U.S. patent application number 15/328133 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-01 for compositions and methods for increasing plant growth and yield using rice promoters.
This patent application is currently assigned to Benson Hill Biosystems, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Benson Hill Biosystems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Thomas P. Brutnell, Douglas W. Bryant, Todd Christopher Mockler, Lin Wang.
Application Number | 20180030467 15/328133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53783373 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180030467 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Brutnell; Thomas P. ; et
al. |
February 1, 2018 |
COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INCREASING PLANT GROWTH AND YIELD
USING RICE PROMOTERS
Abstract
Compositions and methods for improving plant growth are provided
herein. Compositions comprise promoter sequences that direct
expression of an operably linked nucleotide in a developmentally
regulated manner. Polynucleotides, polypeptides, and expression
constructs for expressing genes of interest whose expression may
improve agronomic properties including but not limited to crop
yield, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and early vigor, plants
comprising the polynucleotides, polypeptides, and expression
constructs, and methods of producing transgenic plants are also
provided.
Inventors: |
Brutnell; Thomas P.; (St.
Louis, MO) ; Bryant; Douglas W.; (St. Louis, MO)
; Mockler; Todd Christopher; (St. Louis, MO) ;
Wang; Lin; (Grover, MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Benson Hill Biosystems, Inc. |
Research Triangle Park |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Benson Hill Biosystems,
Inc.
Research Triangle Park
NC
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170218387 A1 |
August 3, 2017 |
|
|
Family ID: |
53783373 |
Appl. No.: |
15/328133 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
July 13, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2015/041757 PCKC 00 |
371 Date: |
January 23, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62029068 |
Jul 25, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C07K 14/415 20130101;
C12N 15/8243 20130101; C12N 15/8223 20130101; C12N 15/8222
20130101 |
International
Class: |
C12N 15/82 20060101
C12N015/82; C12N 9/16 20060101 C12N009/16 |
Claims
1. A method of expressing a gene of interest in a plant comprising
transforming a plant cell with a DNA construct comprising a
promoter sequence, said promoter sequence having a nucleic acid
sequence selected from the group consisting of the sequences set
forth in SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19, and 21, operably linked
to a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a functional protein,
and regenerating a transformed plant.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second nucleic acid sequence
encodes a protein involved in photosynthesis.
3. The method of claim 3, wherein said second nucleic acid encodes
an enzyme with sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase activity.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second nucleic acid
comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a sequence having at
least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein said nucleic acid sequence
encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid
sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 2.
6. The method of claim 1 where the transformed plant is a
monocotyledonous plant.
7. The method of claim 1 where the transformed plant is a
dicotyledonous plant.
8. A DNA construct comprising, in operable linkage, a. a promoter
that functions in the plant cell, b. a nucleic acid sequence
encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis, wherein said
promoter comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:
3, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19, or 21.
9. The DNA construct of claim 8, wherein the nucleic acid sequence
encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis comprises the nucleic
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
10. The DNA construct of claim 8, wherein the nucleic acid sequence
encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis encodes the amino
acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
11. A transformed plant comprising a DNA construct comprising a
promoter that functions in a plant cell, wherein said promoter is
selected from SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19, or 21, operably
linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein involved in
photosynthesis.
12. The transformed plant of claim 11 in which the protein involved
in photosynthesis is encoded by the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
13. The transformed plant of claim 11 wherein the protein involved
in photosynthesis comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
14. A method of modulating the growth of a plant comprising
inserting into the nuclear genome of a plant cell a promoter
sequence upstream of a photosynthetic gene of interest to alter the
expression of a said photosynthetic gene, wherein said promoter
sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ
ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO:
17, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 21.
15. The method of claim 14 in which the photosynthetic gene encodes
a protein with sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase activity.
16. An isolated promoter sequence, said promoter sequence having a
nucleic acid sequence selected from the nucleic acid sequences set
forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13,
SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, or SEQ ID NO: 21.
17. The promoter sequence of claim 16, said promoter sequence
operably linked to a nucleotide of interest encoding a protein
involved in photosvinthesis.
18. (canceled)
19. The promoter sequence of claim 18, wherein said gene encodes an
enzyme having sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase activity.
20. The promoter sequence of claim 19, wherein said enzyme having
sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase activity comprises the amino acid
sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
21. Transformed seed of the plant of claim 11.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to compositions and methods
for controlling expression of nucleotides involved in plant growth
and development.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The ever-increasing world population and the dwindling
supply of arable land available for agriculture fuels research
towards developing plants with increased biomass and yield.
Conventional means for crop and horticultural improvements utilize
selective breeding techniques to identify plants having desirable
characteristics. However, such selective breeding techniques have
several drawbacks, namely that these techniques are typically labor
intensive and result in plants that often contain heterogeneous
genetic components that may not always result in the desirable
trait being passed on from parent plants. Advances in molecular
biology provide means to modify the germplasm of plants. Genetic
engineering of plants entails the isolation and manipulation of
genetic material (typically in the form of DNA or RNA) and the
subsequent introduction of that genetic material into a plant. Such
technology has the capacity to deliver crops or plants having
various improved economic, agronomic or horticultural traits.
[0003] Traits of interest include plant biomass and yield. Yield is
normally defined as the measurable produce of economic value from a
crop. This may be defined in terms of quantity and/or quality.
Yield is directly dependent on several factors, for example, the
number and size of the organs, plant architecture (for example, the
number of branches), seed production, leaf senescence and more.
Root development, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance and early vigor
may also be important factors in determining yield. Optimizing the
abovementioned factors may therefore contribute to increasing crop
yield.
[0004] An increase in seed yield is a particularly important trait
since the seeds of many plants are important for human and animal
consumption. Crops such as corn, rice, wheat, canola and soybean
account for over half the total human caloric intake, whether
through direct consumption of the seeds themselves or through
consumption of meat products raised on processed seeds. They are
also a source of sugars, oils and many kinds of metabolites used in
industrial processes. Seeds contain an embryo (the source of new
shoots and roots) and an endosperm (the source of nutrients for
embryo growth during germination and during early growth of
seedlings). The development of a seed involves many genes, and
requires the transfer of metabolites from the roots, leaves, and
stems into the growing seed. The endosperm, in particular,
assimilates the metabolic precursors of carbohydrates, oils and
proteins and synthesizes them into storage macromolecules to fill
out the grain. An increase in plant biomass is important for forage
crops like alfalfa, silage corn and hay. Many genes are involved in
plant growth and development. Therefore, methods are needed for
modulating such genes to increase crop yield.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Compositions and methods for regulating gene expression in a
plant are provided. The methods increase plant growth resulting in
higher crop yield. Compositions comprise novel nucleotide sequences
for developmentally-regulated promoters, DNA constructs comprising
the promoters operably linked to coding and nucleotide sequences of
interest, and transformed plants, seeds, plant parts, and plant
cells having stably incorporated into their genomes a construct
comprising a promoter sequence of the invention. The promoters can
be used to alter plant growth by modulating the expression level
and/or expression pattern of one or more nucleotide and/or coding
sequences of interest, particularly photosynthetically-related
genes. The expression of genes that encode proteins involved in
plant photosynthesis can be modulated to increase plant growth,
plant mass, and plant yield. Methods to use these promoters to
modulate the expression level and/or developmental expression
profiles of genes encoding photosynthetic proteins are described
herein.
Embodiments of the invention include:
[0006] 1. A method of expressing a gene of interest in a plant
comprising transforming a plant cell with a DNA construct
comprising a developmentally-regulated promoter having a sequence
comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5, 15, 17,
19, or 21 operably linked to a coding region for a gene of
interest, and regenerating a transformed plant from said plant
cell.
[0007] 2. The method of embodiment 1, wherein said coding region
encodes a protein involved in photosynthesis.
[0008] 3. The method of embodiment 2, wherein said coding region
encodes an enzyme having sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase
activity.
[0009] 4. The method of embodiment 3, wherein said coding region
comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a sequence having at
least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1.
[0010] 5. The method of embodiment 3, wherein said coding region
encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or a sequence
having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0011] 6. The method of embodiment 3, wherein said coding region is
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos: 23, 25, 27, 29,
31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, and 59, or
a sequence having at least 80% identity to a sequence selected from
the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos: 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37,
39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, and 59.
[0012] 7. The method of embodiment 3, wherein said coding region
encodes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting
of SEQ ID NOs: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48,
50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 81-268, or a sequence having at least
80% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of
SEQ ID NOs: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50,
52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and 81-268.
[0013] 8. The method of embodiment 1 wherein the transformed plant
is a monocotyledonous plant.
[0014] 9. The method of embodiment 1 wherein the transformed plant
is a dicotyledonous plant.
