Title of Invention

"A SUBSTANTIALLY PURIFIED NUCLELC ACID MOLECULE INVOLVED IN ELEVATION OF OIL LEVELS IN PLANTS"

Abstract A substantially purified nucleic acid molecule used interalia for making transgenic maize plants and seeds, selected from the group consisting of: a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complement thereof. b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO: 11 of the complement thereof; c) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% amino acid identity with SEQ ID No.: 3.
Full Text ELEVATION OF OIL LEVELS IN PLANTS
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of the Provisional Application
U.S. Serial Number 60/483,491, filed June 27, 2003, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
The present invention relates to the fields of nucleic acid chemistry and agricultural
biotechnology. In particular, the present invention is directed at the identification of nucleic
acids that encode proteins useful for increasing oil levels in maize plants and creating maize
plants that include such nucleic acids.
Plants are a major source of oils for feed, food, and industrial uses. While tissues of
most plant species contain little oil, the cultivation of certain plant types, over many acres,
permit large quantities of plant oils to be produced. If the oil content of these plants could be
increased, then plant oils could be produced more efficiently. For example, the normal oil
content of yellow #2, dent com is about 4%. If the oil content of corn could be increased to
8% or even 12%, without significantly affecting yield, the same amount of oil could be
produced from half or even one-third the number of acres.
Currently, levels of oil in oilseed crops have increased incrementally by traditional
breeding and selection methods. There exist few references to transgenic plants with
increased levels of oil. In contrast, increases in the proportions of some strategic fatty acids
have been achieved by the introduction or manipulation of various plant fatty acid
biosynthesis genes in oilseeds. For instance, Voelker el al., Science, 257:72-74 (1992),
demonstrated that expression in Brassicaceae of a medium chain fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase
from California Bay, increased the lauric acid (12:0) content. Hitz el al., Proc. 9th
International Cambridge Rapeseed Congress UK, pp 470-472 (1995) increased proportions of
oleic acid in Glycine max by co-suppression using a sense construct encoding a plant
microsomal FAD-2 (A 12) desaturase. Although the use of these plant transgenes resulted in
an increased production of lauric acid in canola and altered proportions of oleic acid in soy,
there was no evidence of increased total fatty acid content, or increased oil yield in these
transgenics.
Certain workers have attempted to increase or modulate the oil content of plants by
manipulation of oil biosynthetic pathway genes. For example, U.S. Patent 6,268,550 to
Gengenbach et al. provides maize acetyl CoA carboxylase nucleic acids for altering the oil
content of plants. Additionally, U.S. Patent 5,925,805 to Ohlrogge el al. provides an
Arabidopsis acetyl CoA carboxylase gene that can be used to increase the oil content of
plants. However, the synthesis of fatty acids requires the coordinated activity of many
enzymes, none of which when solely upregulated has been found to substantially increase oil
content.
A need therefore exists for an improved method to alter the oil content of plants, and
in particular to increase the oil content of plants and seeds.
In addition to oil, starch from maize is also agriculturally and commercially
significant. Starch comprises a major component of animal feed and human food. Starch is
also used industrially in the production of paper, textiles, plastics, and adhesives, as well as
providing the raw material for some bioreactors.
In higher plants, the starch consists of linear chain and branched chain glucans known
as amylose and amylopectin, respectively. Starch with various amounts of amylose and
amylopectin are found in different plants. Typically, maize starch contains approximately
25% amylose, the remainder being amylopectin. Amylopectin contains short chains and long
chains, the short chains ranging from 5-30 glucose units and the long chains ranging from
30-100 glucose units, or more. The ratio of amylose to amylopectin, as well as the
distribution of short to long chains in the amylopectin fraction, affect the physical properties
of starch, (e.g., thermal stabilization, retrogradation, and viscosity).
The WAXY locus of maize determines the amylose content in pollen and in kernel
endosperm, (Shure et al., Cell, 35(l):225-233 (1983)), resulting in starch having unique
properties. Most mutations in the WAXY locus of maize, which encodes granule bound
starch synthase (GBSS), result in an opaque endosperm of smooth, firm non-corneous starch
comprising mostly amylopectin and a reduced amount of amylose in the endosperm, pollen
and embryo sac ("WAXY phenotype") (see, Okagaki and Wessler, Genetics,
120(4): 1137-1143 (1988)). When no functioning GBSS is synthesized in the homozygous
WAXY mutant, it also lacks amylose (Echt and Schwartz, Genetics, 99:275-284 (1981)).
Additionally, classic, recessive WAXY has a small (approximately 0.5% increase)
effect on percent oil in the kernel when compared to yellow #2 com (Pfahler and Linskens,
Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 41(l):2-4 (1971)). In comparison, the inbred line HOI001,
a dominant WAXY mutant inbred described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20030172416,
herein incorporated by reference, has whole kernel oil concentrations greater than four times
that of yellow #2 com.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes and provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding
an HOI001 GBSS polypeptide. In addition, this invention relates to nucleic acid molecules
that are complementary to the nucleic acid molecule encoding an HOI001 GBSS polypeptide.
In addition, this invention relates to expression cassettes comprising these nucleic acid
molecules. In addition, this invention relates to transgenic maize plants containing these
expression cassettes. In addition, this invention relates to the seeds of these transgenic maize
plants. This invention further relates to the oil and animal feed obtained from the seeds of
these transgenic maize plants.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a recombinant DNA construct,
associated with increased oil production in plants, comprising a nucleic acid molecule
encoding an HOI001 GBSS polypeptide operably linked to a promoter, which is functional in
a plant cell.
The present invention describes and provides a method of increasing oil in a maize
plant by expression of an HOI001 GBSS gene. This invention further provides a method of
altering the kernel composition in a corn plant by expression of an HOI001 GBSS gene. This
invention further describes and provides sequences of an HOI001 GBSS gene from Zea mays.
This invention further provides vector constructs for plant transformation and tissue-specific
expression of an HOI001 GBSS gene. This invention further provides maize plants
transformed with the GBSS gene with higher oil levels when compared to plants with the
same or similar genetic background, but not containing the inserted HOI001 GBSS gene.
This invention further provides seeds from these maize plants. This invention further
provides for kernels from maize plants transformed with the HOI001 GBSS gene containing a
higher level of oil when compared to kernels from corn plants with the same or similar genetic
background, but not containing the inserted HOI001 GBSS gene. This invention also
provides oil and animal feed produced from these seeds and kernels.
The present invention further provides a method of marker-assisted breeding useful in
breeding higher oil levels in maize.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Figure 1 shows the nucleic acid sequence alignment of the granule bound starch
synthase gene isolated from HOI001 (HOI001 GBSS, pMON72506) [SEQ ID NO: 1]
compared to the granule bound starch synthase (GBSS) gene from inbred LH59
(pMON72510), and published sequence of the GBSS gene described in Shure et al., supra,
(X03935). For additional comparison, the coding sequence for the published GBSS gene is
given (CDS22509).
Figure 2 shows the alignment of the corresponding predicted aniino acid sequences
from the GBSS gene isolated from HOI001 (HOI001 GBSS from pMON72506) [SEQ ID
NO: 3], and the GBSS gene described in Shure et al, supra, [SEQ ID NO: 4], respectively.
Figure 3 shows the alignment of the corresponding predicted amino acid sequences
from the Zea mays GBSS gene isolated from inbred LH59 [SEQ ID NO: 10], and the Zea
mays granule bound starch synthase gene described in Shure et al., supra, respectively.
Figure 4 depicts a plasmid map of pMON72506.
Figure 5 depicts a plasmid map of pMON72510.
Figures 6A and 6B graphically depict the difference in oil levels from kernels of plants
transformed with pMON72506 containing the GBSS from HOI001 (SEQ ID NO: 1, 6A) and
pMON72510 containing the GBSS from LH59 (SEQ ID NO: 8, 6B). Gene positive and gene
negative kernels are compared from each event. Only events with statistically significant
changes in oil (14 of 29) are shown in 6A.
Figure 7 depicts a plasmid map of pMON81464.
Figure 8 depicts a plasmid map of pMON68298.
Figure 9 depicts a plasmid map of pMON81465.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCES
SEQ ID NO: 1 is the nucleic acid sequence of the granule bound starch synthase from
HOI001 (HOI001 GBSS from pMON72506).
SEQ ID NO: 2 is the published nucleic acid sequence of Zea mays GBSS from Shure
et al., supra.
SEQ ID NO: 3 sets forth the predicted amino acid sequence of HOI001 GBSS from
pMON72506.
SEQ ID NO: 4 sets forth the predicted amino acid sequence from the Zea mays GBSS
as published by Shure et al., supra.
SEQ ID NO: 5 is a primer sequence for Primer number 14543.
SEQ ID NO: 6 is a primer sequence for Primer number 14547.
SEQ ID NO: 7 sets forth a nucleic acid sequence of a DNA molecule that encodes a
GBSS from corn line LH59.
SEQ ID NO: 8 sets forth the predicted amino acid sequence of GBSS from corn line
LH59.
SEQ ID NO: 9 is a primer sequence for Primer number 20095.
SEQ ID NO: 10 is a primer sequence for Primer number 20092.
SEQ ID NO: 11 sets forth the coding region of the GBSS cDNA of HOI001.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following definitions are provided as an aid to understanding the detailed
description of the present invention.
The phrases "coding sequence," "coding region," "structural sequence," and
"structural nucleic acid sequence" refer to a physical structure comprising an orderly
arrangement of nucleotides. The nucleotides are arranged in a series of triplets that each form
a codon. Each codon encodes a specific amino acid. Thus, the coding sequence, structural
sequence, and structural nucleic acid sequence encode a series of amino acids forming a
protein, polypeptide, or peptide sequence. The coding sequence, structural sequence, and
structural nucleic acid sequence may be contained within a larger nucleic acid molecule,
vector, or the like. In addition, the orderly arrangement of nucleotides in these sequences may
be depicted in the form of a sequence listing, figure, table, electronic medium, or the like.
The phrase "codon degeneracy" refers to divergence in the genetic code permitting
variation of the nucleotide sequence without affecting the amino acid sequence of an encoded
polypeptide. Accordingly, the instant invention relates to any nucleic acid fragment
comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes all or a substantial portion of the amino acid
sequences set forth herein. The skilled artisan is well aware of the "codon-bias" exhibited by
a specific host cell in usage of nucleotide codons to specify a given amino acid. Therefore,
when synthesizing a nucleic acid fragment for improved expression in a host cell, it is
desirable to design the nucleic acid fragment such that its frequency of codon usage
approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.
The term "cDNA" refers to a double-stranded DNA that is complementary to and
derived from mRNA.
The phrases "DNA sequence," "nucleic acid sequence," and "nucleic acid molecule"
refer to a physical structure comprising an orderly arrangement of nucleotides. The DNA
sequence or nucleotide sequence may be contained within a larger nucleotide molecule,
vector, or the like. In addition, the orderly arrangement of nucleic acids in these sequences
may be depicted in the form of a sequence listing, figure, table, electronic medium, or the like.
"Expression" refers to the transcription of a gene to produce the corresponding mRNA
and translation of this mRNA to produce the corresponding gene product (i.e., a peptide,
polypeptide, or protein).
"Expression of antisense RNA" refers to the transcription of a DNA to produce a first
RNA molecule capable of hybridizing to a second RNA molecule, which second RNA
molecule encodes a gene product that is desirably down-regulated.
As used herein, "gene" refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific
protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5' non-coding sequences) and following (3'
non-coding sequences) the coding sequence. "Native gene" refers to a gene as found in nature
with its own regulatory sequences. "Chimeric gene" refers to any gene that is not a native
gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature.
Accordingly, a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that
are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived
from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature.
"Endogenous gene" refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an
organism. An "exogenous gene" or "transgene" refer to a non-native gene that has been
introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure.
"Hemizygous" refers to a diploid individual having only one copy of a particular gene
(for example, because a chromosome has been lost). "Homozygous" refers to a gene pair
having identical alleles in two homologous chromosomes.
"Heterologous" refers to the relationship between two or more nucleic acid or protein
sequences that are derived from different sources. For example, a promoter is heterologous
with respect to a coding sequence if such a combination is not normally found in nature. In
addition, a particular sequence may be "heterologous" with respect to a cell or organism into
which it is inserted (i.e., does not naturally occur in that particular cell or organism).
"Homology" refers to the level of similarity between two or more nucleic acid or
amino acid sequences in terms of percent of positional identity (i.e., sequence similarity or
identity). Homology also refers to the concept of similar functional properties among
different nucleic acids or proteins.
"Hybridization" refers to the ability of a first strand of nucleic acid to join with a
second strand via hydrogen bond base pairing when the two nucleic acid strands have
sufficient sequence complementarity. As used herein, a nucleic acid molecule is said to be the
"complement" of another nucleic acid molecule if they exhibit complete complementarity. As
used herein, molecules are said to exhibit "complete complementarity" when every nucleotide
of one of the molecules is complementary to a nucleotide of the other. Thus two nucleic acid
strands are said to have sufficient complementarity when they can hybridize to one another
with sufficient stability to permit them to remain annealed to one another under appropriate
conditions.
The phrases "marker-assisted selection" or "marker-assisted breeding" refer to the use
of genetic markers to identify and select plants with superior phenotypic potential. Genetic
markers determined previously to be associated with a trait locus or trait loci are used to
uncover the genotype at trait loci by virtue of linkage between the marker locus and the trait
locus. Plants containing desired trait alleles are chosen based upon their genotypes at linked
marker loci.
The phrase "breeding population" refers to a genetically heterogeneous collection of
plants created for the purpose of identifying one or more individuals with desired phenotypic
characteristics. The term "phenotype" refers to the observed expression of one or more plant
characteristics.
A "genetic marker" is any morphological, biochemical, or nucleic acid based
phenotypic difference which reveals a DNA polymorphism. Examples of genetic markers
include but are not limited to RFLPs, RAPDs, allozymes, SSRs, and AFLPs.
The phrase "marker locus" refers to the genetically defined location of DNA
polymorphisms as revealed by a genetic marker. A "trait locus" refers to a genetically defined
location for a collection of one or more genes (alleles) which contribute to an observed
characteristic.
The phrase "restriction fragment length polymorphism" (RFLP) refers to a DNAbased
genetic marker in which size differences in restriction endonuclease generated DNA
fragments are observed via hybridization (Botstein et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet., 32:314-331
(1980)).
The phrase "random amplified polymorphic DNA" (RAPD) refers to a DNA
amplification based genetic marker in which short, sequence arbitrary primers are used and
the resulting amplification products are size separated and differences in amplification
patterns observed (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:6531-6535 (1990)).
The phrase "simple sequence repeat" (SSR) refers to a DNA amplification-based
genetic marker in which short stretches of tandemly repeated sequence motifs are amplified
and the resulting amplification products are size separated and differences in length of the
nucleotide repeat are observed (Tautz, Nucleic Acids Res., 112:4127-4138 (1989)).
The term "AFLP" refers to a DNA amplification-based genetic marker in which
restriction endonuclease generated DNA fragments are ligated to short DNA fragments which
facilitate the amplification of the restricted DNA fragments (Vos et al., Nucleic Acids Res.,
23:4407-4414 (1995)). The amplified fragments are size separated and differences in
amplification patterns observed.
The phrase "operably linked" refers to the functional spatial arrangement of two or
more nucleic acid regions or nucleic acid sequences. For example, a promoter region may be
positioned relative to a nucleic acid sequence such that transcription of the nucleic acid
sequence is directed by the promoter region. Thus, a promoter region is "operably linked" to
the nucleic acid sequence.
The terms "promoter" or "promoter region" refer to a nucleic acid sequence, usually
found upstream (5') to a coding sequence that is capable of directing transcription of a nucleic
acid sequence into mRNA. The promoter or promoter region typically provides a recognition
site for RNA polymerase and the other factors necessary for proper initiation of transcription.
As contemplated herein, a promoter or promoter region includes variations of promoters
derived by inserting or deleting regulatory regions, subjecting the promoter to random or sitedirected
mutagenesis, and the like. The activity or strength of a promoter may be measured in
terms of the amounts of RNA it produces, or the amount of protein accumulation in a cell or
tissue, relative to a second promoter that is similarly measured.
