Calgene Corporation

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc.

Other

University of California

Monsanto Technology LLC

Monsanto Company

Vic C Knauf

Jean C Kridl

Gregory A Thompson

Christine K Shewmaker

Luca Comai

Catherine M Houck

Robert M Goodman

William R Hiatt

Katayoon Dehesh

Ann Joan Slade

Susan R Hurst

Trenton G Colbert

Claire McCallum

George Bruening

Frank Flider

Donald Emlay

Eric Rey

Ling Yuan

John T Perchorowicz

Donna E Scherer

Elaine A Best

George Breuning

Raymond E Sheehy

Andree L Genez

Frank J Flider

Claire M Mccallum

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preparing gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) in safflower plants, particularly from seeds of safflower. Nucleic acid sequences and constructs encoding one or more fatty acid desaturase sequences are used to generate transgenic safflower plants that contain and express one or more of these sequences and produce high levels of GLA in safflower seeds. Provided are transgenic safflower plants and seeds that produce high levels of GLA. Additionally provided are oils produced from seeds of this invention. The invention also relates to methods of treating a variety of diseases including nervous system disorders, inflammatory conditions, cancer and cardiovascular disorders using the oils of this invention.

Safflower with elevated gamma-linolenic acid

A series of independent non-transgenic mutations found in the fruit PG gene of tomato; tomato plants having these mutations in their fruit PG gene; and a method of creating and identifying similar and/or additional mutations in the PG gene by screening pooled and/or individual tomato plants. The tomato plants of the present invention exhibit reduced PG enzyme activity and fruit that soften more slowly post harvest without having the inclusion of foreign nucleic acids in their genomes.

Tomatoes having reduced polygalacturonase activity caused by non-transgenic mutations in the polygalacturonase gene

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preparing gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) in safflower plants, particularly from seeds of safflower. Nucleic acid sequences and constructs encoding one or more fatty acid desaturase sequences are used to generate transgenic safflower plants that contain and express one or more of these sequences and produce high levels of GLA in safflower seeds. Provided are transgenic safflower plants and seeds that produce high levels of GLA.

By this invention, compositions and methods of use of plant desaturase enzymes, especially &#x394;-9 desaturases, are provided. Of special interest are methods and compositions of amino acids and nucleic acid sequences related to biologically active plant desaturases as well as sequences, especially nucleic acid sequences, which are to be used as probes, vectors for transformation or cloning intermediates. Biologically active sequences may be found in a sense or anti-sense orientation as to transcriptional regulatory regions found in various constructs.

Plant desaturases&#x2014;compositions and uses

By this invention, methods to produce oleic fatty acids in plant seed oils are provided. The methods of the present invention generally involve the suppression of a host plant cells endogenous &#x3b2;-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I protein. Also described in the instant invention are the plants, cells and oils obtained therefrom.

Plant oils with altered oleic acid content

By this invention, modification of the fatty acid composition of a plant seed may be achieved as a result of the activity of a DNA sequence foreign to the plant species to be modified. In particular, it has been found that a plant oil having a modified fatty acid composition can be obtained upon the expression of genes derived from plants of different species than the host plant, upon the expression of genes derived from bacteria, and from the transcription of anti-sense sequences which are complementary to endogenous genes of the plant host cell. In a preferred embodiment, transcription of the fatty acid modifying foreign DNA sequence is restricted to the developing seed tissues.

Plant seed oils

Plant desaturases compositions and uses

Novel constructs are provided for expression of physiologically active mammalian proteins in plant cells, either in culture or under cultivation. The constructs provide a promoter functional in a plant host, a structural gene coding for mammalian protein and a terminator functional in a plant host. The construct is introduced into a plant cell to become integrated into the plant genome for expression in the plant cells or plants. The plant cells may be harvested and the mammalian protein isolated in physiologically active form.

Molecular farming

By this invention, methods to produce oleic fatty acids in plant seed oils are provided. The methods of the present invention generally involve the suppression of a host plant cells endogenous &bgr;-ketoacyl-ACP synthase I protein. Also described in the instant invention are the plants, cells and oils obtained therefrom.

Methods for producing plants with elevated oleic acid content

By this invention, compositions and methods of use of cDNAs encoding &bgr;-ketoacyl-ACP synthase, are provided. Also of interest are plants, plant parts and plant cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences.

Ricinus communis &bgr;-ketoacyl-ACP synthase nucleic acids

Regulatory regions from genes expressed during a particular developmental stage or in a specific tissue are identified employing cDNA screening. The resulting regulatory regions are manipulated for use with foreign sequences for introduction into plant cells to provide transformed plants having phenotypic property which can be modulated. The invention is exemplified with light, seed and a fruit-specific promoters.

Methods and compositions for regulated transcription and expression of heterologous genes

The present invention relates to DNA constructs comprising a plant stearoyl-ACP desaturase and a second DNA sequence which is not naturally joined to the given plant stearoyl-ACP desaturase. The plant stearoyl-ACP desaturase is under the regulatory control of a transcription and translation initiation region preferentially expressed in plant embryo tissue. The amino acid sequence and methods to purify safflower stearoyl-ACP desaturase to homogenity are also provided.

Plant stearoyl-ACP desaturases genes

Constructs are provided for expression of physiologically active mammalian proteins in plant cells, either in culture or under cultivation. The constructs provide a promoter functional in a plant host, a structural gene coding for mammalian protein and a terminator functional in a plant host. The construct is introduced into a plant cell to become integrated into the plant genome for expression in the plant cells or plants. The plant cells may be harvested and the mammalian protein isolated in physiologically active form.

Growing community of inventors

Winters, CA, United States of America

Vic C Knauf