United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Zhiqiang Pan

Scott R Baerson

Agnes M Rimando

James J Polashock

Franck E Dayan

Daniel Cook

Transcription regulatory elements, namely promoter and terminator sequences, obtained fromthat drive RNA transcription predominately in root hair cells are described, as well as cassettes, expression vectors, and genetically modified plants containing these transcription regulatory elements. The genetically modified plants can be gymnosperms, dicots, or monocots. Methods of directing transcription of a heterologous polynucleotide under control of these transcription regulatory elements in a genetically modified plant's root hair cells are also provided.

Sorghum-derived transcription regulatory elements predominantly active in root hair cells and uses thereof

Two novel cytochrome P450 genes are isolated from sorghum, each gene encoding a protein having pentadecatrienyl resorcinol hydroxylase activity. Expression vectors containing these sequences are made and used to elevate levels of pentadecatrienyl resorcinol hydroxylase in transgenic cells and organisms.

Cytochrome P450 enzymes from sorghum bicolor

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Sorghum is considered an allelopathic crop species and sorgoleone likely accounts for much of its allelopathic properties. Prior investigations into the biosynthesis of sorgoleone suggested the participation of one or more alkylresorcinol synthases (ARS), which are type III polyketide synthases (PKS) that produce 5-alkylresorcinols using medium to long-chain fatty acyl-CoA starter units via iterative condensations with malonyl-CoA. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis of PKS-like sequences mined from isolated root hairs revealed that two sequences, designated ARS1 and ARS2, were preferentially expressed. Recombinant enzyme studies demonstrated that both sequences encode ARS enzymes capable of accepting a variety of fatty acyl-CoA starter units. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments directed against ARS1 and ARS2 resulted in the generation of multiple independent transformant events exhibiting dramatically reduced sorgoleone levels. Thus, both ARS1 and ARS2 participate in the biosynthesis of sorgoleone in planta. ARS1 and ARS2 sequences were used to identify rice genes encoding alkylresorcinol synthases.

Two alkylresorcinol synthase genes from sorghum; cloning, expression, transformation and characterization

This invention relates to the fatty acid desaturase genes, designated SbDES2 and SbDES3, cloned from an expressed sequence tag (EST) database prepared from isolated root hairs from sorghum. Heterologous expression of the cDNAs inrevealed that recombinant SbDES2 converted palmitoleic acid (16:1&#x394;) to hexadecadienoic acid (16:2&#x394;), and that recombinant SbDES3 was capable of converting hexadecadienoic acid into hexadecatrienoic acid (16:3&#x394;). Desaturase enzymes capable of performing desaturation reactions producing a terminal double bond have not previously been characterized in a plant system.

This invention relates to an O-methyltransferase gene cloned from sorghum, the sorghum O-methyltransferase-3 gene, SbOMT3. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and recombinant enzyme studies with putative O-methyltransferase sequences obtained from an EST data set from sorghum have led to the identification of the novel root hair-specific O-methyltransferase designated SbOMT3. Transgenic plants which express SbOMT3 can convert resveratrol into pterostilbene in planta. SbOMT3 is also involved in the biosynthesis of sorgoleone.

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Oxford, MS, United States of America

Zhiqiang Pan