The phrase "3" non-coding sequences" refers to nucleotide sequences located
downstream of a coding sequence and include polyadenylation recognition sequences and
other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene
expression. The polyadenylation signal is usually characterized by affecting the addition of polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3' end of the mRNA precursor. The use of different 3' noncoding
sequences is exemplified by Ingelbrecht et al, Plant Cell, 1:671-680 (1989).
"Translation leader sequence" or "5" untranslated region" or "5'-UTR" all refer to a
nucleotide sequence located between the promoter sequence of a gene and the coding
sequence. The 5'-UTR is present in the fully processed mRNA upstream of the translation
start sequence. The 5'-UTR may affect processing of the primary transcript to mRNA, mRNA
stability, or translation efficiency. Examples of translation leader sequences have been
described (Turner and Foster, Molecular Biotechnology, 3:225(1995)).
"RNA transcript" refers to the product resulting from RNA polymerase-catalyzed
transcription of a DNA sequence. When the RNA transcript is a perfect complementary copy
of the DNA sequence, it is referred to as the primary transcript or it may be a RNA sequence
derived from posttranscriptional processing of the primary transcript and is referred to as the
mature RNA. "Messenger RNA" (mRNA) refers to the RNA that is without introns and that
can be translated into polypeptide by the cell. "Sense RNA" refers to an RNA transcript that
includes the mRNA and so can be translated into a polypeptide by the cell. "Antisense RNA"
refers to an RNA transcript that is complementary to a target mRNA, resulting in specific
RNA:RNA duplexes being formed by base pairing between the antisense RNA substrate and
the target mRNA.
"Recombinant vector" refers to any agent by or in which a nucleic acid of interest is
amplified, expressed, or stored, such as a plasmid, cosmid, virus, autonomously replicating
sequence, phage, or linear single-stranded, circular single-stranded, linear double-stranded, or
circular double-stranded DNA or RNA nucleotide sequence. The recombinant vector may be
derived from any source and is capable of genomic integration or autonomous replication.
"Regulatory sequence" refers to a nucleotide sequence located upstream (51), within, or
downstream (3') with respect to a coding sequence. Additionally, introns may have regulatory
activity. Transcription and expression of the coding sequence is typically impacted by the
presence or absence of the regulatory sequence.
"Substantially homologous" refers to two sequences that are at least about 90%
identical in sequence, as measured by the CLUSTAL W method in the Omiga program, using
default parameters (Version 2.0; Accelrys, San Diego, CA).
"Substantially purified" refers to a molecule separated from substantially all other
molecules normally associated with it in its native state. More preferably, a substantially
purified molecule is the predominant species present in a preparation. A substantially purified
molecule may be greater than about 60% free, preferably about 75% free, more preferably
about 90% free, and most preferably about 95% free from the other molecules (exclusive of
solvent) present in the natural mixture. The phrase "substantially purified" is not intended to
encompass molecules present in their native state.
The term "transformation" refers to the introduction of nucleic acid into a recipient
host. The term "host" refers to bacteria cells, fungi, animals or animal cells, plants or seeds,
or any plant parts or tissues including plant cells, protoplasts, calli, roots, tubers, seeds, stems,
leaves, seedlings, embryos, and pollen.
As used herein, a "transgenic plant" is a plant having stably introduced into its
genome, for example, the nuclear or plastid genomes, a nucleic acid.
The terms "seeds" and "kernels" are understood to be equivalent in meaning. The
term kernel is frequently used in describing the seed of a corn or rice plant. In all plants the
seed is the mature ovule consisting of a seed coat, embryo, and in plants of the present
invention, an endosperm.
HOIQ01 GBSS Nucleic Acids
The present invention provides nucleic acids that encode polypeptides substantially
homologous to a granule bound starch synthase isolated from the inbred plant HOI001
(HOI001 GBSS). In one embodiment, these nucleic acid molecules are used in the context of
the present invention for increasing the oil content of plant tissues. In one embodiment, the
present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid that encodes a HOI001 GBSS protein,
which nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and complements
thereof, and nucleic acids which encode polypeptides having at least about 94% sequence
identity with SEQ ID NO: 3. The percent sequence identity of the polypeptides encoded by
nucleic acids of this invention is preferably at least about 95%; and most preferably at least
about 98%.
The present invention also provides vectors containing such HOI001 GBSS nucleic
acids. As set forth in further detail hereinbelow, preferred nucleic acids include appropriate
regulatory elements operably linked thereto that facilitate efficient expression of the inventive
nucleic acids in a host, including without limitation bacterial, fungal, or plant hosts. Vectors
useful in the context of the present invention can include such regulatory elements.
The nucleic acids and vectors encompassed by the present invention need not have the
exact nucleic acid sequences described herein. Instead, the sequences of these nucleic acids
and vectors can vary, so long as the nucleic acid either performs the function for which it is
intended or has some other utility, for example, as a nucleic acid probe for complementary
nucleic acids. For example, some sequence variability in any part of a HOI001 GBSS nucleic
acid is permitted so long as transformation of a plant with the mutant or variant polypeptide or
polypeptides result in a phenotype substantially similar to that of HOI001 GBSS. Most
preferably, the aforementioned sequence variability results in increased oil accumulation in
plant tissues, as compared to plants of the same or similar genotype, but without the
transgene.
Fragment and variant nucleic acids of SEQ ID NO: 1, are also encompassed by the
present invention. Nucleic acid fragments encompassed by the present invention are of three
general types. First, fragment nucleic acids that are not full length but do perform their
intended function are encompassed within the present invention. Second, fragments of
nucleic acids identified herein that are useful as hybridization probes, are also included in the
invention. And, third, fragments of nucleic acids identified herein can be used in suppression
technologies known in the art, such as, for example, anti-sense technology or RNA inhibition
(RNAi), which provides for reducing carbon flow in a plant into oil, making more carbon
available for protein or starch accumulation, for example. Thus, fragments of a nucleotide
sequence, such as SEQ ID NO: 1 may range from at least about 15 nucleotides, about
nucleotides, about 18 nucleotides, about 20 nucleotides, about 50 nucleotides, about 100
nucleotides or more. In general, a fragment nucleic acid of the present invention can have any
upper size limit so long as it is related in sequence to the nucleic acids of the present invention
but does not include the full length.
As used herein, "variants" have substantially similar or substantially homologous
sequences when compared to reference or wild type sequence. For nucleotide sequences that
encode proteins, variants also include those sequences that, because of the degeneracy of the
genetic code, encode the identical amino acid sequence of the reference protein. Variant
nucleic acids also include those that encode polypeptides that do not have amino acid
sequences identical to that of the proteins identified herein, but which encode an active protein
with conservative changes in the amino acid sequence.
The present invention is not limited to silent changes in the present nucleotide
sequences but also includes variant nucleic acid sequences that conservatively alter the amino
acid sequence of a polypeptide of the present invention. Because it is the interactive capacity
and nature of a protein that defines that protein's biological functional activity, certain amino
acid sequence substitutions can be made in a protein sequence and, of course, its underlying
DNA coding sequence and, nevertheless, a protein with like properties can still be obtained.
It is thus contemplated by the inventors that various changes may be made in the peptide
sequences of the proteins or fragments of the present invention, or corresponding DNA
sequences that encode the peptides, without appreciable loss of their biological utility or
activity. According to the present invention, then, variant and reference nucleic acids of the
present invention may differ in the encoded amino acid sequence by one or more
substitutions, additions, insertions, deletions, fusions, and truncations, which may be present
in any combination, so long as an active HOI001 GBSS protein is encoded by the variant
nucleic acid. Such variant nucleic acids will not encode exactly the same amino acid
sequence as the reference nucleic acid, but have conservative sequence changes. Codons
capable of coding for such conservative amino acid substitutions are well known in the art.
Another approach to identifying conservative amino acid substitutions require analysis
of the hydropathic index of amino acids may be considered. The importance of the
hydropathic amino acid index in conferring interactive biological function on a protein is
generally understood in the art (Kyte and Doolittle, /. Mol. Biol, 157:105-132 (1982)). It is
accepted that the relative hydropathic character of the amino acid contributes to the secondary
structure of the resultant polypeptide, which in turn defines the interaction of the protein with
other molecules, for example, enzymes, substrates, receptors, DNA, antibodies, antigens, and
the like.
Each amino acid has been assigned a hydropathic index on the basis of its
hydrophobicity and charge characteristics (Kyte and Doolittle, J. Mol. Biol, 157:105-132
(1982)); these are isoleucine (+4.5), valine (+4.2), leucine (+3.8), phenylalanine (+2.8),
cysteine/cystine (+2.5), methionine (+1.9), alanine (+1.8), glycine (-0.4), threonine (-0.7),
serine (-0.8), tryptophan (-0.9), tyrosine (-1.3), proline (-1.6), histidine (-3.2), glutamate
(-3.5), glutamine (-3.5), aspartate (-3.5), asparagine (-3.5), lysine (-3.9), and arginine (-4.5).
In making such changes, the substitution of amino acids whose hydropathic indices are
within ±2 is preferred, those that are within ±1 are particularly preferred, and those within
+0.5 are even more particularly preferred.
It is also understood in the art that the substitution of like amino acids can be made
effectively on the basis of hydrophilicity. U.S. Patent 4,554,101, states that the greatest local
average hydrophilicity of a protein, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino
acids, correlates with a biological property of the protein.
As detailed in U.S. Patent 4,554,101, the following hydrophilicity values have been
assigned to amino acid residues: arginine (+3.0), lysine (+3.0), aspartate (+3.0±1), glutamate
(+3.0±1), serine (+0.3), asparagine (+0.2), glutamine (+0.2), glycine (0), threonine (-0.4),
proline (-0.5+1), alanine (-0.5), histidine (-0.5), cysteine (-1.0), methionine (-1.3), valine
(-1.5), leucine (-1.8), isoleucine (-1.8), tyrosine (-2.3), phenylalanine (-2.5), and tryptophan
(-3.4).
In making such changes, the substitution of amino acids whose hydrophilicity values
are within ±2 is preferred, those that are within +1 are particularly preferred, and those within
±0.5 are even more particularly preferred.
Variant nucleic acids with silent and conservative changes can be defined and
characterized by the degree of homology to the reference nucleic acid. Preferred variant
nucleic acids are substantially homologous to the reference nucleic acids of the present
invention. As recognized by one of skill in the art, such substantially similar nucleic acids can
hybridize under stringent conditions with the reference nucleic acids identified by SEQ ID
NO: 1, herein. These types of substantially homologous nucleic acids are encompassed by
this invention.
Variant nucleic acids can be detected and isolated by standard hybridization
procedures. Hybridization to detect or isolate such sequences is generally carried out under
"moderately stringent" and preferably under "stringent" conditions. Moderately stringent
hybridization conditions and associated moderately stringent and stringent hybridization wash
conditions used in the context of nucleic acid hybridization experiments, such as Southern and
northern hybridization, are sequence dependent, and are different under different
environmental parameters. Longer sequences hybridize specifically at higher temperatures.
An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen, Laboratory
Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes,
page 1, Chapter 2 "Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid
probe assays" Elsevier, NY (1993). See also, J. Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A
Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, NY, pp 9.31-9.58 (1989); J. Sambrook et al,
Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, NY (3rd ed. 2001).
The present invention also provides methods for detection and isolation of derivative
or variant nucleic acids encoding the proteins provided herein. The methods involve
hybridizing at least a portion of a nucleic acid comprising any part of SEQ ID NO: 1 with
respect to HOI001 GBSS-related sequences, to a sample nucleic acid, thereby forming a
hybridization complex; and detecting the hybridization complex. The presence of the
complex correlates with the presence of a derivative or variant nucleic acid that can be further
characterized by nucleic acid sequencing, expression of RNA and/or protein and testing to
determine whether the derivative or variant retains the ability to increase oil levels in plant
tissue when transformed into that plant. In general, the portion of a nucleic acid comprising
any part of SEQ ID NO: 1 used for hybridization is preferably at least about fifteen
nucleotides, and hybridization is under hybridization conditions that are sufficiently stringent
to permit detection and isolation of substantially homologous nucleic acids; preferably, the
hybridization conditions are "moderately stringent", more preferably the hybridization
conditions are "stringent", as defined herein and in the context of conventional molecular
biological techniques well known in the art.
Generally, highly stringent hybridization and wash conditions are selected to be about
5°C lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific double-stranded sequence at a
defined ionic strength and pH. For example, under "highly stringent conditions" or "highly
stringent hybridization conditions" a nucleic acid will hybridize to its complement to a
detectably greater degree than to other sequences (e.g., at least 2-fold over background). By
controlling the stringency of the hybridization and/or the washing conditions, nucleic acids
having 100% complementary can be identified and isolated.
Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than
about 1.5 M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH
7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30°C for short probes (e.g., 10 to 50
nucleotides) and at least about 60°C for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides).
Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as
formamide, in which case hybridization temperatures can be decreased. Dextran sulfate
and/or Denhardt's solution (50X Denhardt's is 5% Ficoll, 5% polyvinylpyrrolidone, 5% BSA)
can also be included in the hybridization reactions.
Exemplary low stringency conditions include hybridization with a buffer solution of
30 to 50% formamide, 5X SSC (20X SSC is 3M NaCl, 0.3 M trisodium citrate), 50mM
sodium phosphate, pH7, 5mM EDTA, 0.1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), 5X Denhardt's
with 100 ug/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 37°C, and a wash in IX to 5X SSC (20X
SSC defined as 3.0 M NaCl and 0.3 M trisodium citrate), 0.1% SDS at 37°C. Exemplary
moderate stringency conditions include hybridization in 40 to 50% formamide, 5X SSC
50mM sodium phosphate, pH 7, 5mM EDTA, 0.1% SDS, 5X Denhardt's with 100 ug/ml
denatured salmon sperm DNA at 42°C, and a wash in 0.1X to 2X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 42 to
55°C. Exemplary high stringency conditions include hybridization in 50% formamide, 5X
SSC, 50mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, 5mM EDTA, 0.1% SDS, 5X Denhardt's with
100 u.g/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA at 42°C, and a wash in 0. IX SSC, 0.1% SDS at 60
to 65°C.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the inventive nucleic acids are
defined by the percent identity relationship between particular nucleic acids and other
members of the class using analytic protocols well known in the art. Such analytic protocols
include, but are not limited to: CLUSTAL in the PC/Gene program (available from
Intelligenetics, Mountain View, CA or in the Omiga program version 2.0 Accelrys Inc., San
Diego, CA); the ALIGN program (Version 2.0); and GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA, and
TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Version 8 (available from Genetics
Computer Group (GCG), 575 Science Drive, Madison, WI). Alignments using these
programs can be performed using the default parameters. The CLUSTAL program is well
described by Higgins et al, Gene, 73:237-244 (1988); Higgins et al, CABIOS, 5:151-153
(1989); Corpet et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 16:10881-10890 (1988); Huang et al., CABIOS,
8:155-165 (1992); and Pearson et al., Meth.Mol. Biol., 24:307-331 (1994). The ALIGN
program is based on the algorithm of Meyers and Miller, Computer Applic. Biol. Sci., 4:11-17
(1988). The BLAST programs of Altschul et al, J. Mol. Biol., 215:403 (1990), are based on
the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 87:2264-2268 (1990). To
obtain gapped alignments for comparison puiposes, Gapped BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) can be
utilized as described in Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 25:3389 (1997). Alternatively,
PSI-BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) can be used to perform an iterated search that detects distant
relationships between molecules. See, Altschul et al., supra. When utilizing BLAST, Gapped
BLAST, PSI-BLAST, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g., BLASTN for
nucleotide sequences, BLASTP for proteins) can be used. The BLASTN program (for
nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a word length (W) of 11, an expectation (E) of 10, a
cutoff of 100, M=5, N=-4, and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the
BLASTP program uses as defaults a word length (W) of 3, an expectation (E) of 10, and the
BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see, Henikoff & Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.,
89:10915 (1989)) (see, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.). Alignment may also be performed
manually by inspection.