[0015] 10. A DNA construct comprising, in operable linkage, [0016]
a. a promoter sequence that drives expression in a plant cell in a
developmentally-regulated manner , wherein said promoter comprises
a sequence selected from the DNA sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:
3, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19, and 21 and, [0017] b. a nucleic acid sequence
encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis.
[0018] 11. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 10, wherein said
nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis
comprises the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a sequence
having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1.
[0019] 12. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 10, wherein said
nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis
encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or a sequence
having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0020] 13. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 10, wherein the
nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis
comprises the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23, 25, 27, 29,
31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, or a
nucleic acid sequence having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:
23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55,
57, or 59.
[0021] 14. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 10, wherein the
nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis
encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32,
34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 81-267 or
268, or a sequence having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 24,
26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58,
60, 81-267 or 268.
[0022] 15. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 10, wherein said
promoter comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ
ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO:
19, or SEQ ID NO: 21, or a sequence having at least 80% identity to
SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO:
15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, or SEQ ID NO: 21.
[0023] 16. A transformed plant having stably incorporated into its
genome, a DNA construct comprising a promoter that drives
expression in a plant in a developmentally-regulated manner,
operably lined to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein
involved in photosynthesis, wherein said promoter comprises a
sequence selected from the sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4,
5, 15, 17, 19, and 21.
[0024] 17. The transformed plant of embodiment 16 wherein said
promoter comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ
ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO:
19, or SEQ ID NO: 21, or a sequence having at least 80% identity to
SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO:
15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, or SEQ ID NO: 21.
[0025] 18. The transformed plant of embodiment 16 wherein said
protein involved in photosynthesis is encoded by the sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 1, or a sequence having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID
NO: 1.
[0026] 19. The transformed plant of embodiment 16 wherein the
protein involved in photosynthesis comprises the sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 2, or a sequence having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:
2.
[0027] 20. The transformed plant of embodiment 16 wherein the
protein involved in photosynthesis is encoded by the sequence of
SEQ ID NO: 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49,
51, 53, 55, 57, or 59, or a sequence having at least 80% identity
to a sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35,
37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, or 59.
[0028] 21. The transformed plant of embodiment 16 wherein the
protein involved in photosynthesis comprises the sequence of SEQ ID
NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54,
56, 58, 60, 81-267, or 268, or a sequence having at least 80%
identity to a sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32,
34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 81-267 or
268.
[0029] 22. A method of modulating the growth of a plant comprising
inserting into the nuclear genome of a plant cell a promoter
sequence upstream of a photosynthetic gene of interest to alter the
expression of a said photosynthetic gene, wherein said promoter
sequence drives expression in a plant in a
developmentally-regulated manner, wherein said promoter sequence is
selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4,
SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID
NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 21.
[0030] 23. The method of embodiment 23 wherein said photosynthetic
gene encodes a protein having sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase
activity.
[0031] 24. The method of embodiment 23, wherein said promoter
sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ
ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO:
17, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 21, or a sequence having at least
80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID
NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO:
21.
[0032] 25. The method of embodiment 24 wherein said
sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase protein has at least 80% identity
to SEQ ID NO: 2.
[0033] 26. A method of modulating the growth of a plant comprising
inserting into the nuclear genome of a plant cell a transcriptional
enhancer sequence to alter the expression of a plant gene encoding
a sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphatase polypeptide.
[0034] 27. A method of modulating the growth of a plant comprising
modulating the expression of a plant gene encoding sedoheptulose
1,7-bisphosphatase by modulating the expression of a transcription
factor or transcription factors known to interact with said gene
encoding a sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphatase polypeptide.
[0035] 28. A method of modulating the growth of a plant comprising
modulating the expression of a plant gene encoding sedoheptulose
1,7-bisphosphatase wherein said expression is modulated by
inserting a transposable element DNA sequence at a location in the
plant genomic DNA within 2 kb of said gene encoding a sedoheptulose
1,7-bisphosphatase polypeptide.
[0036] 29. A method of modulating the growth of a plant comprising
modulating the chromatin content or structure of a particular
region of a plant's genome within 2 kb of a plant gene encoding a
sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphatase polypeptide.
[0037] 30. A method of modulating the growth of a plant comprising
altering the DNA methylation status within 2 kb of a particular
region of a plant's genome such that the expression of a plant gene
encoding a sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphatase polypeptide is
altered.
[0038] 31. The method of embodiment 3, wherein said coding region
encodes an amino acid sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID
NOs: 81-103, or a sequence having at least 80% identity to a
sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 81-103.
[0039] 32. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 10, wherein said
nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis
encodes an amino acid sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID
NOs: 81-103, or a sequence having at least 80% identity to a
sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 81-103.
[0040] 33. The transformed plant of embodiment 16 wherein the
protein involved in photosynthesis comprises a sequence selected
from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 81-103, or a sequence having at least
80% identity to a sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs:
81-103.
[0041] 34. The method of embodiment 24 wherein said
sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase protein has at least 80% identity
to a sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 81-103.
[0042] 35. The method of embodiment 2 wherein said coding region
encodes a polypeptide that acts in the Calvin-Benson cycle.
[0043] 36. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 10 wherein said
nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis
encodes a protein that acts in the Calvin-Benson cycle.
[0044] 37. The transformed plant of embodiment 16 wherein said
protein involved in photosynthesis is a protein that acts in the
Calvin-Benson cycle.
[0045] 38. The method of embodiment 36 wherein said polypeptide
that acts in the Calvin-Benson cycle is selected from the group of
SEQ ID NOs: 2, 24, 26, or 81-155, or a polypeptide having at least
80% identity to a sequence selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs:
2, 24, 26, or 81-155.
[0046] 39. The nucleic acid sequence of embodiment 37 wherein said
protein that acts in the Calvin-Benson cycle is selected from the
group of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 24, 26, and 81-155, or a polypeptide having
at least 80% identity to a sequence selected from the group of SEQ
ID NOs: 2, 24, 26, and 81-155.
[0047] 40. The transformed plant of embodiment 38 wherein said
protein that acts in the Calvin-Benson cycle is selected from the
group of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 24, 26, and 81-155, or a polypeptide having
at least 80% identity to a sequence selected from the group of SEQ
ID NOs: 2, 24, 26, and 81-155.
[0048] 41. Transformed seed of the transformed plant of any one of
embodiments 16 -21.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0049] Compositions and methods for increasing crop biomass and
yield are provided. Crop yield is intimately linked with
photosynthetic metabolism, as photosynthesis is the route through
which carbon dioxide is fixed for plant growth. Methods for
improving photosynthetic metabolism have the potential to drive
significant improvements in plant growth and crop yield. The
compositions of the invention comprise novel nucleotide sequences
for plant promoters, particularly developmentally-regulated
promoters, more particularly, the promoter sequences set forth in
SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19, or 21, and fragments and variants
thereof. The promoter sequences of the invention are useful for
expressing operably linked nucleotide sequences in a
developmentally-regulated manner. They can be used to manipulate
photosynthetic metabolism and plant growth by driving expression of
genes encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis.
[0050] Methods of the invention include the manipulation of
photosynthesis through altering the expression of genes encoding
proteins involved in photosynthesis. While such genes may be
overexpressed using strong constitutive promoters, in many cases it
may be beneficial to use non-constitutive promoters to drive such
genes. Non-constitutive promoters of particular interest are the
promoters of the invention that drive expression in a
developmentally-regulated manner. Such developmentally-regulated
promoters may be used to preferentially drive expression of at
least one nucleotide or gene of interest in particular plant
tissues at an age in which a particular benefit may be derived.
Genes of interest include photosynthetic genes as many of these
genes have a distinct developmental peak in their expression. By
using the promoters of the invention to alter the expression level
and/or profile of one or more of these photosynthetic genes in a
plant of interest, photosynthetic metabolism may be optimized. Such
optimization of photosynthetic metabolism provides for increased
plant growth and elevated yield in crop plants.
[0051] The compositions of the invention include isolated nucleic
acid molecules comprising the promoter nucleotide sequences set
forth in SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19, and 21, and fragments and
variants thereof. By "promoter" is intended to mean a regulatory
region of DNA usually comprising a TATA box capable of directing
RNA polymerase II to initiate RNA synthesis at the appropriate
transcription initiation site for a particular coding sequence.
Eukaryotic promoters are complex and are comprised of components
that include a TATA box consensus sequence at about 35 base pairs
5' relative to the transcription start site or cap site which is
defined as +1. The TATA motif is the site where the
TATA-binding-protein (TBP) as part of a complex of several
polypeptides (TFIID complex) binds and productively interacts
(directly or indirectly) with factors bound to other sequence
elements of the promoter. This TFIID complex in turn recruits the
RNA polymerase II complex to be positioned for the start of
transcription generally 25 to 30 base pairs downstream of the TATA
element and promotes elongation thus producing RNA molecules. The
sequences around the start of transcription (designated INR) of
some poll genes seem to provide an alternate binding site for
factors that also recruit members of the TFIID complex and thus
"activate" transcription. These INR sequences are particularly
relevant in promoters that lack functional TATA elements providing
the core promoter binding sites for eventual transcription. It has
been proposed that promoters containing both a functional TATA and
INR motif are the most efficient in transcriptional activity.
