Compositions isolated from forage grasses and methods for their use

• US 20040126843A1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agrigenesis Biosciences Limited, Wrightson Seeds Limited (PGG Wrightson Limited)
• Original Assignee: Agrigenesis Biosciences Limited
• Inventors: Hall, Claire, Norriss, Michael Geoffrey, Saulsbury, Keith Martin, Demmer, Jeroen
• Granted Patent: US 7,265,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/69.1
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/415 from plants
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8243 involving biosynthetic or metabolic pathways, i.e. metabolic engineering, e.g. nicotine, caffeine
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8245 involving modified carbohydrate or sugar alcohol metabolism, e.g. starch biosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8246 Non-starch polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, fructans, levans
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/825 involving pigment biosynthesis
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/827 Flower development or morphology, e.g. flowering promoting factor [FPF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/00 Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof preparations containing enzymes for cleaning teeth A61K8/66, A61Q11/00; medicinal preparations containing enzymes or proenzymes A61K38/43; enzyme containing detergent compositions C11D; enzymes with nucleic acid structure, e.g. ribozymes, C12N15/113; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes preparation of malt C12C1/00

Abstract

Isolated polynucleotides encoding polypeptides that regulate flowering are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.

Claims

1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

SEQ ID NOS;

1-20.

9. An isolated polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of any one of claims 1-3.

10. A genetic construct comprising a polynucleotide of any one of claims 1-3.

11. A transgenic cell comprising a construct according to claim 10.

12. A genetic construct comprising, in the 5′

-3′

direction;

(a) a gene promoter sequence;

(b) a polynucleotide sequence comprising at least one of the following;

(1) a polynucleotide coding for at least a functional portion of a polypeptide comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO;

21-40; and

(2) a polynucleotide comprising a non-coding region of a polynucleotide of any one of claims 1-3; and

(c) a gene termination sequence.

13. The genetic construct of claim 12, wherein the polynucleotide is in a sense orientation.

14. The genetic construct of claim 12, wherein the polynucleotide is in an anti-sense orientation.

15. A transgenic plant cell comprising a genetic construct of claim 12.

16. A plant comprising a transgenic plant cell according to claim 15, or fruit or seeds or progeny thereof.

17. A method for modulating flowering in a plant, comprising stably incorporating into the genome of the plant at least one polynucleotide of any one of claims 1-3.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of grasses.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising stably incorporating into the genome of the plant a genetic construct of claim 12.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the promoter is an inducible promoter.

21. A method for producing a plant having altered flowering, comprising:

(a) transforming a plant cell with a genetic construct of claim 12 to provide a transgenic cell; and

(b) cultivating the transgenic cell under conditions conducive to regeneration and mature plant growth.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the promoter is an inducible promoter and the plant cell is exposed to an inducing agent selected from the group consisting of:

chemical and physical stimuli.

23. A method for modifying the activity of a polypeptide involved in a flowering pathway in a plant comprising stably incorporating into the genome of the plant a construct of claim 12.

2. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) complements of SEQ ID NOS;

1-20;

(b) reverse complements of SEQ ID NOS;

1-20; and

(c) reverse sequences of SEQ ID NOS;

1-20.

3. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) sequences having at least 75% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NOS;

1-20;

(b) sequences having at least 90% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NOS;

1-20;

(c) sequences having at least 95% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NOS;

1-20;

and

(d) sequences that hybridize to a sequence of SEQ ID NO;

1-20 under stringent hybridization conditions,

wherein the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having substantially the same functional properties as a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NOS;

1-20.

4. An isolated oligonucleotide probe or primer comprising at least 10 contiguous residues complementary to 10 contiguous residues of a sequence of SEQ ID NOS:

1-20.

5. A kit comprising a plurality of oligonucleotide probes or primers of claim 4.

6. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

SEQ ID NO;

21-40.

8. An isolated polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide of any one of claims 6 and 7.

7. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

(a) sequences having at least 75% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO;

21-40;

(b) sequences having at least 90% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO;

21-40; and

(c) sequences having at least 95% identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NOS;

21-40,

wherein the polypeptide has substantially the same functional properties as a sequence of SEQ ID NOS;

21-40.