For purposes of the present invention, comparison of nucleotide sequences for
determination of percent sequence identity to the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein is
preferably made using the BLASTN program (version 1.4.7 or later) with its default
parameters or any equivalent program. By "equivalent program" is intended any sequence
comparison program that, for any two sequences in question, generates an alignment having
identical nucleotide or amino acid residue matches and an identical percent sequence identity
when compared to the corresponding alignment generated by the preferred program.
Expression Vectors and Cassettes
The expression vectors and cassettes of the present invention include nucleic acids
encoding HOIOOl GBSS. A transgene comprising a HOIOOl GBSS can be subcloned into an
expression vector or cassette, and HOIOOl GBSS expression can be detected and/or
quantified. This method of screening is useful to identify transgenes providing for an
expression of a HOIOOl GBSS, and expression of a HOIOOl GBSS in a transformed plant cell.
Plasmid vectors that provide for easy selection, amplification, and transformation of
the transgene in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells include, for example, pUC-derived vectors,
pSK-derived vectors, pGEM-derived vectors, pSP-derived vectors, pBS-derived vectors,
pFastBac (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, CA) for baculovirus expression and pYES2
(Invitrogen) for yeast expression. Additional elements may be present in such vectors,
including origins of replication to provide for autonomous replication of the vector, selectable
marker genes, preferably encoding antibiotic or herbicide resistance, unique multiple cloning
sites providing for multiple sites to insert DNA sequences or genes encoded in the transgene,
and sequences that enhance transformation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. One vector
that is useful for expression in both plant and prokaryotic cells is the binary Ti plasmid (as
disclosed in Schilperoot et al., U.S. Patent 4,940,838), as exemplified by vector pGA582.
This binary Ti plasmid vector has been previously characterized by An, Methods in
Enzymology, 153:292 (1987). This binary Ti vector can be replicated in prokaryotic bacteria,
such as E. coli and Agrobacterium. The Agrobacterium plasmid vectors can also be used to
transfer the transgene to plant cells. The binary Ti vectors preferably include the T DNA right
and left borders to provide for efficient plant cell transformation, a selectable marker gene,
unique multiple cloning sites in the T border regions, the co/El replication of origin and a
wide host range replicon. The binary Ti vectors carrying a transgene of the present invention
can be used to transform both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, but is preferably used to
transform plant cells, (see, Classman et al, U.S. Patent 5,258,300). Examples of plant
expression vectors include the commercial vectors pBHOl, pBI101.2, pBI101.3, and pBIN19
(Clontech, Palo Alto, CA).
In general, the expression vectors and cassettes of the present invention contain at least
a promoter capable of expressing RNA in a plant cell and a terminator, in addition to a nucleic
acid encoding a HOI001 GBSS. Other elements may also be present in the expression
cassettes of the present invention. For example, expression cassettes can also contain
enhancers, introns, untranslated leader sequences, cloning sites, matrix attachment regions for
silencing the effects of chromosomal control elements, and other elements known to one of
skill in the art.
Expression cassettes have promoters that can regulate gene expression. Promoter
regions are typically found in the flanking DNA sequence upstream from coding regions in
both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. A promoter sequence provides for regulation of
transcription of the downstream gene sequence and typically includes from about 50 to about
2,000 nucleotide base pairs. Promoter sequences also contain regulatory sequences, such as
enhancer sequences that can influence the level of gene expression. Some isolated promoter
sequences can provide for gene expression of heterologous genes, that is, a gene different
from the native or homologous gene. Promoter sequences are also known to be strong or
weak or inducible. A strong promoter provides for a high level of gene expression, whereas a
weak promoter provides for a very low level of gene expression. An inducible promoter is a
promoter that provides for turning on and off of gene expression in response to an
exogenously added agent or to an environmental or developmental stimulus. Promoters can
also provide for tissue specific or developmental regulation. An isolated promoter sequence
that is a strong promoter for heterologous genes is advantageous because it provides for a
sufficient level of gene expression to allow for easy detection and selection of transformed
cells and provides for a high level of gene expression when desired. Transcription initiation
egions that are preferentially expressed in seed tissue, and that are undetectable in other plant
parts, are considered desirable for seed oil modifications in order to minimize any disruptive
or adverse effects of the gene product.
Promoters of the present invention will generally include, but are not limited to,
promoters that function in bacteria, plant cells, or plastids. Useful promoters for bacterial
expression are the lacZ, T7, T5, or E. coli gig C promoters. Useful promoters for plant cells
include wheat high molecular weight glutenin promoter (bp 2647-3895 of Genbank Accession
X12928, version X12928.3, originally described in Anderson et al, Nucleic Acids Res.,
17:461-462 (1989)), the globulin promoter (see, Belanger and Kriz, Genet., 129:863-872,
(1991)), gamma zein Z27 promoter (see, U.S. Serial Number 08/763,705; also, Lopes et al,
Mol Gen Genet., 247:603-613 (1995)), L3 oleosin promoter (U.S. Patent 6,433,252), CaMV
35S promoter (Odell et al, Nature, 313:810 (1985)), the CaMV 19S (Lawton et al, Plant
Mol Biol, 9:3 IF (1987)), nos (Ebert et al, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 84:5745 (1987)),
Adh (Walker et al, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 84:6624 (1987)), sucrose synthase (Yang et
al, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 87:4144 (1990)), tubulin, actin (Wang et al, Mol Cell
Biol, 12:3399 (1992)), cab (Sullivan et al, Mol Gen. Genet., 215:431 (1989)), PEPCase
promoter (Hudspeth et al, Plant Mol Biol, 12:579 (1989)), or those associated with the R
gene complex (Chandler et al, The Plant Cell, 1:1175 (1989)).
Indeed in a preferred embodiment the promoter used is highly-expressed in the
endosperm. Exemplary promoters include those from the zeins which are a group of storage
proteins found in maize endosperm. Genomic clones for zein genes have been isolated
(Pedersen et al, Cell, 29:1015-1026 (1982) and Russell et al, Transgenic Res., 6(2):157-168
(1997)) and the promoters from these clones, including the 15 kD, 16 kD, 19 kD, 22 kD, and
27 kD genes (Z27, U.S. Serial Number 08/763,705; also, Reina et al, Nucl Acids Res.,
18:6426 (1990), Lopes et al, Mol Gen. Genet., 247:603-613 (1995)), can also be used. Other
preferred promoters, known to function in maize, and in other plants, include the promoters
for the following genes: WAXY (granule bound starch synthase; Shure et al, Cell,
35:225-233 (1983); Russell et al, Transgenic Res., 6(2):157-168 (1997)), Brittle 2 and
Shrunken 2 (ADP glucose pryophosphorylase, Anderson et al, Gene, 97:199-205 (1991),
Russell et al, Transgenic Res., 6(2):157-168 (1997)), Shrunken /(sucrose synthase, Yang and
Russell, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 87:4144-4148 (1990)), branching enzymes I and II,
WAXY promoter from rice (Terada et al, Plant Cell Physiology, 41(7):881-888 (2000)),
debranching enzymes, glutelins (Zheng et al, Plant J., 4:357-366 (1993), Russell et al,
Transgenic Res., 6(2):157-168 (1997)), and Belli (basal endosperm transfer layer; Hueros et
al. Plant Physiol., 121:1143-1152 (1999)). Other promoters useful in the practice of the
present invention that are known by one of skill in the art are also contemplated by the
invention.
Moreover, transcription enhancers or duplications of enhancers can be used to increase
expression from a particular promoter. Examples of such enhancers include, but are not
limited to, elements from the CaMV 35S promoter and octopine synthase genes (Last et al.,
U.S. Patent 5,290,924). As the DNA sequence between the transcription initiation site and the
start of the coding sequence, i.e., the untranslated leader sequence, can influence gene
expression, one may also wish to employ a particular leader sequence. Any leader sequence
available to one of skill in the art may be employed. Preferred leader sequences direct
optimum levels of expression of the attached gene, for example, by increasing or maintaining
mRNA stability and/or by preventing inappropriate initiation of translation (Joshi, Nucl. Acid
Res., 15:6643 (1987)). The choice of such sequences is at the discretion of those of skill in
the art. Sequences that are derived from genes that are highly expressed in higher plants, and
in soybean, corn, and canola in particular, are contemplated.
Expression cassettes of the present invention will also include a sequence near the 3'
end of the cassette that acts as a signal to terminate transcription from a heterologous nucleic
acid and that directs polyadenylation of the resultant mRNA. These are commonly referred to
as 3' untranslated regions or 3' UTRs. Some 3' elements that can act as transcription
termination signals include the wheat HSP17 3' UTR (bp532-741 of GenBank X13431,
version XI3431.1, McElvain and Spiker, Nucleic Acids Res., 17:1764 (1989)), those from the
nopaline synthase gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Bevan et al., Nucl. Acid Res., 11:369
(1983)), a napin 3' UTR (Kridl et al., Seed Sci Res., 1:209-219 (1991)), a globulin 3' UTR
(Belanger and Kriz, Genetics, 129:863-872 (1991)), or one from a zein gene, such as Z27
(Lopes et al, Mol Gen Genet., 247:603-613 (1995)). Other 3' elements known by one of skill
in the art also can be used in the vectors of the present invention.
Regulatory elements, such as Adh intron 1 (Callis et al., Genes Develop., 1:1183
(1987)), a rice actin intron (McElroy et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 231(1):150-160 (1991)), sucrose
synthase intron (Vasil et al., Plant Physiol., 91:5175 (1989)), the maize HSP70 intron
(Rochester et al, EMBO J., 5:451-458 (1986)), or TMV omega element (Gallic et al, The
Plant Cell 1:301 (1989)) may further be included where desired. These 3' nontranslated
regulatory sequences can be obtained as described in An, Methods in Enzymology, 153:292
(1987) or are already present in plasmids available from commercial sources, such as
Clontech, Palo Alto, CA. The 3' nontranslated regulatory sequences can be operably linked to
-18-
the 3' terminus of any heterologous nucleic acid to be expressed by the expression cassettes
contained within the present vectors. Other such regulatory elements useful in the practice of
the present invention are known by one of skill in the art and can also be placed in the vectors
of the invention.
The vectors of the present invention, as well as the coding regions claimed herein, can
be optimized for expression in plants by having one or more codons replaced by other codons
encoding the same amino acids so that the polypeptide is optimally translated by the
translation machinery of the plant species in which the vector is used.
Selectable Markers
Selectable marker genes or reporter genes are also useful in the present invention.
Such genes can impart a distinct phenotype to cells expressing the marker gene and thus allow
such transformed cells to be distinguished from cells that do not have the marker. Selectable
marker genes confer a trait that one can "select" for by chemical means, i.e., through the use
of a selective agent (e.g., a herbicide, antibiotic, or the like). Reporter genes, or screenable
genes, confer a trait that one can identify through observation or testing, i.e., by "screening"
(e.g., the R-locus trait). Of course, many examples of suitable marker genes are known to the
art and can be employed in the practice of the present invention.
A number of selectable marker genes are known in the art and can be used in the
present invention. A preferred selectable marker gene for use in the present invention would
include genes that confer resistance to herbicides like glyphosate, such as EPSP (Della-Cioppa
et al., Bio/Technology, 5(6):579-84 (1987)). A particularly preferred selectable marker would
include a gene that encodes an altered EPSP synthase protein (Hinchee et al., Biotech., 6:915
(1988)). Other possible selectable markers for use in connection with the present invention
include, but are not limited to, a neo gene (Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183 (1985))
which codes for kanamycin resistance and can be selected for by applying kanamycin, a
kanamycin analog such as geneticin (Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, MO), and the like;
a bar gene that codes for bialaphos resistance; a nitrilase gene, such as bxn from Klebsiella
ozaenae, which confers resistance to bromoxynil (Stalker et al., Science, 242:419 (1988)); a
mutant acetolactate synthase gene (ALS) that confers resistance to imidazolinone,
sulfonylurea or other ALS-inhibiting chemicals (EP 154 204A1 (1985)); a methotrexateresistant
DHFR gene (Thillet et al., J. Biol. Ghent., 263:12500 (1988)); a dalapon
dehalogenase gene that confers resistance to the herbicide dalapon. Where a mutant EPSP
synthase gene is employed, additional benefit may be realized through the incorporation of a
suitable plastid transit peptide (CTP).
Screenable markers that may be employed include, but are not limited to, a
/3-glucuronidase or uidA gene (GUS), which encodes an enzyme for which various
chromogenic substrates are known; an R-locus gene, which encodes a product that regulates
the production of anthocyanin pigments (red color) in plant tissues (Dellaporta et al, In
Chromosome Structure and Function, pp. 263-282 (1988)); a /3-lactamase gene (Sutcliffe,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 75:3737 (1978)), which encodes an enzyme for which various
chromogenic substrates are known (e.g., PAD AC, a chromogenic cephalosporin); axylE gene
(Zukowsky et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80:1101 (1983)) that encodes a catechol
dioxygenase that can convert chromogenic catechols; an a-amylase gene (Ikuta et al.,
Biotech., 8:241 (1990)); atyrosinase gene (Katzetal., J. Gen. Microbiol., 129:2703 (1983))
that encodes an enzyme capable of oxidizing tyrosine to DOPA and dopaquinone, which in
turn condenses to form the easily detectable compound melanin; a /3-galactosidase gene,
which encodes an enzyme for which there are chromogenic substrates; a luciferase (lux) gene
(Ow et al., Science, 234:856 (1986)), which allows for bioluminescence detection; or an
aequorin gene (Prasher et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 126:1259 (1985)), which may
be employed in calcium-sensitive bioluminescence detection, or a green fluorescent protein
gene (Niedz et al., Plant Cell Reports, 14:403 (1995)). In a preferred embodiment, the
screenable marker gene is operably linked to an aleurone-specific promoter as described by
Kriz et al., in U.S. Patent 6,307,123.
In addition to nuclear plant transformation, the present invention also extends to direct
transformation of the plastid genome of plants. Hence, targeting of the gene product to an
intracellular compartment within plant cells may also be achieved by direct delivery of a gene
to the intracellular compartment. In some embodiments, direct transformation of plastid
genome may provide additional benefits over nuclear transformation. For example, direct
plastid transformation of HOI001 GBSS eliminates the requirement for a plastid targeting
peptide and post-translational transport and processing of the pre-protein derived from the
corresponding nuclear transformants. Plastid transformation of plants has been described by
P. Maliga, Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 5:164-172 (2002), Heifetz, Biochimie,
82:655-666 (2000), Bock, J. Mol Biol, 312:425-438 (2001), and Daniell et al., Trends in
Plant Science, 7:84-91 (2002), and references cited therein.
After constructing a transgene containing an HOI001 GBSS, the expression vector or
cassette can then be introduced into a plant cell. Depending on the type of plant cell, the level
of gene expression, and the activity of the enzyme encoded by the gene, introduction of DNA
encoding an HOI001 GBSS into the plant cell can lead to increased oil content in plant
tissues.
Plant Transformation
Techniques for transforming a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ, or a plant with a
nucleic acid construct, such as a vector are known in the art. Such methods involve plant
tissue culture techniques, for example. As used herein, "transforming" refers to the
introduction of nucleic acid into a recipient host and the expression therein.
The plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ, or plant can be contacted with the vector by
any suitable means as known in the art. Preferably, a transgenic plant expressing the desired
protein is to be produced. Various methods for the introduction of a desired polynucleotide
sequence encoding the desired protein into plant cells include, but are not limited to: (1)
physical methods such as microinjection (Capecchi, Cell, 22(2):479-488 (1980)),
electroporation (Fromm et al, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 82(17):5824-5828 (1985); U.S.
Patent 5,384,253), and microprojectile bombardment mediated delivery (Christou et al.,
Bio/Technology, 9:957 (1991); Fynan et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.,
90(24):! 1478-11482 (1993)); (2) virus mediated delivery methods (Clapp, Clin. Perinatal,
20(1):155-168 (1993); Lu et al., J. Exp. Med., 178(6):2089-2096 (1993); Eglitis and
Anderson, Biotechniques, 6(7):608-614 (1988); and (3) Agrobacterium-mediaied
transformation methods.
The most commonly used methods for transformation of plant cells are the
Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer process (Fraley et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.,
80:4803 (1983)) and the microprojectile bombardment mediated process. Typically, nuclear
transformation is desired but where it is desirable to specifically transform plastids, such as
chloroplasts or amyloplasts, plant plastids may be transformed utilizing a microprojectile
bombardment mediated delivery of the desired polynucleotide for certain plant species such as
tobacco, Arabidopsis, potato, and Brassica species.
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is achieved through the use of a genetically
engineered soil bacterium belonging to the genus Agrobacterium. Several Agrobacterium
species mediate the transfer of a specific DNA known as "T-DNA," which can be genetically
engineered to carry any desired piece of DNA into many plant species. The major events
marking the process of T-DNA mediated pathogenesis are: induction of virulence genes,
processing, and transfer of T-DNA. This process is the subject of many reviews (Ream, Ann.
Rev. Phytopathol, 27:583-618 (1989); Howard and Citovsky, Bioassays, 12:103-108 (1990);