(Zenzie-Gregory et al (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267:2823-2830). See,
for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,050, herein incorporated by
reference.
[0052] As discussed, promoter may additionally comprise other
recognition sequences generally positioned upstream or 5' to the
TATA box, referred to as upstream promoter elements, which
influence the transcription initiation rate. It is recognized that
having identified the nucleotide sequences for the promoter regions
disclosed herein, it is within the state of the art to isolate and
identify further regulatory elements in the 5' untranslated region
upstream from the particular promoter regions identified herein.
Thus, for example, the promoter regions disclosed herein may
further comprise upstream regulatory elements and sequences.
Variants of the promoter sequence include those sequences having at
least about 90%, about 95%, about 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID
NOs: 3, 4, 5, 15, 17, 19, and 21 and comprise a TATA box and
necessary upstream promoter elements. By "fragment" is intended a
portion of the nucleic acid sequence. "Variants" is intended to
mean substantially similar sequences. Fragments and variants of the
promoter sequences retain biological activity and hence are capable
of driving expression of a gene of interest in a
developmentally-regulated manner.
[0053] By driving expression in a developmentally-regulated manner
is intended that expression is increased or decreased in plant
tissues of a different age or stage of development. For example, in
leaf samples, increased expression may be observed in older leaf
tissue relative to younger leaf tissue. In another example, a
distinct expression peak may be observed in mature, but not yet
senescent, tissue, with expression decreasing in senescent
tissue.
[0054] The promoter sequences of the present invention, when
assembled within a DNA construct such that the promoter is operably
linked to a nucleotide sequence of interest, enable expression of
the nucleotide sequence in the cells of a plant stably transformed
with this DNA construct. "Operably linked" is intended to mean a
functional linkage between two or more elements. For example, an
operable linkage between a promoter of the present invention and a
heterologous nucleotide of interest is a functional link that
allows for expression of the heterologous nucleotide sequence of
interest. Operably linked elements may be contiguous or
non-contiguous. When used to refer to the joining of two protein
coding regions, by operably linked is intended that the coding
regions are in the same reading frame. The cassette may
additionally contain at least one additional gene to be
co-transformed into the plant. Alternatively, the additional
gene(s) can be provided on multiple expression cassettes or DNA
constructs. Such an expression cassette or construct is provided
with a plurality of restriction sites and/or recombination sites
for insertion of the heterologous nucleotide sequence of interest
to be under the transcriptional regulation of the promoter regions
of the invention. The expression cassette may additionally contain
selectable marker genes.
[0055] In this manner, the nucleotide sequences for the promoters
of the invention are provided in expression cassettes along with a
nucleotide sequence of interest, typically a heterologous
nucleotide sequence, for expression in the plant of interest. By
"heterologous nucleotide sequence" is intended to mean a sequence
that is not naturally operably linked with the promoter sequence.
While this nucleotide sequence is heterologous to the promoter
sequence, it may be homologous, or native, or heterologous, or
foreign, to the plant host. It is recognized that the promoter may
also drive expression of its homologous or native nucleotide
sequence. In this case, the transformed plant will have a change in
phenotype. Heterologous nucleotide sequences include, but are not
limited to, photosynthetic coding sequences, insecticidal coding
sequences, herbicide-tolerance coding sequences, coding sequences
for secondary metabolites, nutritional quality coding sequences,
visible marker coding sequences, and selectable marker coding
sequences.
[0056] Genes involved in photosynthesis include, but are not
limited to, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) (SEQ ID NOs:
1-2, 81-103), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) (SEQ ID NOs:
23-24, 104-125), fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBP aldolase)
(SEQ ID NOs: 25-26, 126-155), transketolase (SEQ ID NOs: 27-28),
the Rubisco small subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 29-30), the Rubisco large
subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 31-32), Rubisco activase (SEQ ID NOs: 33-34),
the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) large subunit (SEQ ID
NOs: 35-36, 156-199), the AGPase small subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 37-38,
200-221), carbonic anhydrase (SEQ ID NOs: 39-40, 222-268), PEP
carboxylase (PEPC) (SEQ ID NOs: 41-42), pyruvate phosphate dikinase
(PPDK) (SEQ ID NOs: 43-44), malate dehydrogenase (SEQ ID NOs:
45-46), malic enzyme (SEQ ID NOs: 47-48), phosphoglycerate kinase
(SEQ ID NOs: 49-50), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (SEQ
ID NOs: 51-52), triose phosphate isomerase (SEQ ID NOs: 53-54),
ribulose 5-phosphate isomerase (SEQ ID NOs: 55-56),
phosphoribulokinase (SEQ ID NOs: 57-58), and ribulose 5-phosphate
3-epimerase (SEQ ID NOs: 59-60). Variants, fragments, and homologs
of such sequences may also be used in the practice of the
invention. In one embodiment, genes of interest include those genes
involved in the Calvin-Benson cycle.
[0057] In particular embodiments of the present invention, a
promoter is used to drive the expression of a gene encoding a
sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) enzyme. By an SBPase
enzyme is meant an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of a phosphate
group from sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphate to produce
sedoheptulose-7-phosphate. Examples of SBPase enzymes include the
polypeptides described by SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NOs: 81-103.
[0058] Fragments and variants of the polynucleotides and amino acid
sequences encoded thereby may also be expressed by the promoters of
the present invention. By "fragment" is intended a portion of the
polynucleotide or a portion of the amino acid sequence. "Variants"
is intended to mean substantially similar sequences. For
polynucleotides, a variant comprises a polynucleotide having
deletions (i.e., truncations) at the 5' and/or 3' end; deletion
and/or addition of one or more nucleotides at one or more internal
sites in the native polynucleotide;
[0059] and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides at one or
more sites in the native polynucleotide. As used herein, a "native"
polynucleotide or polypeptide comprises a naturally occurring
nucleotide sequence or amino acid sequence, respectively.
Generally, variants of a particular polynucleotide of the invention
will have at least about 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%,
95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to that
particular polynucleotide as determined by sequence alignment
programs and parameters as described elsewhere herein.
[0060] "Variant" amino acid or protein is intended to mean an amino
acid or protein derived from the native amino acid or protein by
deletion (so-called truncation) of one or more amino acids at the
N-terminal and/or C-terminal end of the native protein; deletion
and/or addition of one or more amino acids at one or more internal
sites in the native protein; or substitution of one or more amino
acids at one or more sites in the native protein. Variant proteins
encompassed by the present invention are biologically active, that
is they continue to possess the desired biological activity of the
native protein. Biologically active variants of a native
polypeptide will have at least about 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%,
94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the amino
acid sequence for the native sequence as determined by sequence
alignment programs and parameters described herein. A biologically
active variant of a protein of the invention may differ from that
protein by as few as 1-15 amino acid residues, as few as 1-10, such
as 6-10, as few as 5, as few as 4, 3, 2, or even 1 amino acid
residue.
[0061] Variant sequences may also be identified by analysis of
existing databases of sequenced genomes. In this manner,
corresponding sequences can be identified and used in the methods
of the invention.
[0062] Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well
known in the art. Thus, the determination of percent sequence
identity between any two sequences can be accomplished using a
mathematical algorithm. Non-limiting examples of such mathematical
algorithms are the algorithm of Myers and Miller (1988) CABIOS
4:11-17; the local alignment algorithm of Smith et al. (1981) Adv.
Appl. Math. 2:482; the global alignment algorithm of Needleman and
Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453; the search-for-local
alignment method of Pearson and Lipman (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. 85:2444-2448; the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990)
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 872264, modified as in Karlin and
Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5877.
[0063] Computer implementations of these mathematical algorithms
can be utilized for comparison of sequences to determine sequence
identity. Such implementations include, but are not limited to:
CLUSTAL in the PC/Gene program (available from Intelligenetics,
Mountain View, Calif.); the ALIGN program (Version 2.0) and GAP,
BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA, and TFASTA in the GCG Wisconsin Genetics
Software Package, Version 10 (available from Accelrys Inc., 9685
Scranton Road, San Diego, Calif., USA). Alignments using these
programs can be performed using the default parameters. The CLUSTAL
program is well described by Higgins et al. (1988) Gene 73:237-244
(1988); Higgins et al. (1989) CABIOS 5:151-153; Corpet et al.
(1988) Nucleic Acids Res. 16:10881-90; Huang et al. (1992) CABIOS
8:155-65; and Pearson et al. (1994) Meth. Mol. Biol. 24:307-331.
