Novartis Finance Corporation

Ciba-geigy Corporation

Syngenta Participations Ag

Novartis Ag

Thomas D Gaffney

Stephen T Lam

Dwight Steven Hill

James M Ligon

Scott Joseph Uknes

John A Ryals

Philip E Hammer

Thomas Schupp

James Madison Ligon

James Joseph Beck

Jeffrey I Stein

Peter Philippsen

Albert Flavier

Fred Dietrich

Eric R Ward

Stephen Arthur Goff

Leslie B Friedrich

Helmut Kessmann

Paul Bernasconi

J&uuml;rgen Wendland

Daniel Murray Ellis

Nancy Torkewitz

Kimberly Ann White

Witold Filipowicz

Nancy R Torkewitz

Bernardus T Vernooij

Jill Michelle Stafford

Juergen Wendland

Yasmina Ayad-Durieux

Jurgen Wendland

Krista Gates

Frederick Dietrich

Peter Phillippsen

Michelle M Cloyd Kirksey

The invention relates to genes isolated from,that code for proteins essential for normal fungal growth and development. The invention also includes the methods of using these proteins to discover new fungicides, based on the essentiality of the gene for normal growth and development. The invention can also be used in a screening assay to identify inhibitors that are potential fungicides.

Fungal target genes and methods

The present invention relates to genomic DNA sequences obtained from terminal sequencing of random genomic fragments of the filamentous fungus,, to the sequences obtained therewith and the use of the sequences for forensic identification, to characterize genes and gene organization or this ascomycete by inter-genomic comparison, to identify biosynthetic genes that can be used as selection markers, to isolate promoters and terminators for application in a homologous as well as heterologous context, to find putative centromere containing clones, chromosome mapping, chromosome identifying, general information about chromosome organization and in addition to identify ORF containing SRS sequences with no homology to,or any other organism which allows the identification of,specific genes.

Fungal genes required for normal growth and development

Strains of Pseudomonas have been genetically engineered to have enhanced biocontrol properties. The strains of the invention are particularly effective against plant pathogenic fungi such as species of Rhizoctonia and Pythium, because the strains produce enhanced amounts of antifungal metabolites such as pyrrolnitrin that are active against these fungal pathogens. Both the genetically modified biocontrol strains and the antifungal metabolites can be used as active agents for biocontrol compositions.

Genetically modified pseudomonas strains with enhanced biocontrol

The present invention exploits the discovery that certain single base changes in the gacA gene coding sequence, which result in certain single amino acid changes in the encoded GacA protein, render it LemA-independent. The present invention therefore provides DNA that encodes mutant GacA proteins that do not require phosphorylation by LemA in order to be active as transcriptional activators.

DNA encoding lemA-independent GacA and its use in activating gene

The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease. Also provided is a method for the exogenous regulation of gene expression in plants, which comprises obtaining a plant incapable of regulating at least one gene or gene family, or at least one heterologous gene, due to the deactivation of at least one endogenous signal transduction cascade which regulates the gene in the plant, and applying a chemical regulator to the plant at a time when expression of the gene is desired. A novel signal peptide sequence and corresponding DNA coding sequence is also provided. Further provided are assays for the identification and isolation of additional chemically regulatable DNA sequences and cDNAs encoding PR proteins and assays for identifying chemicals capable of exogenously regulating the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention.

Chemically regulatable and anti-pathogenic DNA sequences and uses thereof

Genetically modified Pseudomonas strains with enhanced biocontrol

Gene activating sequences which activate the expression of other bacterial genes, which are latent or expressed at low levels, are provided. The gene activating sequences confer the ability to produce several metabolites and may be transferred to bacterial strains. The transformed biocontrol agents are active to inhibit the growth of the fungal pathogens.

Genomic DNA encoding a Pseudomonas global transcriptional activation

DNA encoding the pseudomonas fluorescens sensor/kinase element, lemA,

Genomic DNA encoding the pseudomonas fluorescens alternative sigma

Genomic DNA encoding a pseudomonas global transcriptional activation

The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.

Genes for the synthesis of antipathogenic substances

Genes for the synthesis of antipathogenic substance

The invention is a method for identifying and cloning bacterial genes that are responsive to the presence of a plant host, comprising mutating a bacterial culture with a transposon containing a promoterless marker gene, exposing the bacterial mutants to root exudates, other plant-derived substances or plants, and identifying mutants that have a transposon-associated gene inducible by the plant. These mutants may be used to clone and characterize the promoters and the associated wild-type bacterial genes responsive to the plant.

Identification of plant-responsive genes of bacteria

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Thomas D Gaffney