Kado, Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., 10:1-32 (1991); Zambryski, Annual Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant
Mol. BioL, 43:465-490 (1992); Gelvin, In Transgenic Plants, Kung and Wu, (eds.), Academic
Press, San Diego, CA, pp. 49-87 (1993); Binns and Howitz, In Bacterial Pathogenesis of
Plants and Animals, Dang, (ed.). Berlin: Springer Verlag, pp. 119-138 (1994); Hooykaas and
Beijersbergen,/4««. Rev. Phytopathol, 32:157-179 (1994); Lessl and Lanka, Cell, 77:321-324
(1994); Zupan and Zambryski, Annual Rev. Phytopathol, 27:583-618 (1995)).
Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of plants involves several steps. The
first step, in which the virulent Agrobacterium and plant cells are first brought into contact
with each other, is generally called "inoculation." The Agrobacterium containing solution is
then removed from contact with the explant by draining or aspiration. Following the
inoculation, the Agrobacterium and plant cells/tissues are permitted to be grown together for a
period of several hours to several days or more under conditions suitable for growth and
T-DNA transfer. This step is termed "co-culture." Following co-culture and T-DNA
delivery, the plant cells are treated with bactericidal or bacteriostatic agents to kill the
Agrobacterium remaining in contact with the explant and/or in the vessel containing the
explant. If this is done in the absence of any selective agents to promote preferential growth
of transgenic versus non-transgenic plant cells, then this is typically referred to as the "delay"
step. If done in the presence of selective pressure favoring transgenic plant cells, then it is
referred to as a "selection" step. When a "delay" is used, it is typically followed by one or
more "selection" steps. Both the "delay" and "selection" steps typically include bactericidal
or bacteriostatic agents to kill any remaining Agrobacterium cells because the growth of
Agrobacterium cells is undesirable after the infection (inoculation and co-culture) process.
A number of wild-type and disarmed strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and
Agrobacterium rhizogenes harboring Ti or Ri plasmids can be used for gene transfer into
plants. The Agrobacterium hosts contain disarmed Ti and Ri plasmids that do not contain the
oncogenes that cause tumorigenesis or rhizogenesis, respectfully, which are used as the
vectors and contain the genes of interest that are subsequently introduced into plants.
Preferred strains would include but are not limited to Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58, a
nopaline-type strain that is used to mediate the transfer of DNA into a plant cell, octopinetype
strains such as LBA4404 or succinamopine-type strains, e.g., EHA101 or EHA105. The
nucleic acid molecule, prepared as a DNA composition in vitro, is introduced into a suitable
host such as E. coli and mated into the Agrobacterium, or directly transformed into competent
Agrobacterium. These techniques are well-known to those of skill in the art.
The Agrobacterium can be prepared either by inoculating a liquid such as Luria
Burtani (LB) media directly from a glycerol stock or streaking the Agrobacterium onto a
solidified media from a glycerol stock, allowing the bacteria to grow under the appropriate
selective conditions, generally from about 26°C-30°C, or about 28°C, and taking a single
colony or a small loop of Agrobacterium from the plate and inoculating a liquid culture
medium containing the selective agents. Those of skill in the art are familiar with procedures
for growth and suitable culture conditions for Agrobacterium as well as subsequent
inoculation procedures. The density of the Agrobacterium culture used for inoculation and
the ratio of Agrobacterium cells to explant can vary from one system to the next, and therefore
optimization of these parameters for any transformation method is expected.
Typically, an Agrobacterium culture is inoculated from a streaked plate or glycerol
stock and is grown overnight and the bacterial cells are washed and resuspended in a culture
medium suitable for inoculation of the explant.
With respect to microprojectile bombardment (U.S. Patents 5,550,318; 5,538,880; and
5,610,042; and PCT Publication WO 95/06128; each of which is specifically incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety), particles are coated with nucleic acids and delivered into
cells by a propelling force. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,
platinum, and preferably, gold. It is contemplated that in some instances DNA precipitation
onto metal particles would not be necessary for DNA delivery to a recipient cell using
microprojectile bombardment. However, it is contemplated that particles may contain DNA
rather than be coated with DNA. Hence, it is proposed that DNA-coated particles may
increase the level of DNA delivery via particle bombardment but are not, in and of
themselves, necessary.
For the bombardment, cells in suspension are concentrated on filters or solid culture
medium. Alternatively, immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid
culture medium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriate distance below
the microprojectile stopping plate.
An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plant cells by
microprojectile bombardment is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System (BioRad, Hercules,
CA), which can be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through a screen, such as
a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a filter surface covered with monocot plant cells
cultured in suspension. The screen disperses the particles so that they are not delivered to the
recipient cells in large aggregates. It is believed that a screen intervening between the
projectile apparatus and the cells to be bombarded reduces the size of projectile aggregates
and may contribute to a higher frequency of transformation by reducing the damage inflicted
on the recipient cells by projectiles that are too large.
For microprojectile bombardment, one will attach (i.e., "coat") DNA to the
microprojectiles such that it is delivered to recipient cells in a form suitable for transformation
thereof. In this respect, at least some of the transforming DNA must be available to the target
cell for transformation to occur, while at the same time during delivery the DNA must be
attached to the microprojectile. Therefore, availability of the transforming DNA from the
microprojectile may comprise the physical reversal of bonds between transforming DNA and
the microprojectile following delivery of the microprojectile to the target cell. This need not
be the case, however, as availability to a target cell may occur as a result of breakage of
unbound segments of DNA or of other molecules which comprise the physical attachment to
the microprojectile. Availability may further occur as a result of breakage of bonds between
the transforming DNA and other molecules, which are either directly or indirectly attached to
the microprojectile. It further is contemplated that transformation of a target cell may occur
by way of direct recombination between the transforming DNA and the genomic DNA of the
recipient cell. Therefore, as used herein, a "coated" microprojectile will be one which is
capable of being used to transform a target cell, in that the transforming DNA will be
delivered to the target cell, yet will be accessible to the target cell such that transformation
may occur.
Any technique for coating microprojectiles, which allows for delivery of transforming
DNA to the target cells, may be used. Methods for coating microprojectiles, which have been
demonstrated to work well with the present invention, have been specifically disclosed herein.
DNA may be bound to microprojectile particles using alternative techniques, however. For
example, particles may be coated with streptavidin and DNA end labeled with long chain thiol
cleavable biotinylated nucleotide chains. The DNA adheres to the particles due to the
streptavidin-biotin interaction, but is released in the cell by reduction of the thiol linkage
through reducing agents present in the cell.
Alternatively, particles may be prepared by functionalizing the surface of a gold oxide
particle, providing free amine groups. DNA, having a strong negative charge, binds to the
functionalized particles. Furthermore, charged particles may be deposited in controlled arrays
on the surface of mylar flyer disks used in the PDS-1000 Biolistics device, thereby facilitating
controlled distribution of particles delivered to target tissue.
As disclosed above, it further is proposed, that the concentration of DNA used to coat
microprojectiles may influence the recovery of transformants containing a single copy of the
transgene. For example, a lower concentration of DNA may not necessarily change the
efficiency of the transformation, but may instead increase the proportion of single copy
insertion events. In this regard, approximately 1 ng to 2000 ng of transforming DNA may be
used per each 1.8 nig of starting microprojectiles. In other embodiments of the present
invention, approximately 2.5 ng to 1000 ng, 2.5 ng to 750 ng, 2.5 ng to 500 ng, 2.5 ng to
250 ng, 2.5 ng to 100 ng, or 2.5 ng to 50 ng of transforming DNA may be used per each
1.8 mg of starting microprojectiles.
Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may be used to
transform virtually any plant species. Examples of species that have been transformed by
microprojectile bombardment include monocot species such as maize (PCX Publication WO
95/06128), barley, wheat (U.S. Patent 5,563,055, specifically incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety), rice, oat, rye, sugarcane, and sorghum; as well as a number of dicots including
tobacco, soybean (U.S. Patent 5,322,783, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety), sunflower, peanut, cotton, tomato, and legumes in general (U.S. Patent 5,563,055,
specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).
For microprojectile bombardment transformation in accordance with the present
invention, both physical and biological parameters may be optimized. Physical factors are
those that involve manipulating the DNA/microprojectile precipitate or those that affect the
flight and velocity of either the macro- or microprojectiles. Biological factors include all
steps involved in manipulation of cells before and immediately after bombardment, such as
the osmotic adjustment of target cells to help alleviate the trauma associated with
bombardment, the orientation of an immature embryo or other target tissue relative to the
particle trajectory, and also the nature of the transforming DNA, such as linearized DNA or
intact supercoiled plasmids. It is believed that pre-bombardment manipulations are especially
important for successful transformation of immature embryos.
Accordingly, it is contemplated that one may wish to adjust various bombardment
parameters in small scale studies to fully optimize the conditions. One may particularly wish
to adjust physical parameters such as DNA concentration, gap distance, flight distance, tissue
distance, and helium pressure. It further is contemplated that the grade of helium may affect
transformation efficiency. One also may optimize the trauma reduction factors (TRFs) by
modifying conditions which influence the physiological state of the recipient cells and which
may therefore influence transformation and integration efficiencies. For example, the osmotic
state, tissue hydration, and the subculture stage or cell cycle of the recipient cells may be
adjusted for optimum transformation.
Other methods of cell transformation can also be used and include but are not limited
to introduction of DNA into plants by direct DNA transfer into pollen (Hess et al, Intern Rev.
Cytol., 107:367 (1987); Luo etal, Plant Mol Biol. Reporter, 6:165 (1988)), by direct injection
of DNA into reproductive organs of a plant (Pena et al, Nature, 325:274 (1987)), or by direct
injection of DNA into the cells of immature embryos followed by the rehydration of
desiccated embryos (Neuhaus et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 75:30 (1987)).
The regeneration, development, and cultivation of plants from single plant protoplast
transformants or from various transformed explants is well known in the art (Weissbach and
Weissbach, In: Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press, San Diego, CA,
(1988)). This regeneration and growth process typically includes the steps of selection of
transformed cells, culturing those individualized cells through the usual stages of embryonic
development through the rooted plantlet stage. The resulting transgenic rooted shoots are
thereafter planted in an appropriate plant growth medium such as soil.
The development or regeneration of plants containing the exogenous gene that encodes
a protein of interest is well known in the art. Preferably, the regenerated plants are selfpollinated
to provide homozygous transgenic plants. Otherwise, pollen obtained from the
regenerated plants is crossed to seed-grown plants of agronomically important lines.
Conversely, pollen from plants of these important lines is used to pollinate regenerated plants.
A transgenic plant of the present invention containing a desired polypeptide is cultivated using
methods well known to one skilled in the art.
There are a variety of methods for the regeneration of plants from plant tissue. The
particular method of regeneration will depend on the starting plant tissue and the particular
plant species to be regenerated.
Assays for gene expression based on the transient expression of cloned nucleic acid
constructs have been developed by introducing the nucleic acid molecules into plant cells by
polyethylene glycol treatment, electroporation, or particle bombardment (Marcotte et al,
Nature, 335:454-457 (1988); Marcotte et al, Plant Cell, 1:523-532 (1989); McCarty et al,
Cell, 66:895-905 (1991); Hattori etal, GenesDev., 6:609-618 (1992); G o f f e t a l , EMBO J.,
9:2517-2522 (1990)). Transient expression systems may be used to functionally dissect gene
constructs (see generally, Maliga et al, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology, Cold Spring
Harbor Press (1995)).
Any of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may be introduced into a
plant cell in a permanent or transient manner in combination with other genetic elements such
as vectors, promoters, enhancers, etc. Further, any of the nucleic acid molecules of the
present invention may be introduced into a plant cell in a manner that allows for expression or
overexpression of the protein or fragment thereof encoded by the nucleic acid molecule.
Transgenic plants may find use in the commercial manufacture of proteins or other
molecules, such as oils, where the molecules of interest are extracted or purified from plant
parts, seeds, and the like. Cells or tissue from the plants may also be cultured, grown in vitro,
or fermented to manufacture such molecules.
Improvements encoded by the recombinant DNA may be transferred, e.g., from cells
of one species to cells of other species, e.g., by protoplast fusion. The transgenic plants may
also be used in commercial breeding programs, or may be crossed or bred to plants of related
crop species. For example, a nucleic acid of the present invention, operably linked to a
promoter, can be introduced into a particular plant variety by crossing, without the need for
ever directly transforming a plant of that given variety. Therefore the present invention not
only encompasses a plant directly regenerated from cells that have been transformed in
accordance with the present invention, but also the progeny of such plants.
The present invention also provides for a method of stably expressing an HOI001
GBSS of interest in a plant, which includes, contacting the plant cell with a vector of the
present invention that has a nucleic acid encoding the HOI001 GBSS of interest, under
conditions effective to transfer and integrate the vector into the nuclear genome of the cell. A
promoter within the expression cassette can be any of the promoters provided herein, for
example, a constitutive promoter, an inducible promoter, a tissue-specific promoter, or a seed
specific promoter. Such promoters can provide expression of an encoded HOI001 GBSS at a
desired time, or at a desired developmental stage, or in a desired tissue. The vector can also
include a selectable marker gene. When using the vector with Agrobacterium tumefaciens,
the vector can have an Agrobacterium tumefaciens origin of replication.
Plants
Plants for use with the vectors of the present invention preferably include monocots,
especially oil producing species, most preferably corn (Zea mays). Other species
contemplated by the present invention include alfalfa (Medicago saliva), rice (Oryza saliva),
barley (Hordeum vulgare), millet (Panicum miliaceum), rye (Secale cereale), wheat (Triticwn
aestivum), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor).
Any of the plants or parts thereof of the present invention may be processed to produce
a feed, meal, protein, or oil preparation. A particularly preferred plant part for this purpose is
a seed. Methods to produce feed, meal, protein, and oil preparations are known in the art.
See, for example, U.S. Patents 4,957,748; 5,100,679; 5,219,596; 5,936,069; 6,005,076;
6,146,669; and 6,156,227.
Characterization of Transformed Plants
To confirm the presence of the transgene in the regenerated plant, a variety of
techniques, which are well known in the art, are available. Examples of these techniques
include but are not limited to: (a) molecular assays of DNA integration or RNA expression
such as Southern or northern blotting, TAQMAN® technology (Applied Biosystems, Foster
City, CA) and PCR; (b) biochemical assays detecting the presence of the protein product such
as ELISA, western blotting, or by enzymatic function; or (c) chemical analysis of the targeted
plant part, such as seed tissue, for qualitative and quantitative determination of oil, protein, or
starch.
The following examples are provided to illustrate the present invention and are not
intended to limit the invention in any way.
Example 1
This example describes the isolation and sequencing of the HOI001 GBSS gene from
com line HOI001. HOI001 is an inbred plant derived from MGSC 915E (Maize Genetic
Stock Center, Urbana, IL), and is more fully described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos.
20030172416 and 20030154524, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Genomic DNA was extracted from corn germ tissue from HOI001, 22 days after
pollination, using the following procedure. Between 50-100 mg dissected genn tissue was
placed in a BiolOl Multimix tube (Qiagen, Carlsbad, CA, Cat. No. 657-601) with extraction
buffer and glass beads. The extraction buffer consisted of 100 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 50 mM
EDTA, 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM DTT, and 1% SDS. The tissue was then disrupted using the Bio
101 FASTPREP® machine (Qiagen) with 3 pulses of 20 seconds each. Following a 15 minute
incubation at 65°C, 330 ul of 5M potassium acetate was added to each tube. The tubes were
then incubated at 0°C for 20 minutes to precipitate the SDS, followed by centrifugation at
12,000 rpm (Eppendorf Model 54172) for 10 minutes. The supernatant was transferred to a
new tube and 100 ul of 5M ammonium acetate (pH 7.0) and 700 |al of isopropanol was added