The ALIGN program is based on the algorithm of Myers and Miller
(1988) supra. A PAM120 weight residue table, a gap length penalty
of 12, and a gap penalty of 4 can be used with the ALIGN program
when comparing amino acid sequences. The BLAST programs of Altschul
et al (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403 are based on the algorithm of
Karlin and Altschul (1990) supra. BLAST nucleotide searches can be
performed with the BLASTN program, score=100, wordlength=12, to
obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to a nucleotide sequence
encoding a protein of the invention. BLAST protein searches can be
performed with the BLASTX program, score=50, wordlength=3, to
obtain amino acid sequences homologous to a protein or polypeptide
of the invention. To obtain gapped alignments for comparison
purposes, Gapped BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) can be utilized as described
in Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389.
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. (1997) supra. When utilizing BLAST,
Gapped BLAST, PSI-BLAST, the default parameters of the respective
programs (e.g., BLASTN for nucleotide sequences, BLASTX for
proteins) can be used. See www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Alignment may also
be performed manually by inspection.
[0064] Such genes and coding regions to be expressed by a promoter
of the invention can be codon optimized for expression in a plant
of interest. A "codon-optimized gene" is a gene having its
frequency of codon usage designed to mimic the frequency of
preferred codon usage of the host cell. Nucleic acid molecules can
be codon optimized, either wholly or in part. Because any one amino
acid (except for methionine and tryptophan) is encoded by a number
of codons, the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule may be changed
without changing the encoded amino acid. Codon optimization is when
one or more codons are altered at the nucleic acid level such that
the amino acids are not changed but expression in a particular host
organism is increased. Those having ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that codon tables and other references providing
preference information for a wide range of organisms are available
in the art (see, e.g., Zhang et al. (1991) Gene 105:61-72; Murray
et al. (1989) Nucl. Acids Res. 17:477-508). Methodology for
optimizing a nucleotide sequence for expression in a plant is
provided, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,891, and the
references cited therein.
[0065] The promoters of the invention may be used in recombinant
polynucleotides. A "recombinant polynucleotide" comprises a
combination of two or more chemically linked nucleic acid segments
which are not found directly joined in nature. By "directly joined"
is intended the two nucleic acid segments are immediately adjacent
and joined to one another by a chemical linkage. In specific
embodiments, the recombinant polynucleotide comprises a
polynucleotide of interest or active variant or fragment thereof
such that an additional chemically linked nucleic acid segment is
located either 5', 3' or internal to the polynucleotide of
interest. Alternatively, the chemically-linked nucleic acid segment
of the recombinant polynucleotide can be formed by deletion of a
sequence. The additional chemically linked nucleic acid segment or
the sequence deleted to join the linked nucleic acid segments can
be of any length, including for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 15, 20 or greater nucleotides. Various methods for making such
recombinant polynucleotides are disclosed herein, including, for
example, by chemical synthesis or by the manipulation of isolated
segments of polynucleotides by genetic engineering techniques. In
specific embodiments, the recombinant polynucleotide can comprise a
recombinant DNA sequence or a recombinant RNA sequence. A "fragment
of a recombinant polynucleotide" comprises at least one of a
combination of two or more chemically linked amino acid segments
which are not found directly joined in nature.
[0066] By "altering" or "modulating" the expression level of a gene
is intended that the expression of the gene is upregulated or
downregulated. It is recognized that in some instances, plant
growth and yield are increased by increasing the expression levels
of one or more genes encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis,
i.e. upregulating expression. Likewise, in some instances, plant
growth and yield may be increased by decreasing the expression
levels of one or more genes encoding proteins involved in
photosynthesis, i.e. downregulating expression. Thus, the invention
encompasses the upregulation or downregulation of one or more genes
encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis. Further, the methods
include the upregulation of at least one gene encoding a protein
involved in photosynthesis and the downregulation of at least one
gene encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis in a plant of
interest. By modulating the concentration and/or activity of at
least one of the genes encoding a protein involved in
photosynthesis in a transgenic plant is intended that the
concentration and/or activity is increased or decreased by at least
about 1%, about 5%, about 10%, about 20%, about 30%, about 40%,
about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, or about 90% or greater
relative to a native control plant, plant part, or cell which did
not have the sequence of the invention introduced.
[0067] It is recognized that the expression levels of the genes
encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis can be controlled by
the use of one or more promoters of the invention. For example, if
a 30% increase is desired at a particular developmental stage, a
promoter will be selected to provide the appropriate expression
level at the appropriate developmental stage. The expression level
of the photosynthetic gene of interest may be measured directly,
for example, by assaying for the level of the photosynthetic gene
transcript or of the encoded protein in the plant. Methods for such
assays are well-known in the art. For example, Northern blotting or
quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (qRT-PCR) may be used to
assess transcript levels, while western blotting, ELISA assays, or
enzyme assays may be used to assess protein levels.
[0068] In order to successfully manipulate the expression level
and/or expression profile of candidate genes, genetic tools,
including enhancer elements, may be used. The present invention
describes a number of novel promoters that were identified through
bioinformatic analyses of transcriptomic data. At least one of the
promoters may be used to increase the expression of a gene of
interest.
[0069] The compositions of the invention are used to alter
expression of genes of interest in a plant, particularly genes
involved in photosynthesis. Therefore, the expression of a gene
encoding a protein involved in photosynthesis may be modulated as
compared to a control plant. A "subject plant or plant cell" is one
in which genetic alteration, such as transformation, has been
effected as to a gene of interest, or is a plant or plant cell
which is descended from a plant or cell so altered and which
comprises the alteration. A "control" or "control plant" or
"control plant cell" provides a reference point for measuring
changes in phenotype of the subject plant or plant cell. Thus, the
expression levels are higher or lower than those in the control
plant depending on the methods of the invention.
[0070] A control plant or plant cell may comprise, for example: (a)
a wild-type plant or cell, i.e., of the same genotype as the
starting material for the genetic alteration which resulted in the
subject plant or cell; (b) a plant or plant cell of the same
genotype as the starting material but which has been transformed
with a null construct (i.e. with a construct which has no known
effect on the trait of interest, such as a construct comprising a
marker gene); (c) a plant or plant cell which is a non-transformed
segregant among progeny of a subject plant or plant cell; (d) a
plant or plant cell genetically identical to the subject plant or
plant cell but which is not exposed to conditions or stimuli that
would induce expression of the gene of interest; or (e) the subject
plant or plant cell itself, under conditions in which the gene of
interest is not expressed.
[0071] While the invention is described in terms of transformed
plants, it is recognized that transformed organisms of the
invention also include plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell
tissue cultures from which plants can be regenerated, plant calli,
plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of
plants such as embryos, pollen, ovules, seeds, leaves, flowers,
branches, fruit, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, stalks, roots, root
tips, anthers, and the like. Grain is intended to mean the mature
seed produced by commercial growers for purposes other than growing
or reproducing the species. Progeny, variants, and mutants of the
regenerated plants are also included within the scope of the
invention, provided that these parts comprise the introduced
polynucleotides.
[0072] The invention encompasses isolated or substantially purified
polynucleotide or nucleic acid compositions. An "isolated" or
"purified" polynucleotide, or biologically active portion thereof,
is substantially or essentially free from components that normally
accompany or interact with the polynucleotide as found in its
naturally occurring environment. Thus, an isolated or purified
polynucleotide is substantially free of other cellular material, or
culture medium when produced by recombinant techniques, or
substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals when
chemically synthesized. Optimally, an "isolated" polynucleotide is
free of sequences (optimally protein encoding sequences) that
naturally flank the polynucleotide (i.e., sequences located at the
5' and 3' ends of the polynucleotide) in the genomic DNA of the
organism from which the polynucleotide is derived.
[0073] As indicated, the promoter sequences of the invention are
useful for regulating gene expression in a
developmentally-regulated manner. Using the methods of the
invention, genes encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis can
be upregulated or downregulated in a plant of interest. It may be
desirable to upregulate at least one gene encoding a protein
involved in photosynthesis while simultaneously downregulating at
least one different gene, including a gene encoding a protein
involved in photosynthesis. Methods for increasing the expression
or upregulating a gene of interest are known in the art and any can
be used in the methods of the invention. In one embodiment,
upregulation can be achieved by transforming a plant with an
expression cassette comprising a promoter of the invention operably
linked to at least one open reading frame encoding a protein of
interest.
[0074] To downregulate expression, antisense constructions,
complementary to at least a portion of the messenger RNA (mRNA) for
the sequences of a gene of interest, particularly a photosynthetic
gene of interest can be constructed. Antisense nucleotides are
designed to hybridize with the corresponding mRNA. Modifications of
the antisense sequences may be made as long as the sequences
hybridize to and interfere with expression of the corresponding
mRNA. In this manner, antisense constructions having 70%, optimally
80%, more optimally 85%, 90%, 95% or greater sequence identity to
the corresponding sequences to be silenced may be used.
Furthermore, portions of the antisense nucleotides may be used to
disrupt the expression of the target gene.
