Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series – Organic compounds – Carbohydrates or derivatives
Patent
1995-09-01
2000-02-29
Achutamurthy, Ponnathapu
Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series
Organic compounds
Carbohydrates or derivatives
435213, 435219, 435 691, 4352523, 4353201, 800279, 536 236, C07H 2104, C12N 504, C12N 976, C12N 950
Patent
active
060310871
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates generally to proteinase inhibitors, a precursor thereof and to genetic sequences encoding same.
Nucleotide and amino acid sequences are referred to herein by sequence identity numbers (SEQ ID NOs) which are defined after the bibliography. A general summary of the SEQ ID NOs is provided before the examples.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers.
Several members of the families Solanaceae and Fabaceae accumulate serine proteinase inhibitors in their storage organs and in leaves in response to wounding (Brown and Ryan, 1984; Richardson, 1977). The inhibitory activities of these proteins are directed against a wide range of proteinases of microbial and animal origin, but rarely against plant proteinases (Richardson, 1977). It is believed that these inhibitors are involved in protection of the plants against pathogens and predators. In potato tubers and legume seeds, the inhibitors can comprise 10% or more of the stored proteins (Richardson, 1977), while in leaves of tomato and potato (Green and Ryan, 1972), and alfalfa (Brown and Ryan, 1984), proteinase inhibitors can accumulate to levels of 2% of the soluble protein within 48 hours of insect attack, or other types of wounding (Brown & Ryan, 1984; Graham et al., 1986). High levels of these inhibitors (up to 50% of total soluble protein) are also present in unripe fruits of the wild tomato, Lycopersicon peruvianum (Pearce et al., 1988).
There are two families of serine proteinase inhibitors in tomato and potato (Ryan, 1984). Type I inhibitors are small proteins (monomer Mr 8100) which inhibit chymotrypsin at a single reactive site (Melville and Ryan, 1970; Plunkett et al., 1982). Inhibitors of the type II family generally contain two reactive sites, one of which inhibits chymotrypsin and the other trypsin (Bryant et al., 1976; Plunkett et al., 1982). The type II inhibitors have a monomer Mr of 12,300 (Plunkett et al., 1982). Proteinase inhibitor I accumulates in etiolated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaves (Kuo et al., 1984), and elicitors from Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae were found to induce proteinase inhibitor I accumulation in tobacco cell suspension cultures (Rickauer et al., 1989).
There is a need to identify other proteinase inhibitors and to investigate their potential use in the development of transgenic plants with enhanced protection against pathogens and predators. In accordance with the present invention, genetic sequences encoding a proteinase inhibitor precursor have been cloned. The precursor has multi-proteinase inhibitor domains and will be useful in developing a range of transgenic plants with enhanced proteinase inhibitor expression. Such plants will have enhanced protective properties against pathogens and predators. The genetic constructs of the present invention will also be useful in developing vaccines for ingestion by insects which are themselves predators or which act as hosts for plant pathogens. The recombinant precursor or monomeric inhibitors will also be useful in topical sprays and in assisting animals in feed digestion.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides which encodes or is complementary to a sequence which encodes a type II serine proteinase inhibitor (PI) precursor from a plant wherein said precursor comprises at least three PI monomers and wherein at least one of said monomers has a chymotrypsin specific site and at least one other of said monomers has a trypsin specific site.
The "nucleic acid molecule" of the present invention may be RNA or DNA (eg cDNA), single or double stranded and linear or covalently closed. The nucleic acid molecule may also be genomic DNA corresponding to
REFERENCES:
Suggs et al. PNAS 78(11):6613-17, 1981.
Bryant et al. Biochemistry 15(16) : 3418-23, 1976.
`We scanned the GenBank (1) data bank for sequence similarities and found one sequence (2), GenBank accession No. Z12753, which showed 9.8% similarity . . . ` Choi et al. Hanguk Saenghwahakhoe Chi. 23 : 214-220, 1990.
Anderson Marilyn Anne
Atkinson Angela Hilary
Clarke Adrienne Elizabeth
Heath Robyn Louise
Achutamurthy Ponnathapu
Saidha Tekchand
The University of Melbourne
LandOfFree
Proteinase inhibitor, precursor thereof and genetic sequences en does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Proteinase inhibitor, precursor thereof and genetic sequences en, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Proteinase inhibitor, precursor thereof and genetic sequences en will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-684131