to precipitate the DNA. The tubes were mixed by inversion and centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for
10 minutes. After discarding the supernatant, the pellet was resuspended in 500 joJ of 70%
ethanol and recovered by centrifugation at 14,000 rpm for 5 minutes. The recovered pellet
containing the DNA was resuspended in 50 ul of TE buffer and stored at 4°C.
The HOI001 GBSS gene was isolated from the extracted genomic DNA using PCR
methodology that was adapted from Advantage GC (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto,
CA). The following primers were designed based on the published sequence of Zea mays
GBSS from Shure et al, Cell, 35(l):225-233 (1983) [SEQ ID NO: 2]:
5' primer (Primer number 14543)
5'-TCAGCCGTTCGTGTGGCAAGATTCATCTGTTGTCTC-3' [SEQ ID NO: 5]
3' primer (Primer number 14547)
5'-TCAGCGGGATTATTTACTCCACCACTACAGGTCCATTT-3' [SEQ ID NO: 6].
The following PCR reaction was assembled for a total volume of 50^1;
37 ul PCR grade water
5 ul 5X Advantage GC PCR buffer
1 ul SOX dNTP Mix (1 OmM each)
1 ul SOX Advantage GC Polymerase Mix
2.5 primer 14543
2.5 primer 14547
1 ul genomic DNA
The cycle parameters were: 95°C for 1 minute, 35 cycles of 95°C for 30 seconds and
68°C for 3 minutes.
The PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in agarose and a 4.7 kB fragment
containing the gene of interest was observed. Five microliters of the original PCR reaction
was utilized as template for additional amplification using the same primers and conditions
described above. The 4.7 kB amplification products from independent amplification reactions
were isolated by agarose gel electrophoresis, cloned into the PCR 2.1 cloning vector using the
TOPO TA cloning kit (Invitrogen), then transformed into an E. coli host. Plasmid DNA was
prepared from cultures grown from each colony, and then the inserts from 3 separate plasmid
preparations were sequenced. Alignment of these sequences generated a consensus sequence
highly homologous but not identical to the published GBSS gene, although no specific insert
sequence was equivalent to the consensus. One clone (designated pCGN9480-2) had an insert
sequence with the fewest sequence changes relative to the consensus. A clone containing the
consensus was then generated by restriction enzyme-mediated excision of non-consensus
sequence and religation with fragments containing the consensus sequence, obtained by
digestion of the other clones or by PCR amplification from HOI001 genomic DNA. The
consensus sequence, including 1.5 kB upstream of the transcription start site and
approximately 300 base pairs downstream of the stop codon, is listed as SEQ ID NO: 1.
The GBSS gene from elite com inbred line LH59 [SEQ ID NO: 7] was isolated using
the procedures and primers described above, and cloned into the binary vector pMON68203.
The resulting plasmid containing the LH59 GBSS is named pMON72510 (Figure 5).
Figure 1 shows the nucleic acid sequence alignment of the HOI001 GBSS [SEQ ID
NO: 1] compared to the published sequence of Shure et al., supra [SEQ ID NO: 2] and the
GBSS from LH59 [SEQ ID NO: 7], using the Omiga software package 2.0, (Accelrys Inc.,
San Diego, CA). The alignment shows there are the following polymorphisms unique to the
HOI001 GBSS sequence, that is not found in either the LH59 GBSS sequence or the
published sequence of Shure et al., supra:
1. Single nucleotide polymorphisms:
a. T>C at position 158
b. G>A at position 337
c. OA at position 343
d. OA at position 349
e. G>A at position 441
f. OT at position 666
g. G>C at position 777
h. T>A at position 878
i. OT at position 980
j. T>A at position 1210
k. OT at position 1216
1. A>T at position 1450
m. T>C at position 1709
n. A>G at position 1720
o. T>A at position 1721
p. G>C at position 1722
q. OT at position 1761
r. G>A at position 1836
s. OT at position 1852
t. G>A at position 195 3
u. OT at position 2043
v. OT at position 2109
w. OG at position 2110
x. G>C at position 2115
y. A>T at position 2448
z. OT at position 2454
aa. T>G at position 2609
bb. A>G at position 2929
cc. G>T at position 2933
dd. OT at position 2946
ee. G>T at position 3875
ff. T>A at position 4008
gg. T>C at position 4018
hh. T>G at position 4023
ii. OA at position 4025
jj. OT at position 4169
kk. A>T at position 4225
11. OA at position 4562
2. Insertions:
a. Sequence g at position 632
b. Sequence atgc at position 1185-1189
c. Sequence tgcaccagcagc at position 1456-1467
d. Sequence atgca at position 1746-1750
e. Sequence catcaca at position 1868-1874
f. Sequence ct at position 2100-2101
g. Sequence ccat at position 2488-2491
h. Sequence tat at position 3810-3812
3. Deletions:
a. Sequence cgt at position 288-290
b. Sequence aa at position 704-705
c. Sequence c at position 882
d. Sequence atccg at position 1139-1143
e. Sequence ctctctg at position 1256-1262
f. Sequence tc at position 1714-1715
g. Sequence tgcaactgcaaatgca at position 1917-1932
h. Sequence g or a at position 3790
i. Sequence cgagccaggggt(t or c)gaaggcgaggagatcgcgccgctcgccaagg
agaacgtggccgcgccctgaagagttcggcct at position 4393-4467
Figure 2 shows the alignment of the corresponding predicted amino acid sequences
from the GBSS gene isolated from HOIOOl [SEQ ID NO: 3], and the GBSS gene described in
Sliure et al, supra [SEQ ID NO: 4], respectively. The results indicate that there is a sequence
of additional amino acid residues on the carboxy terminus of the HOIOOl GBSS starting at
approximately position 1441 and an area of non-alignment in the region of amino acid residue
55-60.
Figure 3 shows the alignment of the corresponding predicted amino acid sequences
from the Zea mays GBSS gene isolated from inbred LH59 [SEQ ID NO: 8], and the Zea mays
granule bound starch synthase gene described in Shure et al., supra, respectively. The results
indicate that there is a sequence of additional amino acid residues on the carboxy terminus of
the HOIOOl GBSS starting at approximately position 1441 and an area of non-alignment in
the region of amino acid residue 55-60.
Example 2
This example sets forth the construction of plant transformation vectors containing the
sequences of the HOIOOl GBSS and the GBSS from inbred line LH59, [SEQ ID NOs: 1 and
7, respectively].
The HOI001 GBSS sequence was cut from the consensus-corrected version of
pMON9480-2 using the restriction enzyme EcoRl. The resulting 4.7kb fragment was purified
following the manufacturer's protocol for the Qiagen miniprep kit (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia,
CA). The ends of the fragment were blunted following manufacturer's protocol in the
Stratagene PCR polishing kit (Stratagene, Inc., La Jolla, CA). The fragment was then gel
purified using the Qiagen Gel Extraction kit (Qiagen), and cloned into pMON68203, a binary
vector for plant transformation. The binary vector, pMON68203, contains left and right
borders for T-DNA transfer, a CaMV 35S promoter::nptll::nos 3' UTR plant selectable
marker element (described in U.S. Patent 6,255,560), and plant expression cassette sequences
which include a 1.1 kb Z27 promoter (bp 19-1117 of Accession #878780, Lopes et at., Mol.
Gen. Genet., 247(5):603-613 (1995)) for endosperm expression, a com hsp70 intron (base
pairs 4-153 of the maize gene for heat shock 70 exon 2, Accession #X03679, Rochester et al.,
EMBOJ., 5:451-458 (1986)), and a nos 3' UTR, (base pairs 2924-2671 of the Agrobacterim
tumefaciens strain C58 Ti plasmid, Accession #AE009420, Wood et al., Science,
294:2317-2323 (2001)). The binary vector pMON68203 was digested with Stul,
dephosphorylated by incubating with shrimp alkaline phosphatase (Roche Applied Science,
Indianapolis, IN) at 37°C for 60 minutes and ligated with the 4.7 kb gel purified fragment of
the HOI001 GBSS, described above. The resulting plasmid was named pMON72506 (Figure
4).
The GBSS from corn line LH59, [SEQ ID NO: 7], was similarly cloned into the binary
vector pMON68203, to form pMON72510.
Example 3
This example describes the transformation of corn with the HOI001 GBSS and the
GBSS from corn line LH59, using the vectors described in Example 2.
The transformation vectors pMON72506 and pMON72510 were used to transform
maize plants using the following procedure.
Corn plants are grown in a greenhouse under standard practices. Controlled
pollinations were made. The ears of the plants are harvested when the resulting hybrid
embryos were 1.5 to 2.0 mm in length, usually 10-15 days after pollination. After removing
the husks, the kernels on the ears were surface-sterilized by spraying with or soaking in 80%
ethanol.
The Agrobacterium strain ABI, and an Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary vector
system were used for the transformations. Plasmids pMON72506 and pMON72510 were
transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens according to methods well known in the art.
Prior to inoculation of corn cells the Agrobacterium cells are grown overnight at room
temperature in AB medium (Chilton et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 71:3672-3676
(1974)) comprising appropriate antibiotics for plasmid maintenance and 200 jjM
acetosyringone. Immediately prior to inoculation the Agrobacterium cells were pelleted by
centrifugation, and resuspended in either CRN122 medium (2.2 g/L MS (Murashige and
Skoog, Physiol Plant, 15:473-497 (1962)) basal salts, 2 mg/L glycine, 0.5 g/L niacin, 0.5 g/1
L-pyridoxine-HCl, 0.1 g/L thiamine, 115 mg/L L-proline, 36 g/L glucose, and 68.5 g/L
sucrose, pH 5.4) or CRN347 medium (CRN122 medium except with 0.44 g/L MS salts,
10 g/L glucose, 20 g/L sucrose, and 100 mg/L ascorbic acid) containing 200 uM
acetosyringone and 20 jaM Ag NOs.
The immature maize embryos were excised from individual kernels, immersed in an
Agrobacterium suspension, and incubated at room temperature for 5-15 minutes. The
Agrobacterium solution is then removed, and the inoculated immature embryos were
transferred scutellum-side up from inoculation CRN122 medium to co-cultivation CRN123
medium (CRN122 medium except with 0.5 mg/L additional thiamine-HCl, 20 g/L sucrose,
10 g/L glucose and 3 mg/L 2,4 D) containing 200 fiM acetosyringone and 20 faM silver nitrate
and incubated at 23°C for 1 day. Alternatively, excised embryos were cultured for 8-11 days
in 21IV medium (3.98 g/L Chu N6 salts (Chu, C.C., The N6 medium and its application to
anther culture of cereal crops, in Plant Tissue Culture Plant Tissue Culture. Proceedings of
the Peking Symposium, Boston, MA (1981), 43-50), 0.5 mg/L thiamine HC1, 0.5 mg/L
nicotinic acid; 1.0 mg/L 2,4 D, 20 g/L sucrose, 0.69 g/L L-proline, 0.91 g/L L-asparagine
monohydrate, 1.6 g/L MgCl2 hexahydrate, 0.1 g/L casein hydrolysate, 0.5 g/L MES, 0.1 g/L
myo-inositol, and 16.9 mg/L silver nitrate, pH 5.8 solidified with 2 g/L Gelgro) and calli were
inoculated with Agrobacterium CRN347 medium suspensions at 23°C for 3 days without
adding additional media.
The embryos were then transferred to CRN220 selection medium (4.4 g/L MS salts,
1.3 mg/L nicotinic acid, 0.25 mg/L pyridoxine HC1, 0.25 mg/L thiamine HC1, 0.25 mg/L
calcium pantothenate, 30 g/L sucrose, 12 mM proline, 0.05 g/L casamino acids, 500 mg/L
carbenicillin, 200 mg/L paromomycin, 2.2 mg/L picloram, 0.5 mg/L 2,4 D and 3.4 mg/L
silver nitrate, pH 5.6 solidified with 7 g/L Phytagar), or calli are transferred to CRN344
selection medium (3.98 g/L Chu N6 salts, 1.0 mg/L thiamine HC1, 0.5 mg/L nicotinic acid;
1.0 mg/L 2,4 D, 20 g/L sucrose, 0.69 g/L L-proline, 0.91 g/L L-asparagine monohydrate,
1.6 g/L MgCL hcxahydrate, O.I g/L casein hydrolysale, 0.5 g/L ML'S, 0.1 g/L niyo-inosilol,
500 nig/L carbenicillin, 200 nig/L paromomyciri and 16.9 mg/L silver nitrate, pi I 5.8
solidified with 6 g/L Phytugar). After 2-3 weeks at 27°C in the dark, surviving tissues were
transferred to the same selection medium and cultured for up to an additional 2 weeks or
transferred to regeneration medium as described below.
Plant regeneration is achieved by transferring the putative Iransgcnic callus from
CRN220 to CRN232 medium (CRN220 medium lacking picloram, 2,4-D, and silver nilr.de,
and containing 3.52 mg/L ben/ylaminopurine (BAP) and 250 mg/L carbenicillin) or from
CRN344 medium to 217A medium (21IRTTV lacking sils-er nitrate, 2,4 D, and paromomycin
and containing 3.5? mg/L BAP and 250 mg/L, carbenicillin) and incubating lor 5-7 days at
27°C. Tissue is then transferred from CRN232 medium to CRN264 medium (4.4 g/L MS
salts, 1.3 g/L nicotinie acid, 0.25 mg/L pyridoxine MCI, 0,25 mg/L thiaminc MCI, 0.25 mg/L
calcium pantolhcnate, 10 g/L glucose, 20 g/L maltose, 1 mM L-asparagine, O.I g/L
inyo-inosilol, 250 mg/L carbenicillin and 100 mg/L paromomycin, pll 5.8 solidified \vilh
6 g/L Phylagar) or from 2I7A medium to CRN346 medium (4.4 g/L MS salts, MS vitamins,
60 g/L sucrose, 0,05 g/L rnyo-inositol, 250 mg-'L. carbenicillin, 75 mg/L paromomycin, pll 5.8
solidified with 6 g/L KOI I) in Phytalrays, and incubated in the light at 2S°C until shoots with
well-developed roots \vere produced (typically 2-3 weeks). These developing planilcts were
then transferred (o soil, hardened off in a growth chamber at 27°C, 80% humidity, ami low
light intensity for approximately 1 week, and then transferred lo a greenhouse and the RO
plants were grown under standard greenhouse conditions. The RO plants were reciprocally
crossed and both immature/developing kernels and mature kernels were collected from each
of the resulting plants for subsequent analyses. The results of the analyses are described
below in Example 6.
These developing planilcts were then transferred to soil, hardened off in a growth
chamber at 27"C, 80% humidity, and low light intensity for approximately 1 week, and then
transferred to a greenhouse. The RO plants were then grown under standard greenhouse
conditions. Fertile RO plants were crossed to a non-lransgcnic recurrent inbred, with the RO
plant serving as either the female or male (or occasionally both) in the cross. Both developing
and mature Fl kernels were collected and analy/cd, from each of the resulting ears as
described in Example 4. The results of the analyses are reported below in Example 5.
Example 4
This example provides the analytical procedures to determine oil, protein, and starch
levels in kernels from transgenic plants containing the HOI001 GBSS gene or the LH59
GBSS gene.
Oil Content Analysis: Oil levels (on a mass basis and as a percent of tissue weight)
of first generation single corn kernels and dissected germ and endosperm are determined by
low-resolution H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (Tiwari et al, JAOCS, 51:104-109
(1974); or Rubel, JAOCS, 71:1057-1062 (1994)), whereby NMR relaxation times of single
kernel samples are measured, and oil levels are calculated based on regression analysis using a
standard curve generated from analysis of corn kernels with varying oil levels as determined
gravimetrically following accelerated solvent extraction.
To compare oil analyses of transgenic and non-transgenic kernels, the presence or
absence of the transgene is determined by detection (or lack thereof) of a transgene-specific
517 bp PCR product, using a sequence within the Hsp70 intron as a 5' primer, and a sequence
within the HOI001 GBSS gene as a 3' primer:
5' primer (primer number 19056):
5'-ATCTTGCTCGATGCCTTCTC-3' [SEQ ID NO: 16],
3' primer (primer number 18986):
5'-GCCTTCGCTTGTCGTGGGT-3' [SEQ ID NO: 17].
Oil levels in advanced generation seed are determined by NIT spectroscopy, whereby
NIT spectra of pooled seed samples harvested from individual plants are measured, and oil
levels are calculated based on regression analysis using a standard curve generated from
analysis of com kernels with varying oil levels, as determined gravimetrically following
accelerated solvent extraction or elemental (%N) analysis, respectively.
One-way analysis of variance and the Student's T-test are performed to identify
significant differences in oil (% kernel weight) between seed from marker positive and marker
negative plants.
Alternatively, oil levels of pooled kernels from single ears are determined by lowresolution
'H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (Tiwari et al., JAOCS, 51:104-109 (1974);
or Rubel, JAOCS, 71:1057-1062 (1994)), whereby NMR relaxation times of pools of kernels
are measured, and oil levels are calculated based on regression analysis using a standard curve
generated from analysis of com kernels with varying oil levels as determined gravimetrically
following accelerated solvent extraction.
Protein Analyses: For kernel protein analysis, small bulk samples consisting of
50-100 kernels for each treatment are measured using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy
(InfraTec model 1221, Teccator, Hogannas Sweden). This procedure is based upon the
observation that a linear relation exists between the absorption of near infrared radiation and
the quantity of chemical constituents comprised in a typical grain sample. Prior to analyzing
unknown samples, spectral data is collected with calibration samples that are subsequently
analyzed using a nitrogen combustion analysis technique (Murray, I., and P.C. Williams,
1987, Chemical Principles of Near-infrared Technology, In Near-Infrared Technology in the
Agricultural and Food Industries, P. Williams and K. Norris eds.). A multivariate model is
developed using the spectral data from the spectrometer and the primary data. In the present
case a PLS-1 (Partial Least Squares Regression Type I) multivariate model is constructed
using 152 calibration samples. Each unknown sample is scanned on the spectrometer at least
5 times and its protein content predicted with each scan. Each time the sample is scanned it is
added back to the sample cuvette to minimize multiplicative scattering effects, which are not
correlated to chemical property of interest. The predicted starch is averaged for the multiple
scans and then reported for each sample.
Starch analyses: For kernel starch analysis, small bulk samples consisting of 50-100
kernels for each treatment are measured using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy
(InfraTec model 1221, Teccator, Hogannas Sweden). This procedure is based upon the
observation that a linear relation exists between the absorption of near infrared radiation and
the quantity of chemical constituents comprised in a typical grain sample. Prior to analyzing
unknown samples, spectral data is collected with calibration samples that are subsequently
analyzed using standard wet chemistry analytical techniques (Murray, I., and P.C. Williams,
1987, Chemical Principles of Near-infrared Technology, In Near-Infrared Technology in the
Agricultural and Food Industries, P. Williams and K. Norris eds.). A multivariate model is
developed using the spectral data from the spectrometer and the primary data. Each unknown
sample is scanned on the spectrometer at least 5 times and its starch content predicted with
each scan. Each time the sample is scanned it is added back to the sample cuvette to minimize
multiplicative scattering effects, which are not correlated to chemical property of interest.
The predicted starch is averaged for the multiple scans and then reported for each sample.
Example 5
This example describes the analysis of kernels from plants transformed with the
HOI001 GBSS and the GBSS from LH59.
Kernels from a total of 54 Iransgcnic events expressing the HOI001 GBSS Iransgenic
allele were analyzed using the procedures set forth in Example 4. Table 1 shows whole kernel
oil levels of Iransgcnic (positive) and nontransgenic (negative) Fl kernels from ears of 20
transgenic events analyzed by the single kernel NMR procedure described in Example 4.
