Control of gene expression in plants by receptor mediated transactivation in the presence of a chemical ligand
First Claim
1. A method of controlling gene expression in a plant comprising:
- a) transforming said plant with a first receptor expression cassette which encodes a first receptor polypeptide comprising a first ligand binding domain and a first DNA binding domain;
a second receptor expression cassette which encodes a second receptor polypeptide comprising a second ligand binding domain and a second DNA binding domain, wherein said first and second receptor polypeptides are members of the Class II steroid and thyroid hormone superfamily of nuclear receptors and wherein said first and second receptor polypeptides function together as a heterodimer; and
a target expression cassette comprising a 5'"'"' regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a target polypeptide, wherein said 5'"'"' regulatory region comprises one or more response elements complementary to said first or second DNA binding domain;
b) expressing said first and second receptor polypeptides in said transformed plant; and
c) contacting said transformed plant with one or more chemical ligands which are complementary to the ligand binding domain of said first or second receptor polypeptides whereby said receptor polypeptides in the presence of said chemical ligand activate the expression of said target polypeptide.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is drawn to a method of controlling gene expression in plants. Specifically, the method comprises obtaining a transgenic plant comprising at least two receptor expression cassettes and at least one target expression cassette. The first receptor expression cassette comprises a nucleotide sequence for a 5'"'"' regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes a first receptor polypeptide, and a 3'"'"' termination region. The second receptor expression cassette comprises a nucleotide sequence for a 5'"'"' regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes a second receptor polypeptide, and a 3'"'"' termination region. The target expression cassette comprises a nucleotide sequence for a 5'"'"' regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes a target polypeptide, and a 3'"'"' termination region, wherein the 5'"'"' regulatory region of said target expression cassette is activated by said first and second receptor polypeptides in the presence of one or more chemical ligands which are complementary to the ligand binding domain of said receptor polypeptides, whereby expression of said target polypeptide is accomplished. The method is useful for controlling various traits of agronomic importance, such as plant fertility.
132 Citations
49 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling gene expression in a plant comprising:
-
a) transforming said plant with a first receptor expression cassette which encodes a first receptor polypeptide comprising a first ligand binding domain and a first DNA binding domain;
a second receptor expression cassette which encodes a second receptor polypeptide comprising a second ligand binding domain and a second DNA binding domain, wherein said first and second receptor polypeptides are members of the Class II steroid and thyroid hormone superfamily of nuclear receptors and wherein said first and second receptor polypeptides function together as a heterodimer; and
a target expression cassette comprising a 5'"'"' regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a target polypeptide, wherein said 5'"'"' regulatory region comprises one or more response elements complementary to said first or second DNA binding domain;b) expressing said first and second receptor polypeptides in said transformed plant; and c) contacting said transformed plant with one or more chemical ligands which are complementary to the ligand binding domain of said first or second receptor polypeptides whereby said receptor polypeptides in the presence of said chemical ligand activate the expression of said target polypeptide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
14. A transgenic plant comprising:
-
a) a first receptor expression cassette which encodes a first receptor polypeptide comprising a first DNA binding domain; b) a second receptor expression cassette encoding a second receptor polypeptide comprising a second DNA binding domain, wherein said first and second receptor polypeptides are members of the Class II steroid and thyroid hormone superfamily of nuclear receptors and wherein said first and second receptor polypeptides function together as a heterodimer; and c) a target expression cassette comprising a 5'"'"' regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a target polypeptide, wherein said 5'"'"' regulatory region comprises one or more response elements complementary to said first or second DNA binding domain. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
-
-
17. A receptor expression cassette comprising:
-
a) a 5'"'"' regulatory region capable of promoting expression in a plant cell; b) an operably linked coding sequence encoding an Ecdysone receptor comprising a heterologous transactivation domain from the C1 regulatory gene of maize; and c) a 3'"'"' terminating sequence.
-
-
18. A receptor expression cassette comprising:
-
a) a 5'"'"' regulatory region capable of promoting expression in a plant cell; b) an operably linked coding sequence encoding an Ecdysone receptor comprising a heterologous DNA binding domain from the GAL4 protein of yeast; and c) a 3'"'"' terminating sequence. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
20. A receptor expression cassette comprising:
-
a) a 5'"'"' regulatory region capable of promoting expression in a plant cell; b) an operably linked coding sequence encoding a USP receptor polypeptide comprising a heterologous transactivation domain from the VP16 protein of herpes simplex; and c) a 3'"'"' terminating sequence.
-
Specification