[0075] The polynucleotides of the invention can be used to isolate
corresponding sequences from other plants. In this manner, methods
such as PCR, hybridization, and the like can be used to identify
such sequences based on their sequence homology or identity to the
sequences set forth herein. Sequences isolated based on their
sequence identity to the entire sequences set forth herein or to
variants and fragments thereof are encompassed by the present
invention. Such sequences include sequences that are orthologs of
the disclosed sequences. "Orthologs" is intended to mean genes
derived from a common ancestral gene and which are found in
different species as a result of speciation. Genes found in
different species are considered orthologs when their nucleotide
sequences and/or their encoded protein sequences share at least
about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%,
about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%,
about 99%, or greater sequence identity. Functions of orthologs are
often highly conserved among species. Thus, isolated
polynucleotides that have transcription activation or enhancer
activities and which share at least about 75% or more sequence
identity to the sequences disclosed herein, or to variants or
fragments thereof, are encompassed by the present invention.
[0076] Variant sequences can be isolated by PCR. Methods for
designing PCR primers and PCR cloning are generally known in the
art and are disclosed in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning:
A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press,
Plainview, N.Y.). See also Innis et al., eds. (1990) PCR Protocols:
A Guide to Methods and Applications (Academic Press, New York);
Innis and Gelfand, eds. (1995) PCR Strategies (Academic Press, New
York); and Innis and Gelfand, eds. (1999) PCR Methods Manual
(Academic Press, New York).
[0077] Variant sequences may also be identified by analysis of
existing databases of sequenced genomes. In this manner,
corresponding promoter sequences or sequences encoding
photosynthetic proteins can be identified and used in the methods
of the invention. Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison
are well known in the art. Thus, the determination of percent
sequence identity between any two sequences can be accomplished
using mathematical algorithms, such as those algorithms set forth
above. Alignment may also be performed manually by inspection.
[0078] The promoters of the invention can be provided in DNA
constructs or expression cassettes for expression of genes encoding
photosynthetic proteins in a plant of interest. The cassette will
include a promoter sequence of the invention operably linked to a
gene of interest, particularly a photosynthetic gene of interest.
The cassette may additionally contain at least one additional gene
to be co-transformed into the organism. Alternatively, the
additional gene(s) can be provided on multiple expression
cassettes. Such an expression cassette is provided with a plurality
of restriction sites and/or recombination sites for insertion of
the polynucleotide to be under the transcriptional regulation of
the promoters of the invention. The expression cassette may
additionally contain selectable marker genes.
[0079] The expression cassette will include in the 5'-3' direction
of transcription, a transcriptional and translational initiation
region (i.e., a promoter of the invention), a polynucleotide
encoding a photosynthetic protein, and a transcriptional and
translational termination region (i.e., termination region)
functional in plants.
[0080] A number of photosynthetic proteins have been identified and
are well-known in the art. The metabolic pathways of photosynthesis
are well-studied and include light capture, electron transfer, the
Calvin-Benson cycle, starch biosynthesis, and sucrose biosynthesis.
Additionally, photosynthetic microorganisms employ a carbon
concentrating mechanism (CCM), while many higher plants employ C4
photosynthesis, which includes a C4 carbon shuttle, or CAM
photosynthesis, which includes pathways to temporally regulate
carbon fixation. The metabolic pathways of photosynthesis have been
described, e.g., in Taiz and Zeiger, eds. (2002) Plant Physiology
(Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Mass.). A number of photosynthetic
proteins have been annotated, including
sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) (SEQ ID NOs: 1-2,
81-103), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) (SEQ ID NOs: 23-24,
104-125), fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBP aldolase) (SEQ ID
NOs: 25-26, 126-155), transketolase (SEQ ID NOs: 27-28), the
Rubisco small subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 29-30), the Rubisco large
subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 31-32), Rubisco activase (SEQ ID NOs: 33-34),
the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) large subunit (SEQ ID
NOs: 35-36, 156-199), the AGPase small subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 37-38,
200-221), carbonic anhydrase (SEQ ID NOs: 39-40, 222-268), PEP
carboxylase (PEPC) (SEQ ID NOs: 41-42), pyruvate phosphate dikinase
(PPDK) (SEQ ID NOs: 43-44), malate dehydrogenase (SEQ ID NOs:
45-46), malic enzyme (SEQ ID NOs: 47-48), phosphoglycerate kinase
(SEQ ID NOs: 49-50), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (SEQ
ID NOs: 51-52), triose phosphate isomerase (SEQ ID NOs: 53-54),
ribulose 5-phosphate isomerase (SEQ ID NOs: 55-56),
phosphoribulokinase (SEQ ID NOs: 57-58), and ribulose 5-phosphate
3-epimerase (SEQ ID NOs: 59-60). Additionally, regulators of these
and other photosynthetic proteins and of genes encoding these and
other photosynthetic proteins may be expressed from the promoters
of the present invention. Such regulators may include transcription
factors that regulate the expression of genes encoding
photosynthetic proteins (see, for example, Dong et al. (2014)
Biochem Biophys Res Commun 450:453-458), ubiquitin ligases (see,
for example, Li et al. (2013) Plant Biotechnol J 11:432-445),
kinases and other proteins that modify photosynthetic proteins
post-translationally (see, for example, Tiessen et al. (2003) Plant
J 35:490-500 and Bergantino et al. (1995) J Biol Chem
270:8474-8481), proteins such as ferredoxin and thioredoxin that
regulate the redox status of photosynthetic proteins (see, for
example, Balmer et al. (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:370-375
and Hirasawa et al. (1999) Biochemistry 38:5200-5205), and the
like.
[0081] Plant terminators are known in the art and include those
available from the Ti-plasmid of A. tumefaciens, such as the
octopine synthase and nopaline synthase termination regions. See
also Guerineau et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 262:141-144;
Proudfoot (1991) Cell 64:671-674; Sanfacon et al. (1991) Genes Dev.
5:141-149; Mogen et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2:1261-1272; Munroe et
al. (1990) Gene 91:151-158; Ballas et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res.
17:7891-7903; and Joshi et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res.
15:9627-9639.
[0082] As indicated, the promoters of the present invention can be
used in expression cassettes to transform plants of interest.
Transformation protocols as well as protocols for introducing
polypeptides or polynucleotide sequences into plants may vary
depending on the type of plant or plant cell, i.e., monocot or
dicot, targeted for transformation. Suitable methods of introducing
polypeptides and polynucleotides into plant cells include
microinjection (Crossway et al. (1986) Biotechniques 4:320 334),
electroporation (Riggs et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
83:5602 5606, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (U.S. Pat. No.
5,563,055 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,840), direct gene transfer
(Paszkowski et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2717 2722), and ballistic
particle acceleration (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,918; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,886,244; and, 5,932,782;
Tomes et al. (1995) in Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture:
Fundamental Methods, ed. Gamborg and Phillips (Springer-Verlag,
Berlin); McCabe et al. (1988) Biotechnology 6:923 926); and Lec1
transformation (WO 00/28058). Also see Weissinger et al. (1988)
Ann. Rev. Genet. 22:421 477; Sanford et al. (1987) Particulate
Science and Technology 5:27 37 (onion); Christou et al. (1988)
Plant Physiol. 87:671 674 (soybean); McCabe et al. (1988)
Bio/Technology 6:923 926 (soybean); Finer and McMullen (1991) In
Vitro Cell Dev. Biol. 27P:175-182 (soybean); Singh et al. (1998)
Theor. Appl. Genet. 96:319-324 (soybean); Datta et al. (1990)
Biotechnology 8:736 740 (rice); Klein et al. (1988) Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 85:4305 4309 (maize); Klein et al. (1988)
Biotechnology 6:559 563 (maize); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,240,855;
5,322,783; and, 5,324,646; Klein et al. (1988) Plant Physiol.
91:440 444 (maize); Fromm et al. (1990) Biotechnology 8:833 839
(maize); Hooykaas-Van Slogteren et al. (1984) Nature (London)
311:763-764; U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,369 (cereals); Bytebier et al.
(1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:5345-5349 (Liliaceae); De Wet
et al. (1985) in The Experimental Manipulation of Ovule Tissues,
ed. Chapman et al. (Longman, New York), pp. 197-209 (pollen);
Kaeppler et al. (1990) Plant Cell Reports 9:415-418 and Kaeppler et
al. (1992) Theor. Appl. Genet. 84:560-566 (whisker-mediated
transformation); D'Halluin et al. (1992) Plant Cell 4:1495-1505
(electroporation); Li et al. (1993) Plant Cell Reports 12:250-255
and Christou and Ford (1995) Annals of Botany 75:407-413 (rice);
Osjoda et al. (1996) Nature Biotechnology 14:745-750 (maize via
Agrobacterium tumefaciens); all of which are herein incorporated by
reference. "Stable transformation" is intended to mean that the
nucleotide construct introduced into a plant integrates into the
genome of the plant and is capable of being inherited by the
progeny thereof.