Only results from events with a statistically significant increase in oil (p The results demonstrate that transgenic kernels from ears of 20 of the 54 events had
statistically significant increases in whole kernel oil content (% dry weight) relative to
nontransgenic kernels on the same ear. No events had a statistically significant decrease in
oil.
(Table Removed)
Transgenic kernels from RO plants pollinated by non-lransgenic inbred pollen (for
example, pedigree ZM_S67336/LHl72, positive) had both a higher frequency of a significant
oil increase (15/29 plants analyzed) and a higher average significant oil increase (0,61%)
relative to kernels from non-transgenic inbred plants pollinated by Iransgenic pollen (for
example, pedigree LH172/ZM_S66817, negative) from an RO male parent (5/37 plants
analyzed, 0.34% significant oil increase). These results suggest that the greater transgene
dosage found in the endosperm of kernels from the RO plants, due to maternal inheritance
effects, may result in a greater increase in oil.
- 3 7 -
Similarly, kernels from a total of 15 transgenic events containing the LH59 GBSS
transgenic allele were analyzed. None of the kernels from ears of any of the events had
statistically significant increases in whole kernel oil content (% dry weight) relative to
nontransgenic kernels on the same ear, indicating that the increase in oil was unique to the
HOI001 GBSS allele.
Example 6
This example describes the increase in oil levels obtained in transgenic F2 kernels
from field-grown plants.
To ascertain the impact of the HOI001 GBSS gene on kernel oil levels of field-grown
plants, 24-48 segregating Fl seed from each of 40 events were planted in a field nursery.
Developing plants were screened for the presence of the transgenic cassette by a non-lethal
kanamycin resistance assay, whereby an antibiotic solution (0.1%(w/v) kanamycin and 0.1%
(w/v) paromomycin) is applied to the leaf surface and scored for the presence (nontransgenic)
or absence (transgenic) of necrotic lesions 1 week after antibiotic application. Kernels were
isolated from the ears of both transgenic plants and non-transgenic plants, and then were
assayed for kernel oil, protein, and starch by Near-Infrared Transmittance Spectroscopy.
Table 2 shows the mean whole kernel oil levels and the increase in whole kernel oil
levels (Delta) in ears from plants containing (positive) and lacking (negative) the transgenic
cassette containing the selectable marker and the HOI001 GBSS gene. Oil levels were
determined by the NIT procedure described in Example 4, and only events with a statistically
significant increase in oil (p (Table Removed)
The results show whole kernel oil level was increased in transgenic ears relative to
nontransgenic ears (p Table 3 shows the mean kernel starch levels (%) and the change in kernel starch levels
in ears from plants containing (positive) and lacking (negative) the transgenic cassette
containing the selectable marker and the HOIOOl GBSS gene. Only events with a statistically
significant increase in oil (p Table 4 shows mean kernel protein levels (%) and the change in kernel protein levels
in ears from plants containing (positive) and lacking (negative) the transgenic cassette
containing the selectable marker and the HOIOOl GBSS gene. Only events with a statistically
significant increase in oil (p Based on NIT analysis, starch levels in events with increases in oil were lowered
slightly (Table 3), and protein levels were mostly unchanged (Table 4).
(Table Removed)
Example 7
This example describes the increase in oil levels obtained in transgenic F2 hybrid
kernels from field-grown plants.
To ascertain the impact of the HOI001 GBSS gene on kernel oil levels of hybrid fieldgrown
plants, 24-48 segregating Fl seed from each of 14 events, having sufficient seed, were
planted in a field nursery. Developing plants were screened for the presence of the transgenic
cassette by the non-lethal Kanamycin resistance assay, described above in Example 6. Pollen
from transgenic plants was used to pollinate the stiff-stalk inbred LH244. The segregating Fl
transgenic seed generated was then planted and the resultant plants were screened for the
presence of the transgene by the non-lethal Kanamycin resistance assay. F2 hybrid kernels
were isolated from ears from transgenic plants and non-transgenic plants, and assayed for
kernel oil by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, as described in Example 4.
Table 5 shows mean whole kernel oil levels and the increase (Delta) in whole kernel
oil levels in ears from hybrid plants containing (positive) and lacking (negative) the transgenic
cassette containing the selectable marker and the HOI001 GBSS gene. Oil levels were
determined by the bulk set NMR procedure described in Example 4, and only events with a
statistically significant increase in oil (p oil level was increased in transgenic ears relative to nontransgenic ears (p events analyzed.
Example 8
This example describes the elevation of GBSS activity in corn endosperm tissue
expressing the HOI001 GBSS gene.
Developing ears from Fl plants screened for the presence of the transgenic cassette by
the non-lethal Kanamycin resistance assay were harvested and immediately frozen at 24 days
post pollination. Segregating F2 kernels were removed from the ear, then dissected into germ
and endosperm fractions. Individual dissected kernels were identified as transgenic or
nontransgenic by screening for the ability to PCR-amplify a portion of the transgenic cassette
from genomic DNA isolated from individual germs using transgene-specific primers, as
described in Example 4. For each of six events, approximately 10 endosperms from the
corresponding transgenic and nontransgenic kernels were pooled separately.
Each endosperm pool was ground to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle under
liquid nitrogen, and starch granules were isolated in triplicate according to the procedure of
Shure et al., Cell, 35(l):225-233 (1983). Granule-bound starch synthase activity was assayed
on the isolated granules using the method of Vos-Scheperkeuter et al., Plant Physiol., 82:411-
416(1986).
Table 6 shows the granule-bound starch synthase activity (pmol/min/mg starch) in
developing F2 endosperm containing or lacking the HOI001 GBSS transgenic cassette.
Values shown are means and standard errors of triplicate assays. The data indicates that
starch granules from transgenic kernels generally had elevated GBSS activity, indicating that
the effect of the HOI001 allele on oil levels is not a function of reducing overall GBSS
activity, but functions by the addition of an activity uniquely encoded by the HOI001 GBSS
gene.
Example 9
This example describes the isolation and sequencing of the coding region of the GBSS
cDNA from com line HOI001.
mRNA was extracted from developing corn endosperm tissue from HOI001, 22 days
after pollination, using a procedure adapted from Opsahl-Ferstad et aL, Plant J., 12(10):235-
246 (1997). Briefly, developing endosperm from 3 separate kernels was pooled, frozen in
liquid nitrogen, and then pulverized with a mortar and pestle. Approximately 50 mg frozen
powdered endosperm was extracted with 0.5 mL buffer (0.5 M LiCl, 10 mM EDTA, 5 mM
dithiotlireitol.100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, l%(w/v) SDS). This aqueous extract was then
extracted with phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (25:24:21), and the organic fraction was
discarded. Nucleic acids were precipitated from the aqueous fraction by addition of an equal
volume of isopropyl alcohol followed by centrifugation. The resulting supernatant was
discarded. The pellet containing the mRNA was washed twice with 70% ethanol, dried, and
then resuspended in 50 jaL water containing 0.1% (v/v) diethylpyrocarbonate.
First-strand cDNA was synthesized from the isolated mRNA using the Clontech
SMART™ cDNA synthesis system (BD Biosciences). This first-strand cDNA was used as
template to amplify HOI001 GBSS cDNA sequences using primers containing an EcoRV
restriction site followed by 18 bp of the predicted translational start site (5 primer) and a
Sse83871 restriction site followed by 17 bp of the predicted 3' end up to the translation stop
site (3 primer):
5' Primer (primer number 20095):
5'-GGATATCACCATGGCGGCTCTGGCCACG-3' [SEQ ID NO: 9],
3' Primer (primer number 20092):
5'-GTCCTGCAGGCTACACATACTTGTCCA-3( [SEQ ID NO: 10].
The resulting 1.8 kB amplification products from independent amplification reactions
were isolated by agarose gel electrophoresis, cloned independently into the PCR 2.1 cloning
vector using the TOPO TA cloning kit (Invitrogen), and then transformed into an E. coli host.
Multiple colonies were isolated from each transformation, plasmid DNA was prepared from
cultures grown from each colony, and then the insert in each plasmid preparation was
sequenced. Alignment of these sequences generated a consensus sequence containing an open
reading frame equivalent to that predicted to be encoded by the HOI001 GBSS gene, although
no specific insert sequence was equivalent to the consensus. One clone (designated 7345705-
10) had an insert sequence with single base pair deletion relative to the consensus. This clone
was used to generate a plasmid (designated pMON81463) containing the consensus sequence
by inserting the additional nucleotide using the Quick-Change mutagenesis kit (Stratagene).
This sequence, representing the coding region of the HOI001 GBSS cDNA, is listed in SEQ
ID NO: 11.
Example 10
This example sets forth the construction of plant transformation vectors containing the
HOI001 GBSS cDNA coding region [SEQ ID NO: 11], designed to obtain different levels,
timing and spatial patterns of expression, and the subsequent transformation of corn.
A plant transformation vector containing the HOI001 GBSS coding region driven by a
Z27 promoter was constructed. The HOI001 GBSS coding region was isolated from
pMON81463 by restriction digest with EcoRV and Sse83871, and cloned into the binary
vector pMON71274. This binary vector contains left and right borders for T DNA transfer; a
rice Actin promoter: :rice Actin intron::CP4::nos 3' UTR, plant selectable marker element; and
plant expression cassette sequences which include a 1.1 kb Z27 promoter (bp 19-1117 of
Genbank Accession #878780, Lopes et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 247(5):603 613 (1995)) for
endosperm expression; a corn hsp70 intron (base pairs 4-153 of the maize gene for heat shock
70 exon 2, Genbank Accession #X03679, Rochester et al., EMBOJ., 5:451-458 (1986)), and a
globulin 3' UTR. The resulting plasmid was named pMON81464 (Figure 7).
A second plant expression binary vector containing the wheat high molecular weight
glutenin promoter (bp 2647-3895 of Genbank Accession X12928, version X12928.3,
originally described in Anderson et al, Nucleic Acids Res., 17:461-462 (1989)) and the corn
hsp70 intron, fused to the GBSS coding region, fused to the wheat HSP17n3' UTR (bp532-
741 of Gen Bank Accession X13431, version X13431.1, McElvain and Spiker, Nucleic Acids
Res., 17:1764 (1989)), was constructed. A sequence containing the wheat high molecular
weight glutenin promoter fused to the corn hsp70 intron was amplified from an intermediary
vector using 5' and 3" primers containing AscI and NotI restriction sites, respectively:
5' Primer (primer number 21084):
5'-GGCGCGCCGTCGACGGTATCGATAAGCTTGC-3' [SEQ ID NO: 12],
3' Primer (primer number 21085):
5'-GCGGCCGCCCGCTTGGTATCTGCATTACAATG-3' [SEQ ID NO: 13].
The amplification product, containing the promoter and intron fragment with the
introduced restriction sites, was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis and cloned into
pCR2.1 TOPO (hivitrogen) to generate a plasmid vector for E. coli transformation (pOP28).
After transformation into an E. coli vector, plasmid DNA was isolated, digested with Asci and
NotI, and the purified fragment was cloned into the binary vector pMON71274 to generate a
vector (pOP29) containing a cassette with the wheat high molecular weight glutenin promoter
fused to the com HSP70 intron fused to the globulin 3' UTR. The HOI001 GBSS coding
region was isolated by digestion of pMON81464 with NotI/Sse83871 and cloned into pOP29
to generate the binary vector pOP31 containing an expression cassette with the wheat high
molecular weight glutenin promoter fused to the com HSP70 intron fused to the HOI001
GBSS coding region fused to the globulin 3' UTR. The promoter/intron/HOIOOl GBSS
coding region fragment was then isolated from pOP31 by digestion with AscI/Sse83871 and
then cloned into the plant binary vector pMON71290 containing a gene of interest cassette
with the TR7 3' UTR to generate pOP35, containing an expression cassette with the wheat
high molecular weight glutenin promoter fused to the corn HSP70 intron fused to the HOI001
GBSS coding region fused to the TR7 3' UTR. The promoter/intron/HOIOOl GBSS coding
region fragment was then isolated from pOP35 by digestion with AscI/Sse83871 and then
cloned into the plant binary vector pMON67647, containing a gene of interest cassette with
the wheat HSP17 3' UTR. The resulting plasmid contained an expression cassette with the
wheat high molecular weight glutenin promoter fused to the com HSP70 intron fused to the
HOI001 GBSS coding region fused to the wheat HSP17 3' UTR. This plasmid, was named
pMON68298, is shown in Figure 8.
A third plant expression binary vector containing the promoter and 5' UTR of the
HOI001 GBSS gene fused to the HOI001 GBSS coding region, fused to the corn globulin
3' UTR, was constructed. The HOI001 GBSS promoter and 5' UTR (which also contained the
first predicted intron) was isolated by PCR amplification from pMON72506, using a 5' primer
that contains the restriction site for Pmel:
5' Primer (primer number 20362):
5'-GATCGTTTAAACGTTCGTGTGGCAGATTCATC-3' [SEQ ID NO: 14],
3" Primer (primer number 20363):
-44-
5'-GACGTGGCCAGAGCCGCCATGCCGATTAATCCACTGCATAG-3' [SEQ ID
NO: 15].
The amplification product, a fragment containing 1125 bp upstream of the predicted
HOI001 GBSS translational start site and 20 bp of the predicted coding sequence from
pMON72506 (corresponding to bp 17-1162 of SEQ ID NO: 1), was purified by agarose gel
electrophoresis and cloned into pCR2.1 TOPO (Invitrogen) to generate pMON81466.
The HOI001 GBSS coding region was removed from pMON81463 and cloned into the
vector pMONS 1466 to generate pMON81468, containing the HOI001 GBSS promoter/51
UTR fused to the HOI001 GBSS coding region, with 45 bp extraneous polylinker sequence
between the promoter/UTR and coding region elements. This extraneous sequence was then
deleted by digestion of pMON81468 with Mlul to remove a 780 bp fragment spanning the
extraneous sequence, then reannealing with the analogous 735 bp fragment (lacking the
extraneous sequence), generating pMON81469. This 735 bp fragment was generated by
digestion of pMON72506 with Mlul and isolating the resulting fragment. This entire
promoter/UTR/coding region sequence was then isolated from pMON81469 by digestion with
Pmel and Sse83871, and cloned into the binary vector pMON71274 to generate the binary
vector pMON81465. This vector contained an expression cassette with the promoter and
5' UTR of the HOI001 GBSS gene fused to the GBSS coding region fused to the com
globulin 3' UTR (Figure 9).
These three plant transformation vectors are transformed into an elite corn inbred
(LH244) (Corn States Hybrid Serv., LLC, Des MoinesJA). Briefly, ears containing immature
embryos are harvested approximately 10 days after pollination and kept refrigerated at 4°C
until use (up to 5 days post-harvest). The preferred embryo size for this method of
transformation is -1.0-2.0 mm. This size is usually achieved 10 days after pollination inside
the greenhouse with the growth conditions of an average temperature of 87°F, day length of
14 hours with supplemental lighting supplied by GE 1000 Watt High Pressure Sodium lamps.
Immature embryos are isolated from surface sterilized ears and directly dropped into
the prepared Agrobacterium cell suspension in a 1.5-mL microcentrifuge tube. The isolation
lasts continuously for 15 minutes. The tube is then set aside for 5 minutes, resulting in a
total inoculation time for individual embryos from 5 to 20 minutes. After the Agrobacterium
cell suspension is removed using a fine tipped sterile transfer pipette, the immature embryos
are transferred onto a co-culture medium (Table 7). The embryos are then placed on the
medium with the scutellum side facing up. The embryos are cultured in a dark incubator
(23°C) for approximately 24 hours.
-45-
The embryos are then transferred onto a modified MS medium (MSW50, Table 7)
supplemented with 0.1 or 0.25 mM glyphosate and 250 mg/L carbenicillin to inhibit
Agrobacterium in Petri dishes (100 mm x 25 mm). The cultures are incubated in a dark
culture room at 27°C for 2-3 weeks. All the callus pieces are then transferred individually
onto the first regeneration medium (MS/6BA, Table 7) supplemented with the same levels of
glyphosate. The cultures are grown on this medium and in a culture room with 16 hours
light/8 hours dark photoperiod and 27°C for 5-7 days. They are then transferred onto the
second 15 regeneration medium (MSOD, Table 7) in Petri dishes (100 mm x 25 mm) for
approximately 2 weeks. All the callus pieces with regenerating shoots and living tissue are
transferred onto the same medium contained in phytatrays for shoots to grow further prior to
being transferred to soil (approximately 2-4 weeks). The regeneration media (MS6BA and
MSOD) are all supplemented with 250 mg/L carbenicillin and 0.1 or 0.25 mM glyphosate.
These developing plantlets are then transferred to soil, hardened off in a growth
chamber at 27°C, 80% humidity, and low light intensity for approximately 1 week,
and then transferred to a greenhouse and grown under standard greenhouse conditions. The
resulting kernels are collected and analyzed as described in Example 4. The results indicate
that the different promoters have different impacts on oil accumulation based upon the
strength and timing of the expression of the HOI001 GBSS coding region.
(Table Removed)
Co-culture medium was solidified with 5.5 mg/1 low EEO agarose. All other media
were solidified with 7 g/1 Phytagar for NPTII selection and with 3 g/1 phytagel for glyphosate
selection.
Example 11
This example sets forth the use of the polymorphisms in the HOI001 GBSS gene as
molecular markers to accelerate incorporation of HOI001 GBSS sequence polymorphisms
into other corn germplasm with the result of increasing oil in the kernel.
The present invention provides a com plant with increased kernel oil selected for by
use of marker assisted breeding wherein a population of plants are selected for the presence of
a polymorphism sequence unique to the HOI001 GBSS gene (SEQ ID NO: 1). Example 1,
above, lists polymorphisms unique to the HOI001 GBSS sequence, that is not found in either
the LH59 GBSS sequence or the published sequence (Shure et al, supra).
The selection of plants having the HOI001 GBSS gene for high oil comprises probing
genomic DNA of the resulting plants, through the selection process, for the presence of the
molecular marker for the HOI001 GBSS gene. The molecular marker is a DNA molecule
representing a unique polymorphism in the HOI001 GBSS gene that functions as a probe or
primer to a target HOI001 GBSS in a plant genome. The selected polymorphism may or may
not be from a coding region of the gene. The plants containing the HOI001 GBSS gene are
continued in the breeding and selection process.





