The Salk Institute Biotechnology Industrial Associates, Inc.

Yoshihiro Konno

Kathryn J Elliott

Craig Duane Dickinson

Leona C Fitzmaurice

William Owen Butler

T Erik Mirkov

Theodore E Mirkov

Transgenic plants that are modified to produce fruits that have altered levels of soluble solids compared to non-transgenic species of the same species are provided. The transgenic plants are modified by introduction of DNA constructs that encode invertase operatively linked to DNA encoding regulatory regions that direct transcription of the DNA encoding invertase and to DNA encoding sequences that direct proper processing of the invertase through the secretory pathways of the plant and targeting of the invertase to the vacuole. In particular, DNA constructs encoding tomato plant vacuolar invertase in operative linkage with a developmentally regulated promoter region are provided. Preferred regulatory and structural DNA is obtained from genomic DNA clones and cDNA clones encoding tomato fruit vacuolar invertases from the commercial tomato plant, Lycopersicon esculentum, and wild tomato plant, Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium. Probes derived from the genomic DNA and cDNA, antibodies specific for tomato fruit invertase, and uses therefore, are also provided.

Invertase genes and uses thereof

Transgenic plants that are modified to produce fruits that have altered levels of soluble solids compared to non-transgenic plants of the same species are provided. The transgenic plants are prepared by introducing into plants DNA constructs that encode invertase operatively linked to DNA encoding regulatory regions that direct transcription of the DNA encoding invertase and operatively linked to DNA encoding amino acids that direct proper processing of the invertase through the secretory pathways of the plant and targeting of the invertase to the vacuole. In particular, DNA constructs encoding tomato plant vacuolar invertase in operative linkage with a developmentally regulated promoter region are provided. Preferred regulatory and structural DNA is obtained from genomic DNA clones and cDNA clones encoding tomato fruit vacuolar invertases from the commercial tomato plant, Lycopersicon esculentum, and wild tomato plant, Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium. Probes derived from the genomic DNA and cDNA, antibodies specific for tomato fruit invertase, and uses therefor, are also provided.

Invertase gene(s) and uses thereof

Growing community of inventors

Gunma, Japan

Yoshihiro Konno