Compositions and Methods for Modulating Pigment Production in Plants

• US 20110072539A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The New Zealand Institute For Plant and Food Research Limited
• Original Assignee: The New Zealand Institute For Plant and Food Research Limited
• Inventors: Hellens, Roger, Allan, Andrew C., Espley, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 800/282
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/415 from plants
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8217 Gene switch
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8237 Externally regulated expression systems
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8238 chemically inducible, e.g. tetracycline
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/825 involving pigment biosynthesis

Abstract

This invention relates to polynucleotides encoding novel transcription factors and to the encoded transcription factors, that are capable of regulating anthocyanin production in plants. The invention also relates to constructs and vectors comprising the polynucleotides, and to host cells, plant cells and plants transformed with the polynucleotides, constructs and vectors. The invention also relates to methods of producing plants with altered anthocyanin production and plants by the methods.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a polypeptide with at least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

1, wherein % identity is calculated over the whole length of the amino acid sequence, and wherein the polypeptide is a transcription factor capable of increasing anthocyanin production in a plant.

43. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 41, wherein the polypeptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

1.

44. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 41, wherein the sequence encoding the peptide has at least 90% identity to the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO:

5 and 102.

45. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 41, wherein the sequence encoding the peptide has at least 90% identity to the coding sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO:

5 and 102.

46. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 41, wherein the sequence encoding the peptide has at least 90% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:

5.

47. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 41, wherein the sequence encoding the peptide has at least 90% identity to the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:

5.

48. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 41, wherein the sequence encoding the peptide has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:

5.

49. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 41, wherein the sequence encoding the peptide has the coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:

5.

51. A genetic construct comprising the polynucleotide of claim 41.

52. A host cell genetically modified to express the polynucleotide of claim 41.

53. A plant cell or plant genetically modified to express the polynucleotide of claim 41.

64. A method for producing a plant cell or plant with increased anthocyanin production, the method comprising the steps of transformation of a plant cell or plant with the polynucleotide of claim 41 and expression of the polynucleotide in the plant cell or plant.

65. A plant produced by the method of claim 64.

42. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

54. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a sequence encoding a polypeptide with at least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

1, wherein % identity is calculated over the whole length of the amino acid sequence, and wherein the polypeptide is a transcription factor capable of up-regulating the promoter of a gene in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway.

55. The polynucleotide of claim 54 wherein the gene to be regulated encodes dihydroflavolon 4-reductase (DFR).

56. The polynucleotide of claim 54 wherein the gene to be regulated encodes chalcone synthase (CHS).

57. A genetic construct comprising the polynucleotide of claim 54.

58. A host cell genetically modified to express the polynucleotide of claim 54.

59. A plant cell or plant genetically modified to express the polynucleotide of claim 54.

60. An isolated polypeptide comprising a sequence with at least 90% identity to the amino acid of SEQ ID NO:

1, wherein % identity is calculated over the whole length of the amino acid sequence, and wherein the polypeptide is a transcription factor capable of up regulating anthocyanin production in a plant.

62. The isolated polypeptide of claim 60, wherein the sequence, comprised by the polypeptide, has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:

1.

61. (canceled)

63. (canceled)

66-71. -71. (canceled)