AATT repeat transcription enhancer element

• US 5,834,236 A
• Filed: 06/27/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
• Original Assignee: Salk Institute for Biological Studies
• Inventors: Lamb, Christopher J., Laible, Goetz, Doerner, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Elliott, George C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCKELVEY, TERRY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/669,721
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 536/24.1, 435/69.1, 435/172.1, 435/172.3, 435/375, 435/320.1
• US Class Current: 435/69.1
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/415 from plants
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/67 General methods for enhancing the expression
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8216 Methods for controlling, regulating or enhancing expression of transgenes in plant cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/88 Lyases (4.)

Abstract

A novel transcription enhancer element, (AATT)_n, that increases the activity of cis-elements in heterologous promoter constructs without altering their intrinsic specificity is provided. Also provided is a transcription factor, PABF, which specifically binds to the (AATT) repeat element and methods of use therefor.

Claims

1. An isolated double-stranded nucleic acid consisting of the sequence (AATT)_n, where n is greater than or equal to 4.

2. The isolated double-stranded nucleic acid of claim 1, wherein n is from 4 to about 20.

3. The isolated double-stranded nucleic acid of claim 1, which is the sequence (AATT)₁₃.

4. A method of increasing expression of a gene in a plant cell comprising inserting a nucleic acid sequence consisting of an (AATT)_n repeat element into a nucleic acid construct comprising said gene, whereby said (AATT)_n repeat element is operably linked to a promoter which is operably linked to said gene, introducing into the cell said nucleic acid construct, thereby producing a cell transformed with said nucleic acid construct, and growing the transformed cell under conditions in which the gene is expressed, wherein said (AATT)_n repeat element consists of the sequence (AATT)_n and n is greater than or equal to 2.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the promoter is a constitutive promoter.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the promoter is an inducible promoter.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the transformed cell expresses a polynucleotide encoding palindromic element binding factor (PABF).

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising operably linking to said (AATT)_n repeat element, a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding PABF.