Chitinase cDNA clone from a disease resistant American elm tree

• US 5,539,095 A
• Filed: 08/04/1994
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Sticklen, Masomeh B., Hajela, Ravindra K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, David T.
• Application Number:
  US08/286,020
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 536/23.2, 536/23.6, 435/69.1, 435/70.1, 435/71.1, 435/172.3, 435/200, 435/240.4, 435/252.33, 435/69.8
• US Class Current: 536/23.6
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/2442 Chitinase (3.2.1.14)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 302/01014 Chitinase (3.2.1.14)

Abstract

cDNA as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 encoding a chitinase, a signal peptide and a vacuole sorting peptide. The chitinase is antifungal and can be used to treat plants, particularly American elms infected with a fungus which kills the trees. The cDNA can be used to produce recombinant cells which produce the chitinase or which impart resistance to the fungi.

Claims

1. An isolated gene which encodes a polypeptide in pure form having an enzyme activity which inhibits Ophiostoma ulmi and a signal and a sorting peptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO:

1.

3. A transformed cell which expresses the gene of claim 1.

4. The cell of claim 3 which is Escherichia coli.

2. An isolated gene which encodes a polypeptide having an enzyme activity which inhibits Ophiostoma ulmi and a signal and a sorting peptide derived from an American Elm which is resistant to Ophiostoma ulmi wherein the enzyme activity is that of SEQ ID NO:

1.