WE CLAIM:
1.A substantially purified nucleic acid molecule used interalia for making transgenic maize plants and seeds, selected from the group consisting of:
a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complement thereof.
b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO: 11 of the complement thereof;
c) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% amino acid identity with SEQ ID No.: 3.
2.An expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is operably linked to a promoter, which is functional in a plant cell.
3. A method of producing a plant having increase levels of oil production,
wherein the method comprises:
(a) transforming a plant with an expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid
molecule as claimed in claim 1 selected from the group consisting of;
i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complement thereof;
ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO 11 or the complement thereof; and
iii) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% amino acid identity with SEQ ID NO: 3;
wherein said expression cassette further comprises a promoter region functional in a plant cell, operably linked to said nucleic acid molecule, and
(b) growing the transformed plant.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the promoter region is an
endosperm promoter region.

' 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the promoter region in the Z27 promoter.
6. A method of selecting com germplasm, comprising the steps of:
a) identifying at least one polymorphism unique to the HOIOOl GBSS sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 1 as claimed in claim 1;
b) selecting a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 containing at least part of one of the identified polymorphisms to be used as a molecular marker;
c) assaying com plants for the presence of the marker; and
d) selecting plants that contain the marker.




Documents:

98-DELNP-2006-Abstract-(09-03-2009).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Abstract-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-delnp-2006-abstract.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Assignment.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Claims-(09-03-2009).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Claims-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-delnp-2006-claims.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others-(09-03-2009).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others.pdf