[0083] The cells that have been transformed may be grown into
plants in accordance with conventional ways. See, for example,
McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5:81-84. In this manner,
the present invention provides transformed seed (also referred to
as "transgenic seed") having a polynucleotide of the invention, for
example, an expression cassette of the invention, stably
incorporated into their genome.
[0084] The present invention may be used for transformation of any
plant species, including, but not limited to, monocots and dicots.
Examples of plant species of interest include, but are not limited
to, corn (Zea mays), Brassica sp. (e.g., B. napus, B. rapa, B.
juncea), particularly those Brassica species useful as sources of
seed oil, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), rice (Oryza sativa), rye
(Secale cereale), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum vulgare),
millet (e.g., pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), proso millet
(Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), finger
millet (Eleusine coracana)), sunflower (Helianthus annuus),
safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), wheat (Triticum aestivum),
soybean (Glycine max), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), potato (Solanum
tuberosum), peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), cotton (Gossypium
barbadense, Gossypium hirsutum), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatus),
cassava (Manihot esculenta), coffee (Coffea spp.), coconut (Cocos
nucifera), pineapple (Ananas comosus), citrus trees (Citrus spp.),
cocoa (Theobroma cacao), tea (Camellia sinensis), banana (Musa
spp.), avocado (Persea americana), fig (Ficus casica), guava
(Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica), olive (Olea europaea),
papaya (Carica papaya), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), macadamia
(Macadamia integrifolia), almond (Prunus amygdalus), sugar beets
(Beta vulgaris), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), oil palm (Elaeis
guineensis), poplar (Populus spp.), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.),
oats (Avena sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), vegetables,
ornamentals, and conifers.
[0085] In one embodiment, the promoters of the invention are used
to drive expression of an SBPase coding region. Plants transformed
with a construct comprising a promoter of the invention driving
expression of a SBPase coding region demonstrated increased plant
yield, i.e., biomass and increased seed count.
[0086] Now that it has been demonstrated that upregulation of
SBPase increases plant yield, other methods for increasing
expression of an endogenous SBPase sequence in a plant of interest
can be used. The expression of an SBPase gene present in a plant's
genome can be altered by inserting a transcriptional enhancer
upstream of the SBPase gene present in the plant's genome. This
strategy will allow the SBPase gene's expression to retain its
normal developmental profile, while showing elevated transcript
levels. This strategy will occur through the insertion of an
enhancer element upstream of an SBPase gene of interest using a
meganuclease designed against the genomic sequence of interest.
[0087] Alteration of the expression of an SBPase gene may be
achieved through the use of precise genome-editing technologies to
modulate the expression of the endogenous sequence.
[0088] In this manner, a nucleic acid sequence will be inserted
proximal to a native plant sequence encoding the SBPase through the
use of methods available in the art. Such methods include, but are
not limited to, meganucleases designed against the plant genomic
sequence of interest (D'Halluin et al (2013) Plant Biotechnol J 11:
933-941); CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and other technologies for precise
editing of genomes (Feng, et al. (2013) Cell Research 23:1229-1232,
Podevin, et al. (2013) Trends Biotechnology 31: 375-383, Wei et al.
(2013) J Gen Genomics 40:281-289, Zhang et al (2013) WO
2013/026740); Cre-lox site-specific recombination (Dale et al.
(1995) Plant J 7:649-659; Lyznik, et al. (2007) Transgenic Plant J
1:1-9; FLP-FRT recombination (Li et al. (2009) Plant Physiol
151:1087-1095); Bxbl-mediated integration (Yau et al. Plant J
(2011) 701:147-166); zinc-finger mediated integration (Wright et
al. (2005) Plant J 44:693-705); Cai et al. (2009) Plant Mol Biol
69:699-709); and homologous recombination (Lieberman-Lazarovich and
Levy (2011) Methods Mol Biol 701: 51-65); Puchta, H. (2002) Plant
Mol Biol 48:173-182). The insertion of said nucleic acid sequences
will be used to achieve the desired result of overexpression and/or
altered expression profile of an SBPase gene.
[0089] Enhancers include any molecule capable of enhancing gene
expression when inserted into the genome of a plant. Thus, an
enhancer can be inserted in a region of the genome upstream or
downstream of an SBPase sequence of interest to enhance expression.
Enhancers may be cis-acting, and can be located anywhere within the
genome relative to a gene for which expression will be enhanced.
For example, an enhancer may be positioned within about 1 Mbp,
within about 100 kbp, within about 50 kbp, about 30 kbp, about 20
kbp, about 10 kbp, about 5 kbp, about 3kbp, or about 1 kbp of a
coding sequence for which it enhances expression. An enhancer may
also be located within about 1500 bp of a gene for which it
enhances expression, or may be directly proximal to or located
within an intron of a gene for which it enhances expression.
Enhancers for use in modulating the expression of an endogenous
SBPase or homolog according to the present invention include
classical enhancer elements such as the CaMV 35S enhancer element,
cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter enhancer element, and the SV40
enhancer element, and also intron-mediated enhancer elements that
enhance gene expression such as the maize shrunken-1 enhancer
element (Clancy, M. and Hannah, L. C. (2002) Plant Physiol.
130(2):918-29). Further examples of enhancers which may be
introduced into a plant genome to modulate expression include a
PetE enhancer (Chua et al. (2003) Plant Cell 15:11468-1479), or a
rice .alpha.-amylase enhancer (Chen et al. (2002) J. Biol. Chem.
277:13641-13649), or any enhancer known in the art (Chudalayandi,
S. (2011) Methods Mol. Biol. 701:285-300). In some embodiments, the
present invention comprises a subdomain, fragment, or duplicated
enhancer element (Benfrey et al. (1990) EMBO J 9:1677-1684).
[0090] The invention further provides methods for modulating
endogenous SBPase in a plant by inserting a promoter of the
invention into a plant genome such that it modulates expression of
an endogenous SBPase sequence. As indicated above, methods for
determining an insertion site for a promoter or enhancer using the
sequences provided herein and methods for inserting a promoter or
enhancer sequence into a plant genome at a given insertion site are
known in the art.
[0091] Alteration of SBPase gene expression may also be achieved
through the modification of DNA in a way that does not alter the
sequence of the DNA. Such changes could include modifying the
chromatin content or structure of the SBPase gene of interest
and/or of the DNA surrounding the SBPase gene. It is well known
that such changes in chromatin content or structure can affect gene
transcription (Hirschhorn et al (1992) Genes and Dev 6:2288-2298;
Narlikar et al (2002) Cell 108: 475-487). Such changes could also
include altering the methylation status of the SBPase gene of
interest and/or of the DNA surrounding the SBPase gene. It is well
known that such changes in DNA methylation can alter transcription
(Hsieh (1994) Mol Cell Biol 14: 5487-5494). It will be obvious to
those skilled in the art that other similar alterations
(collectively termed "epigenetic alterations") to the DNA that
regulates transcription of the SBPase gene of interest may be
applied in order to achieve the desired result of an altered SBPase
gene expression profile.
[0092] Alteration of SBPase gene expression may also be achieved
through the use of transposable element technologies to alter gene
expression. It is well understood that transposable elements can
alter the expression of nearby DNA (McGinnis et al (1983) Cell
34:75-84). Alteration of the expression of a gene encoding SBPase
in a photosynthetic organism may be achieved by inserting a
transposable element upstream of the SBPase gene of interest,
causing the expression of said gene to be altered.
[0093] Alteration of SBPase gene expression may also be achieved
through mis-expression of a transcription factor or transcription
factors that regulate the expression of the SBPase gene of
interest. It is well understood that alteration of transcription
factor expression can in turn alter the expression of the target
gene(s) of said transcription factor (Hiratsu et al (2003) Plant J
34:733-739). Alteration of SBPase gene expression may be achieved
by altering the expression of transcription factor(s) that are
known to interact with the SBPase gene of interest (e.g., the WF-1
transcription factor; Miles et al (1993) Plant Mol Biol 22:
507-516).
[0094] Alteration of SBPase gene expression may also be achieved
through the insertion of a promoter upstream of the open reading
frame encoding the native SBPase in the plant species of interest.
This will occur through the insertion of a promoter of interest
upstream of an SBPase open reading frame using a meganuclease
designed against the genomic sequence of interest. This strategy is
well-understood and has been demonstrated previously to insert a
transgene at a predefined location in the cotton genome (D'Halluin
et al (2013) Plant Biotechnol J 11: 933-941). It will be obvious to
those skilled in the art that other technologies can be used to
achieve a similar result of insertion of genetic elements at a
predefined genomic locus (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and other
technologies for precise editing of genomes).
[0095] The following examples are offered by way of illustration
and not by way of limitation.
