Bayer Cropscience Nv

Plant Genetic Systems N.v.

Bayer Bioscience N.v.

Veronique Gossele

Marc De Block

Michael Metzlaff

Frank Meulewaeter

Roel Van Aarssen

Piet Soetaert

Marcus Cornelissen

Marc De Beuckeleer

Stefan K Jansens

Celestina Mariani

Bernadette Saey

Lydia Herdies

The present invention relates to novel DNA sequences encoding insecticidal Cry1 C proteins derived from, and their use in plants to control insect pests. Also included herein are plant cells or plants comprising such genes and methods of making or using them, as well as plant cells or plants comprising a Cry1 C chimeric gene of the invention and at least one other chimeric gene, such as a chimeric gene encoding an insecticidal Cry1Ab protein, and methods of making or using such plant cells or plants.

Genes encoding insecticidal proteins

Stress tolerance in plants and plant cells is achieved by using nucleotide sequences encoding enzymes involved in the NAD salvage synthesis pathway and/or the NAD de novo synthesis pathway e.g. for overexpression in plants.

Stress resistant plants

Stress tolerance in plants and plant cells is achieved by using nucleotide sequences encoding enzymes involved in the NAD salvage synthesis pathway and/or the NAD de novo synthesis pathway from fungal or yeast like organisms other than, e.g., for overexpression in plants.

The invention provides chimeric genes comprising a first promoter recognized by DNA-dependent RNA polymerase different from a eukaryotic RNA polymerase II; a DNA region encoding a chimeric RNA comprising a 5&prime; UTR, an AU-rich heterologous coding sequence, a 3&prime; UTR; and optionally a terminator sequence recognized by said RNA polymerase, wherein the first promoter and the DNA region encoding the chimeric RNA are operably linked such that upon transcription by the RNA polymerase an uncapped RNA species is produced which comprises a first translation enhancing sequence derived from the 5&prime; region of genomic or subgenomic RNA of a positive stranded RNA plant virus; a heterologous RNA coding sequence encoding a polypeptide or protein of interest, preferably from an AT-rich gene; and a second translation enhancing sequence derived from the 3&prime; region of gonomic or subgenomic RNA of a positive-stranded RNA plant virus, wherein the uncapped RNA species is capable of being translated in the cytoplasm of a plant cell to produce the protein or polypeptide. Also provided are plant cells and plants comprising these chimeric genes, integrated in their nuclear DNA, whereby the plant cell produces the RNA polymerases corresponding to the used promoters and terminators. Further the invention provides a process for producing a plant expressing a protein or polypeptide encoded by a hoterologous gene which comprises the steps of transforming the nuclear genome of a plant cell with the above-mentioned chimeric genes; and regenerating a transformed plant from the transformed cell.

Gene expression in plants

The present invention provides chimeric genes that comprise a first promoter recognized by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase different from a eukaryotic RNA polymerase II; a DNA region encoding a chimeric RNA which comprises a 5' UTR, an AU-rich heterologous coding sequence, a 3' UTR; and optionally a terminator sequence recognized by said RNA polymerase, wherein the first promoter and the DNA region encoding the chimeric RNA are operably linked such that upon transcription by the RNA polymerase an uncapped RNA species is produced which comprises a first translation enhancing sequence derived from the 5' region of genomic or subgenomic RNA of a positive stranded RNA plant virus; a heterologous RNA coding sequence encoding a polypeptide or protein of interest, preferably from an AT-rich gene; and a second translation enhancing sequence derived from the 3' region of genomic or subgenomic RNA of a positive-stranded RNA plant virus, wherein the uncapped RNA species is capable of being translated in the cytoplasm of a plant cell to produce the protein or polypeptide. Also provided in the invention are plant cells and plants comprising these chimeric genes, integrated in their nuclear DNA, whereby the plant cell produces the RNA polymerases corresponding to the used promoters and terminators. Further the invention provides a process for producing a plant expressing a protein or polypeptide encoded by a heterologous gene which comprises the steps of transforming the nuclear genome of a plant cell with the above-mentioned chimeric genes; and regenerating a transformed plant from the transformed cell.

Growing community of inventors

Ghent, Belgium

Veronique Gossele