DNA encoding a plant deoxyhypusine synthase, a plant eukaryotic initiation factor 5A, transgenic plants and a method for controlling senescence programmed and cell death in plants

• US 6,878,860 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agribody Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Senesco, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, John E., Wang, Tzann-Wei, Lu, Dongen Lily
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Phuong T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baum, Stuart F.
• Application Number:
  US09/725,019
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 800/286, 800/287, 800/298, 800/317.4, 800/278, 800/285, 536/23.1, 536/23.6, 435/468, 435/252.3, 435/320.1, 435/419
• US Class Current: 800/286
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• 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 15/8249 involving ethylene biosynthesis, senescence or fruit development, e.g. modified tomato ripening, cut flower shelf-life
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8261 with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8266 Abscission; Dehiscence; Senescence
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8271 for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8279 for biotic stress resistance, pathogen resistance, disease resistance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0004 Oxidoreductases (1.)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

Abstract

Regulation of expression of programmed cell death, including senescence, in plants is achieved by integration of a gene or gene fragment encoding senescence-induced deoxyhypusine synthase, senescence-induced elF-5A or both into the plant genome in antisense orientation. Plant genes encoding senescence-induced deoxyhypusine synthase and senescence-induced elF-5A are identified and the nucleotide sequences of each, alone and in combination are used to modify senescence in transgenic plants.

Claims

1. An isolated antisense polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:

11 wherein said antisense polynucleotide inhibits expression of a senescence induced elF-5A gene comprising SEQ ID NO;

11.

2. A vector for transformation of plant cells comprising

(1) the polynucleotide of claim 1;

and

(2) regulatory sequences operatively linked to the polynucleotide such that the polynucleotide is transcribed in a plant cell into which it is transformed.

3. The polynucleotide according to claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide hybridizes to the 5′

-non-coding region of SEQ ID NO;

11.

4. The polynucleotide according to claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide hybridizes to the 3′

-end of SEQ ID NO;

11.

5. A bacterial cell transformed with the vector according to claim 2.

6. A transgenic plant cell comprising the vector according to claim 2.

7. A plant grown from the plant cell of claim 6.

8. Progeny of the plant of claim 7, wherein the progeny comprise the vector of claim 2.

9. The vector according to claim 2 wherein the regulatory sequences comprise a constitutive promoter.

10. The vector according to claim 2 wherein the regulatory sequences comprise a tissue specific promoter active in the plant.

11. The vector according to claim 2 wherein the regulatory sequences comprise a senescence-induced promoter active in the plant.

12. A plasmid comprising (1) a replication system functional in a prokaryotic host and (2) the polynucleotide according to claim 1.

13. A plasmid comprising a replication system functional in Agrobacterium and the polynucleotide according to claim 1.

14. The plant of claim 7 wherein the plant is a tomato plant.

15. The plant of claim 7 wherein the plant is a flowering plant.