EXPERIMENTAL
Example 1
Construction of Plant Transformation Vectors
[0096] The cDNA encoding the SBPase protein from Brachypodium
distachyon (Genbank Entry XM_003564577; SEQ ID NO: 2) was
codon-optimized, resulting in the open reading frame of SEQ ID NO:
1. This open reading frame was de novo synthesized with appropriate
restriction sites added at the 5' and 3' termini to facilitate
cloning.
[0097] Rice promoters that drive developmentally regulated
expression were de novo synthesized with appropriate restriction
sites at their 5' and 3' termini to facilitate cloning. The
promoter from rice locus Os12g19470 (SEQ ID NO: 4), the promoter
from rice locus Os01g45274 (SEQ ID NO: 3), the promoter from rice
locus Os07g37240 (SEQ ID NO: 5), the promoter from rice locus
Os08g10020 (SEQ ID NO: 13), the promoter from rice locus Os12g17600
(SEQ ID NO: 15), the promoter from rice locus Os02g10390 (SEQ ID
NO: 17), the promoter from rice locus Os04g56400 (SEQ ID NO: 19),
and the promoter from rice locus Os01g40310 (SEQ ID NO: 21) were de
novo synthesized. In addition, the CaMV 35S promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9)
was de novo synthesized and fused to the 5' untranslated region
(5'UTR) from the maize ubiquitin gene (SEQ ID NO: 10). The maize
ubiquitin promoter (SEQ ID NO: 12) was also de novo
synthesized.
[0098] Rice 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) were de novo
synthesized with appropriate restriction sites at their 5' and 3'
termini to facilitate cloning. The 3'UTR from rice locus Os12g19470
(SEQ ID NO: 6), the 3'UTR from rice locus Os01g45274 (SEQ ID NO:
7), the 3'UTR from rice locus Os07g37240 (SEQ ID NO: 8), the 3'UTR
from rice locus Os08g10020 (SEQ ID NO: 14), the 3'UTR from rice
locus Os12g17600 (SEQ ID NO: 16), the 3'UTR from rice locus
Os02g10390 (SEQ ID NO: 18), the 3'UTR from rice locus Os04g56400
(SEQ ID NO: 20), and the 3'UTR from rice locus Os01g40310 (SEQ ID
NO: 22) were de novo synthesized. In addition, the 3'UTR from the
maize ubiquitin gene (SEQ ID NO: 11) was de novo synthesized.
[0099] Using standard molecular biology protocols, the
codon-optimized SBPase open-reading frame (ORF) was cloned in
between the promoter and 3'UTR of the rice genetic elements
described here. The vectors contain the genetic elements described
in Table 1. These transgene cassettes were cloned into a modified
pMDC99 binary vector backbone.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Vectors for SBPase overexpression Vector
Promoter ORF 3'UTR 130005 ZmUbi SBPase ZmUbi (SEQ ID NO: 12) (SEQ
ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 11) 130006 CaMV 35S SBPase ZmUbi (SEQ ID NO:
9) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 11) 130007 Os08g10020 SBPase
Os08g10020 (SEQ ID NO: 13) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 14) 130008
Os12g19470 SBPase Os12g19470 (SEQ ID NO: 4) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID
NO: 6) 130009 Os01g45274 SBPase Os01g45274 (SEQ ID NO: 3) (SEQ ID
NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 7) 130010 Os12g17600 SBPase Os12g17600 (SEQ ID
NO: 15) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 16) 130011 Os07g37240 SBPase
Os07g37240 (SEQ ID NO: 5) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 8) 130012
Os02g10390 SBPase Os02g10390 (SEQ ID NO: 17) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID
NO: 18) 130013 Os04g56400 SBPase Os04g56400 (SEQ ID NO: 19) (SEQ ID
NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 20) 130014 Os01g40310 SBPase Os01g40310 (SEQ ID
NO: 21) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (SEQ ID NO: 22)
Example 2
Transformation of Brachypodium distachyon
[0100] The vectors described in Table 1 were transformed into
Agrobacterium tumefaciens (strain AGL-1). The resulting
Agrobacterium cells were used to insert the SBPase transgene
cassettes into the B. distachyon nuclear genome. Transgenic plants
were cultivated and the presence of the appropriate transgene
cassette was confirmed by PCR.
[0101] Transgenic B. distachyon plants containing the SBPase
transgene cassette, as confirmed by PCR, were grown to maturity and
allowed to self-pollinate to produce T1-generation seeds.
Example 3
Cultivation of T1-generation B. distachyon Plants
[0102] T1-generation B. distachyon plants were grown from seed in
the same conditions as wild-type (WT) B. distachyon plants in a
growth chamber under a 20-hour light/4-hour dark photoperiod. All
plants were allowed to mature and self-pollinate, and the
above-ground biomass was then dried in a 37.degree. C. oven. The
seeds were separated from the remainder of the biomass. Total
above-ground biomass was weighed, and the number of seeds was
counted. The resulting biomass and seed counts are shown in Table
2.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Weight of above-ground biomass and number of
seeds from T1-generation 130005, 130006, 130008, 130009, and 130011
plants, as well as from wild-type (WT) B. distachyon plants.
Construct Plant Weight (g) Seed Count 130005 1.79 .+-. 0.77 291.40
.+-. 170.69 130006 3.31 .+-. 0.72 733.30 .+-. 237.51 130008 3.03
.+-. 1.24 697.55 .+-. 369.80 130009 2.90 .+-. 1.79 555.83 .+-.
310.80 130011 3.71 .+-. 1.46 775.22 .+-. 541.93 WT 1.19 .+-. 0.60
249.25 .+-. 123.03
Example 4
Quantification of SBPase Protein Accumulation From
Developmentally-Regulated Promoters
[0103] T1-generation B. distachyon plants transformed with the
130008 and 130009 vectors were grown alongside wild-type B.
distachyon plants in a 16 hour light/8 hour dark light cycle. Leaf
samples were collected at various timepoints (ranging from 50 days
to 93 days after planting) during the plants' development and were
flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Protein was extracted from the
flash-frozen leaf samples in TBST buffer. Total protein
concentration was determined using a standard Bradford assay
(Boston Bioproducts, Ashland, Mass.) with a standard curve
constructed from known amounts of bovine serum albumin protein.
Following the determination of total protein concentration in the
leaf extracts, 50 .mu.g of total protein was tested for SBPase
content by an ELISA assay. For these ELISA assays, the protein was
allowed to bind to high-binding, clear 96-well plates (Greiner
Bio-One, Germany) overnight (approximately 16 hours) at 4.degree.
C. Following this binding period, all wells were washed three times
in TBST buffer then incubated for one hour at room temperature
(approximately 25.degree. C.) with a primary antibody generated
against recombinant SBPase produced in E. coli. All wells were then
washed three times in TBST buffer then incubated for one hour at
room temperature (approximately 25.degree. C.) with a secondary
antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (Thermo Scientific,
Rockford, Ill.). Following three washes in TBST buffer, ABTS
detection buffer (Thermo Scientific, Rockford, Ill.) was added.
This was allowed to incubate for 30 minutes at room temperature,
and then the absorbance of all wells was read at 405 nm. SBPase
concentration was determined based on a calibration curve
containing known amounts of purified SBPase protein produced in E.
coli. These ELISA assays revealed that the Os12g19470 and
Os01g45274 promoters in constructs 130008 and 130009, respectively,
drove SBPase gene expression and protein accumulation in a
developmentally-regulated manner, such that SBPase protein levels
in the transgenic B. distachyon lines were generally similar to
SBPase protein levels in wild-type plants for most of the
developmental timepoints tested, with the exception of the 78-day
timepoint, when the transgenic plants consistently showed higher
SBPase levels than wild-type plants.
Example 5
Alteration of SBPase Expression
[0104] The expression of an SBPase gene present in a higher plant's
genome is altered by inserting a promoter upstream of the SBPase
gene present in the higher plant's genome. The SBPase gene shows
the developmental expression profile associated with the promoter
of interest. A meganuclease is designed to cleave the genomic DNA
at a site upstream of the SBPase open reading frame. This site is
chosen such that insertion of the promoter improves transcription
of the downstream sequences. Meganuclease-driven cleavage of the
genomic DNA is used to guide insertion of the promoter of interest.
A transformation construct is designed so that the promoter of
interest is flanked DNA that matches the genomic DNA upstream and
downstream of the meganuclease cleavage site. This flanking DNA is
used to guide homologous recombination for insertion of the
promoter of interest at the desired site. In this way, one or more
of the promoters selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5,
13, 15, 17, 19, and 21 is inserted upstream of the SBPase gene to
drive expression of the SBPase gene.
