these genes were sequenced and further characterized. One of the genes is a sugar beet casein kinase &#x3b1; subunit, one is a sugar beet dihydroorotase, one is a sugar beet translation initiation factor 1A and two others are of a unknown protein type. All of these isolated plant genes were functional as stress tolerance enhancers in yeast cells and are therefore useful to confer stress tolerance to an organism when transfected herein. More particularly, these genes can be used to render crops resistant to stress situations like osmotic stress caused by salt, drought, cold or frost.

Sugar beet genes involved in stress tolerance

The present invention relates to isolated genes originating from, sugar beet, that are involved in responses to stress situations. The genes were isolated from a sugar beet cDNA library screened in a functional selection procedure with transformed yeast cells that were able to grow in selection medium with high salt concentrations. Subsequently these genes were sequenced and further characterized. One of the genes is a sugar beet casein kinase a $(g)a-subunit, one is a sugar beet dihydroorotase, one is a sugar beet translation initiation factor 1A and two others are of a unknown protein type. All of these isolated plant genes were functional as stress tolerance enhancers in yeast cells and are therefore useful to confer stress tolerance to an organism when transfected herein. More particularly, these genes can be used to render crops resistant to stress situations like osmotic stress caused by salt, drought, cold or frost.

Growing community of inventors

Valencia, Spain

Roc Ros Palau