Multicellular living organisms and unmodified parts thereof and – Method of introducing a polynucleotide molecule into or... – The polynucleotide alters fat – fatty oil – ester-type wax – or...
Patent
1994-03-01
2000-02-29
Fox, David T.
Multicellular living organisms and unmodified parts thereof and
Method of introducing a polynucleotide molecule into or...
The polynucleotide alters fat, fatty oil, ester-type wax, or...
800250, 800DIG52, 536 236, 536 241, 4351723, 435419, 4352522, 4353201, 435 911, C12N 1529, C12N 1582, C12N 514, F01H 500
Patent
active
060311517
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the application of recombinant DNA technology to plants and plant cell cultures. Specifically, the invention relates to the control of the expression of genetic transformation marker genes with the aim of improving transformation systems and of reducing the unwanted expression of marker genes in transgenic plants. The invention therefore enables the provision of more environmentally and nutritionally acceptable genetically engineered crops and foodstuffs. By enhancing gene expression in plant cell cultures, the invention additionally enables or improves the production of compounds in plant cell culture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The aim of crop plant genetic engineering is to insert a gene (or genes) which improve what may be an already top performing plant variety whilst retaining the desirable genetic make up of the original plant. This technology can be integrated into traditional plant breeding programmes and apart from extending the potential genetic make-up of crops to include genes outside the normal gene pool, or synthetic genes, the process for introduction of new genetic information is rapid, much more precise and avoids the lengthy backcrossing programmes usually associated with the introgression of a gene via sexual crossing.
Genetic transformation is a relatively rare event and so most strategies for gene transfer into plants require the use of a transformation `marker` gene in order to `select` or `screen` for transformed plant material. Conventional marker genes are usually microbial in origin and include antibiotic resistance genes, herbicide resistance genes and genes coding for easily screenable enzymes. Transformed plant material are thus `selected` by an ability to grow in the presence of normally toxic levels of specific antibiotics or herbicides, or `screened` for by assaying for the expression of novel enzymatic activities not normally found in higher plant tissue.
The expression of marker genes is crucial only at phases of the gene transfer process when transformed cells/tissues/organs or whole plants are being selected or screened for. However, these marker genes are invariably under the control of strong, constitutive gene promoters (for example the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter) which drive marker gene expression in almost all tissue types at high levels throughout the life cycle of the plant. Although much effort has gone into the development of new marker genes, sufficient attention has not been paid to the specific control of marker gene expression. Improvement in the utility of marker genes, since their conception in 1983, has been very slight and has been concerned mainly with attempting to increase the levels of their expression.
One drawback of many marker genes is that they generally show poor expression in monocotyledonous cell types, particularly cereals, and one aim of this invention is the specific development of marker genes that function efficiently in monocot cells.
This invention relates to the improvement of transformation vectors and transformation procedures by engineering marker genes for their strong expression specifically in cell types which are targets for gene transfer. The invention also relates to ensuring or helping ensure strong gene expression in transformed cells at stages in the transformation process when selection is applied.
The invention further relates to enabling or improving the strong expression of genes in plant cell cultures, thereby enhancing the quantity or quality of the direct or indirect product of the genes. Direct products of genes are proteins (which term includes glycoproteins when the context so admits); indirect products of genes include non-proteins when the direct product is an enzyme.
The invention still further relates to the inducible expression of marker genes in transformed plant material to allow the application of more stringent selection conditions and to allow screening for a transiently inducible transformation marker phenotype in established transgenic
REFERENCES:
patent: 5187073 (1993-02-01), Goldman et al.
Tada et al. Jul., 1991, The EMBO Journal, 10(7):1803-1808.
Weising et al. 1988, Annu. Rev. Genet. 22:421-477.
Dekeyser, R. et al. "Evaluation of Selectable Markers for Rice Transformation," Plant Physiology vol. 90, pp. 217-233, 1989.
Warner, S.A.J., et al. "Cloning of a Wound Induced Gene from Asparagus-officinalis," Journal of Experimental Botany, vol. 41, 1990, Abstract P5.16.
Warner, S., et al., A Wound-induced Monocot Promoter is Active in Transgenic Tobacco, Journal of Experimental Botany, meeting Apr. 7-12, 1991, vol. 42, 1991, 238 Suppl., p. 37, Abstract P8-11.
Harikrishna, K., et al. "Wound Response in Mechanically Isolated Asparagus Mesophyll Cells: A Model Monocotyledon System," Journal of Experimental Botany, vol. 92, 1991, abstract No. 62138, pp. 791-800.
Fox David T.
Haas Thomas
The University of Leicester
LandOfFree
Callus-specific promoters does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Callus-specific promoters, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Callus-specific promoters will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-684640