Trichome specific promoters for the manipulation of cannabinoids and other compounds in grandular trichomes

• US 10,787,674 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 09/29/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC (22nd Century Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC (22nd Century Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rushton, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosen, Jason Deveau
• Application Number:
  US16/334,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20190225975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/415 from plants
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/52 Genes encoding for enzymes or proenzymes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8223 Vegetative tissue-specific promoters
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/8243 involving biosynthetic or metabolic pathways, i.e. metabolic engineering, e.g. nicotine, caffeine
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 9/0004 Oxidoreductases (1.)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 121/03007 Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (1.21.3.7)
• CPC Class Codes: C12Y 121/03008 Cannabidiolic acid synthase (1.21.3.8)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/146 Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants

Abstract

The present technology provides trichome specific promoters of cannabinoid biosynthesis enzyme genes from Cannabis, nucleotide sequences of the trichome specific promoters, and uses of the promoters for modulating the production of cannabinoids and other compounds in organisms. The present technology also provides chimeric genes, vectors, and transgenic cells and organisms, including plant cells and plants, comprising the trichome specific promoters. Also provided are methods for expressing nucleic acid sequences in cells and organisms using the trichome specific promoters.

Claims

1. A synthetic DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

33.

2. An expression vector comprising the DNA molecule of claim 1, operably linked to one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding a polypeptide.

3. A genetically engineered host cell comprising the expression vector of claim 2.

4. The genetically engineered host cell of claim 3, wherein the cell is a Cannabis sativa cell.

5. The genetically engineered host cell of claim 3, wherein the cell is a Nicotiana tabacum cell.

6. A genetically engineered plant comprising a cell comprising a chimeric nucleic acid construct comprising the synthetic DNA molecule of claim 1.

7. The engineered plant of claim 6, wherein the plant is an N. tabacum plant.

8. The engineered plant of claim 6, wherein the plant is a C. sativa plant.

9. Seeds from the engineered plant of claim 6, wherein the seeds comprise the chimeric nucleic acid construct.