The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Zhiyong Wang

Joanne Chory

The present invention provides a BZR1 gene and an altered gene, bzr1-D, involved in the brassinosteroid response pathway. The expression of BZR1 genes in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Genes involved in brassinosteroid hormone action in plants

The present invention provides a cytochrome P450-encoding gene, DAS5, as well as an altered gene, das5-D, which are involved in the synthesis of the plant steroid hormone brassinolide. The das5-D mutant has an insertion of a T-DNA containing transcriptional enhancers into its promoter region. Overexpression of the mutant thus produces large amounts of DAS5 transcript. The expression of this das5-D mutation or overexpression of the DAS5 gene in transgenic plants causes such plants to become significantly larger and more robust than their wild-type counterparts, thus increasing plant yields.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Zhiyong Wang