National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Okayama Prefecture

Yasushi Tasaka

Takeshi Matsumura

Kouki Matsuo

Kenichi Ogawa

Kenji Henmi

Plant expression vectors comprising an ORF of an isoform gene (&#x3b2;1,4GT5) of human &#x3b2;1,4-galactosyltransferase were constructed. Then, the vectors were introduced into tobacco using plant gene-recombination techniques, and transformed tobacco was made. Analysis of the obtained transformed tobacco showed that more than 200 &#x3bc;g of lactosylceramide was produced from 1 g of fresh leaves. Accordingly, the present invention made it possible to mass synthesize lactosylceramide by using recombinant plants.

Genetically modified plants producing lactosylceramide and utilization thereof

Disclosed herein is a method for extending the sugar chain modification of a lipid or a protein by introducing two or more glycosyltransferase genes in a biological organism (including animal-, plant- or microbial cells). Also disclosed is a recombinant plant with a potency to generate ceramide trihexoside and a method for generating ceramide trihexoside using the plant. Methods for synthetically preparing ceramide trihexoside utilizing a transgenic tobacco prepared by constructing an expression vector with the ORF of human- or animal-derived &#x3b1;1,4-galactosyltransferase gene (&#x3b1;1,4 GT) for plants and subsequently introducing the vector into tobacco using a genetic approach for plants and methods for the mass-scale production of ceramide trihexoside are also disclosed herein.

Technique for extending biological sugar chain via introduction of glycosyltransferase gene

A method of regulating flowering of a plant by applying an effective amount of a substance that affects the synthesis or amount of glutathione in cells to the plant and cultivating the plant under conditions suitable for growth.

Growing community of inventors

Sapporo, Japan

Yasushi Tasaka