98-delnp-2006-description (complete)-10-09-2008.pdf

98-delnp-2006-description (complete).pdf

98-delnp-2006-drawings.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Form-1-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-delnp-2006-form-1.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Form-18.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Form-2-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-delnp-2006-form-2.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Form-3-(09-03-2009).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Form-3-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-delnp-2006-form-3.pdf

98-delnp-2006-form-5.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-GPA-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-delnp-2006-gpa.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Others-Document-(09-03-2009).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Others-Document-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-delnp-2006-pct-101.pdf

98-delnp-2006-pct-210.pdf

98-delnp-2006-pct-304.pdf

98-delnp-2006-pct-401.pdf

98-delnp-2006-pct-402.pdf

98-delnp-2006-pct-409.pdf

98-delnp-2006-pct-416.pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Petition-138-(09-03-2009).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Petiton-137-(10-09-2008).pdf

98-DELNP-2006-Petiton-138-(10-09-2008).pdf


Patent Number 233093
Indian Patent Application Number 98/DELNP/2006
PG Journal Number 13/2009
Publication Date 27-Mar-2009
Grant Date 26-Mar-2009
Date of Filing 05-Jan-2006
Name of Patentee MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY, LLC.
Applicant Address 800 NORTH LINDBERGH BLVD.,ST. LOUIS,MO 63167, U.S.A
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 TERRY J FOLEY 800 NORTH LINDBERGH BLVD.ST, LOUIS, MO 63167, U.S.A.
2 JOHN R. LEDEAUX 800 NORTH LINDBERGH BLVD.ST, LOUIS, MO 63167, U.S.A.
3 ANNETTE E. WYRICK 800 NORTH LINDBERGH BLVD.ST, LOUIS, MO 63167, U.S.A.
4 THOMAS J .SAVAGE 800 NORTH LINDBERGH BLVD.ST, LOUIS, MO 63167, U.S.A.
5 MONICA P. RAVANELLO 800 NORTH LINDBERGH BLVD.ST, LOUIS, MO 63167, U.S.A.
PCT International Classification Number C12N 5/10,
PCT International Application Number PCT/US2004/020582
PCT International Filing date 2004-06-25
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/483,491 2003-06-27 U.S.A.
2 10/877,645 2004-06-25 U.S.A.