[0105] Alternatively, the entire native SBPase promoter in the
plant genome is replaced by a promoter of interest. One or more
meganucleases are designed to cleave the genomic DNA upstream and
downstream of the native SBPase promoter. These cleavages are used
to guide insertion of the promoter of interest at the desired site
in the genome such that the promoter of interest replaces the
native SBPase promoter. The promoter of interest is flanked by DNA
that is homologous to the genomic DNA that is upstream and
downstream of the two meganuclease cleavage sites such that the
flanking DNA can guide homologous recombination. In this way, one
or more of the promoters selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 3,
4, 5, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21 is inserted upstream of the SBPase
gene to drive expression of the SBPase gene.
Example 6
Transformation of Oryza sativa
[0106] Vectors 130005, 130006, 130007, 130008, 130009, 130010,
130011, 130012, 130013, and 130014 were transformed into
Agrobacterium tumefaciens (strain AGL-1). The resulting
Agrobacterium cells were used to insert the SBPase transgene
cassettes into the O. sativa nuclear genome. Transgenic plants were
cultivated and the presence of the appropriate transgene cassette
was confirmed by PCR.
[0107] Transgenic plants containing the SBPase transgene cassette,
as confirmed by PCR, were grown to maturity and allowed to
self-pollinate to produce T1-generation seeds.
Example 7
Transformation, Cultivation, and Characterization of Setaria
viridis
[0108] Vectors 130005, 130006, 130007, 130008, 130009, 130010,
130011, 130012, 130013, and 130014 were transformed into
Agrobacterium tumefaciens (strain AGL-1). The resulting
Agrobacterium cells were used to insert the SBPase transgene
cassettes into the S. viridis nuclear genome. Transgenic plants
were cultivated and the presence of the appropriate transgene
cassette was confirmed by PCR.
[0109] Transgenic plants containing the SBPase transgene cassette,
as confirmed by PCR, were grown to maturity and allowed to
self-pollinate to produce T1-generation seeds.
[0110] T1-generation seeds are planted to cultivate the resulting
T1-generation plants. The T1-generation plants are grown alongside
suitable control plants to assess the phenotypic and developmental
effects of SBPase expression on the transgenic S. viridis plants.
Leaf samples are collected from the S. viridis plants and total RNA
is extracted from the leaf tissue. Quantitative RT-PCR is performed
using this RNA and primers designed against the SBPase transgene
cassette. The primers are designed to amplify a region that spans
from the 3' region of the SBPase open reading frame into the 3'UTR
downstream of the SBPase gene to avoid amplification of the native
S. viridis SBPase transcript. The results of these quantitative
RT-PCR experiments show the expression levels of the SBPase
transgene when driven by the promoter of interest.
Example 8
Alteration of the Expression of Photosynthetic Genes Using
Developmentally-Regulated Promoters
[0111] It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the
methods described in the above Examples may be used to alter the
expression of other genes involved in photosynthesis beyond
sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) genes. Based on the data
obtained for driving SBPase expression in plants by the
developmentally-regulated promoters described herein, it would be
anticipated that these same promoters would be of utility for
additional genes involved in photosynthesis. These genes include,
but are not limited to, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) (SEQ
ID NOs: 23-24, 104-125), fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBP
aldolase) (SEQ ID NOs: 25-26, 126-155), transketolase (SEQ ID NOs:
27-28), the Rubisco small subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 29-30), the Rubisco
large subunit (SEQ ID NOs: 31-32), Rubisco activase (SEQ ID NOs:
33-34), the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) large subunit
(SEQ ID NOs: 35-36, 156-199), the AGPase small subunit (SEQ ID NOs:
37-38, 200-221), carbonic anhydrase (SEQ ID NOs: 39-40, 222-268),
PEP carboxylase (PEPC) (SEQ ID NOs: 41-42), pyruvate phosphate
dikinase (PPDK) (SEQ ID NOs: 43-44), malate dehydrogenase (SEQ ID
NOs: 45-46), malic enzyme (SEQ ID NOs: 47-48), phosphoglycerate
kinase (SEQ ID NOs: 49-50), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate
dehydrogenase (SEQ ID NOs: 51-52), triose phosphate isomerase (SEQ
ID NOs: 53-54), ribulose 5-phosphate isomerase (SEQ ID NOs: 55-56),
phosphoribulokinase (SEQ ID NOs: 57-58), and ribulose 5-phosphate
3-epimerase (SEQ ID NOs: 59-60).
[0112] One or more of the photosynthetic genes described in this
example is cloned into a vector that is suitable for plant
transformation. The photosynthetic gene or genes are placed
downstream of one of a promoter of interest that is used to drive
expression of said photosynthetic gene or genes. One or more of the
promoters selected from the group of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 4, 5, 13, 15,
17, 19, and 21 is placed upstream of an open reading frame encoding
a photosynthetic protein of interest in a plant transformation
vector. This plant transformation vector is used to transform a
plant cell, from which a plant is regenerated. Expression of the
photosynthetic gene is driven by the promoter of interest in the
resulting regenerated plant. Plants expressing the photosynthetic
gene or genes of interest are grown alongside suitable control
plants to assess the effects of photosynthetic gene expression.
Example 9
Quantifying SBPase Transcript Levels in Transgenic B. distachyon
and Transgenic O. sativa
[0113] T1-generation B. distachyon plants transformed with one of
the vectors shown in Table 1 were cultivated, and leaf samples were
collected from the growing plants. Total RNA was extracted from the
leaf samples and this RNA was used for quantitative RT-PCR
experiments. Primers were designed to specifically amplify the
native B. distachyon SBPase gene (SEQ ID NOs: 63-64), to amplify
the SBPase transgene (SEQ ID NOs: 65-76), or to amplify the B.
distachyon ubc18 gene (SEQ ID NOs: 61-62). The ubc18 gene is a
constitutively expressed gene and is used as a control reaction for
quantitative RT-PCR experiments. These quantitative RT-PCR
experiments resulted in the data shown in Table 3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 SBPase Expression levels in transgenic B.
distachyon Expression Level Native SBPase 1.1 130006 7.8 130008 0.5
130009 0.5 130011 1.5
[0114] Expression levels in Table 3 are shown relative to the B.
distachyon ubc18 gene expression levels. The expression of the
native SBPase gene was unaffected in transgenic plants and hence
the expression levels of the native SBPase gene are averaged across
all wild-type and transgenic plants tested. Expression levels
indicated in Table 3 for transgenic B. distachyon 130006, 130008,
130009, and 130011 plants are for the SBPase transgenes only.
[0115] T1-generation O. sativa plants plants transformed with one
of the vectors shown in Table 1 were cultivated, and leaf samples
were collected from the growing plants. Leaf samples were collected
as the leaves emerged from the whorl, using a protocol modified
from Wang et al. (2014) Nat Biotechnol 32:1158-1165. The leaves
were segmented into five segments of equal length and total RNA was
extracted from each segment. This RNA was used for quantitative
RT-PCR experiments. Primers were designed to specifically amplify
the native O. sativa SBPase gene (SEQ ID NOs: 77-78), to amplify
the SBPase transgene (SEQ ID NOs: 65-76), or to amplify the O.
sativa ubq5 gene (SEQ ID NOs: 79-80). The ubq5 gene is a
constitutively expressed gene and is used as a control reaction for
quantitative RT-PCR experiments. These quantitative RT-PCR
experiments resulted in the data shown in Table 4.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 SBPase Expression levels in transgenic O.
sativa Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3 Segment 4 Segment 5 Native
0.0039 0.12 0.53 0.96 0.97 SBPase 130009 0.027 0.071 0.14 0.15 0.14
130014 2.41 4.49 3.19 2.99 2.67
[0116] Expression levels in Table 4 are shown relative to the O.
sativa ubq5 gene expression levels. Leaves were segmented such that
Segment 1 is at the leaf base and Segment 5 is at the leaf tip. The
expression of the native SBPase gene was unaffected in transgenic
plants and hence the expression levels of the native SBPase gene
are averaged across all wild-type and transgenic plants tested.
Expression levels for 130009 and 130014 plants indicated in Table 4
are for the SBPase transgenes only.
[0117] All publications and patent applications mentioned in the
specification are indicative of the level of those skilled in the
art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent
applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same
extent as if each individual publication or patent application was
specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by
reference.
[0118] Although the foregoing invention has been described in some
detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity
of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and
modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended
claims.
Sequence CWU 0 SQTB SEQUENCE LISTING The patent application
contains a lengthy "Sequence Listing" section. A copy of the
"Sequence Listing" is available in electronic form from the USPTO
web site
(http://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US20180030467A9).
An electronic copy of the "Sequence Listing" will also be available
from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37
CFR 1.19(b)(3).
0 SQTB SEQUENCE LISTING The patent application contains a lengthy
"Sequence Listing" section. A copy of the "Sequence Listing" is
available in electronic form from the USPTO web site
(http://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US20180030467A9).
An electronic copy of the "Sequence Listing" will also be available
from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37
CFR 1.19(b)(3).
* * * * *
References