Claims
- 1. A double stranded DNA molecule comprising:
a promoter which functions in plants to cause the production of an RNA sequence, operably linked to a DNA coding sequence which encodes an enzyme which binds a first sterol and produces a second sterol, operably linked to a 3′ non-translated region which causes the polyadenylation of the 3′ end of the RNA sequence; wherein the promoter is heterologous with respect to the DNA sequence.
- 2. The DNA molecule of claim 1, wherein the DNA coding sequence is in the sense orientation.
- 3. The DNA molecule of claim 1, wherein the DNA coding sequence is in the antisense orientation.
- 4. The DNA molecule of claim 1, wherein the first sterol is selected from the group consisting of 4-methyl sterol, 9β,19-cyclopropyl sterol, Δ8-sterol, 14α-methyl sterol, Δ23,24-alkyl sterol, Δ24,24-alkyl sterol and Δ25(27),24-alkyl sterol.
- 5. The DNA molecule of claim 1, wherein the first or second sterol lacks a Δ5 group.
- 6. The DNA molecule of claim 1, wherein the DNA coding sequence encodes an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a S-adenosyl-L-methionine-Δ24(25)-sterol methyl transferase, a C-4 demethylase, a cycloeucalenol to obtusifoliol-isomerase, a 14α-methyl demethylase, a Δ8 to Δ7-isomerase, a Δ7-C-5-desaturase and a 24,25-reductase.
- 7. The DNA molecule of claim 1, wherein the DNA coding sequence encodes an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-Δ24(25)-sterol methyl transferase (SMT).
- 8. The DNA according to claim 7, wherein the SMT is from plants or yeast.
- 9. The DNA according to claim 7, wherein the SMT is derived from Zea mays, Arabidopsis thaliana or Prototheca wickerhamii.
- 10. The DNA according to claim 7, wherein the SMT is yeast ERG6.
- 11. A transgenic plant comprising a double stranded DNA molecule comprising:
a promoter which functions in plants to cause the production of an RNA sequence, operably linked to a DNA coding sequence which encodes an enzyme which binds a first sterol and produces a second sterol, operably linked to a 3′ non-translated region which causes the polyadenylation of the 3′ end of the RNA sequence; wherein the promoter is heterologous with respect to the DNA sequence.
- 12. The plant of claim 11, wherein the DNA coding sequence is in the sense orientation.
- 13. The plant of claim 11, wherein the DNA coding sequence is in the antisense orientation.
- 14. The plant of claim 11, wherein the first sterol is selected from the group consisting of 4-methyl sterol, 9β,19-cyclopropyl sterol, Δ8-sterol, 14α-methyl sterol, Δ23,24-alkyl sterol, Δ24,24-alkyl sterol and Δ25(27),24-alkyl sterol.
- 15. The plant of claim 11, wherein the first or second sterol lacks a Δ5 group.
- 16. The plant of claim 11, wherein the DNA coding sequence encodes an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a S-adenosyl-L-methionine-Δ24(25)-sterol methyl transferase, a C-4 demethylase, a cycloeucalenol to obtusifoliol-isomerase, a 14α-methyl demethylase, a Δ8 to Δ7-isomerase, a Δ7-C-5-desaturase and a 24,25-reductase.
- 17. The plant of claim 11, wherein the DNA coding sequence encodes an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-Δ24(25)-sterol methyl transferase (SMT).
- 18. The plant of claim 17, wherein the SMT is from plants or yeast.
- 19. The plant of claim 17, wherein the SMT is derived from Zea mays, Arabidopsis thaliana or Prototheca wickerhamii.
- 20. The plant of claim 17, wherein the SMT is yeast ERG6.
- 21. The plant of claim 11, which plant is resistant to an insect, nematode or pythiaceous fungus.
- 22. The plant of claim 11, which plant has an increased level of a cholesterol-reducing sterol.
- 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the sterol is cycloartenol or sitosterol.
- 24. The plant according to claim 11, which plant is resistant to drought, salinity or severe cold.
- 25. The plant according to claim 11, which plant is a tomato, corn or soybean plant.
- 26. A process of producing a transgenic plant comprising:
(a) transforming plant cells with a recombinant DNA molecule comprising:
a promoter which functions in plants to cause the production of an RNA sequence, operably linked to a DNA coding sequence which encodes an enzyme which binds a first sterol and produces a second sterol, operably linked to a 3′ non-translated region which causes the polyadenylation of the 3′ end of the RNA sequence; wherein the promoter is heterologous with respect to the DNA sequence; (b) selecting transformed plant cells comprising the recombinant DNA molecule; and (c) regenerating transgenic plants from the transformed plant cells.
- 27. The process of claim 26, wherein the DNA coding sequence is in the sense orientation.
- 28. The process of claim 26, wherein the DNA coding sequence is in the antisense orientation.
- 29. The process of claim 26, wherein the first sterol is selected from the group consisting of 4-methyl sterol, 9β,19-cyclopropyl sterol, Δ8-sterol, 14α-methyl sterol, Δ23,24-alkyl sterol, Δ24,24-alkyl sterol and Δ25(27),24-alkyl sterol.
- 30. The process of claim 26, wherein the first or second sterol lacks a Δ5 group.
- 31. The process of claim 26, wherein the DNA coding sequence encodes an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a S-adenosyl-L-methionine-Δ24(25)-sterol methyl transferase, a C-4 demethylase, a cycloeucalenol to obtusifoliol-isomerase, a 14α-methyl demethylase, a Δ8 to Δ7-isomerase, a Δ7-C-5-desaturase and a 24,25-reductase.
- 32. The process of claim 26, wherein the DNA coding sequence encodes an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-Δ24(25)-sterol methyl transferase (SMT).
- 33. The process of claim 32, wherein the SMT is from plants or yeast.
- 34. The process of claim 32, wherein the SMT is derived from Zea mays, Arabidopsis thaliana or Prototheca wickerhamii.
- 35. The process of claim 32, wherein the SMT is yeast ERG6.
- 36. The process of claim 26, wherein the plant is resistant to an insect, nematode or pythiaceous fungus.
- 37. The process of claim 26, wherein the plant has an increased level of a cholesterol-reducing sterol.
- 38. The process of claim 37, wherein the sterol is cycloartenol or sitosterol.
- 39. The process of claim 26, wherein the plant is resistant to drought, salinity or severe cold.
- 40. The process of claim 26, wherein the plant is a tomato, corn or soybean plant.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/998,339, filed Dec. 24, 1997.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60033923 |
Dec 1996 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09106926 |
Jun 1998 |
US |
Child |
09779144 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08998339 |
Dec 1997 |
US |
Child |
09106926 |
Jun 1998 |
US |