Zeneca Limited

Monsanto Company

Simon William Jonathan Bright

Wolfgang Walter Schuch

Andrew James Greenland

David Byrom

Ian George Bridges

Philip Anthony Fentem

Kieran Michael Elborough

Antoni Ryzsard Slabas

Phillip Anthony Fentem

DNA sequence of an acetyl Coenzyme A carboxylase from plants are inserted into the genome of plants in sense or antisense orientation in order to inhibit expression of the gene product of the endogenous ACCase gene, resulting in reduced conversion of the enzyme's substrate, acetyl Coenzyme A, to fatty acid synthesis, leaving the substrate available for diversion into other biosynthesis pathways. One such diversion may be accomplished by providing the plant genome with genes specifying the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers.

Plant gene specifying acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase and transformed plants containing same

A plant which produces polyhydroxy-alkanoate polymer has a recombinant genome which contains one or more than one of the genes specifying enzymes critical to the polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthetic pathway which occurs in certain micro-organistas such as,which naturally produce same. The plant species is preferably an oil-producing plant.

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate in plants

Male sterility is imparted to a plant by a cascade of gene sequences which expresses a protein which disrupts the biosynthesis of viable pollen. Expression of the disrupter protein is restricted to male parts of the plant by an upstream promoter sequence which is specific to male flowers, the male specific promoter being under control of an operator sequence. The cascade also includes a gene encoding a repressor protein specific for that operator. Expression of the repressor protein is under control of a chemically inducible promoter which is inducible by the application to the plant by, spraying or like process, of an exogenous chemical. In the absence of the exogenous chemical inducer, no repressor protein is expressed, resulting in expression of the disrupter protein and, consequently, male sterility. Fertility may be restored to the plant, when required for maintenance of the line, by spraying with the inducer, resulting in expression of the repressor which binds the operator and inhibits expression of the disrupter protein.

Plant gene construct encoding a protein capable of disrupting the biogenesis of viable pollen

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Marlow, United Kingdom

Simon William Jonathan Bright