EP1554388A1

EP1554388A1 - Transgenic expression cassettes for the expression of nucleic acids in plant blooms

Info

Publication number: EP1554388A1
Application number: EP03793448A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christel Renate Schopfer; Matt Sauer; Martin Klebsattel; Ralf Flachmann
Original assignee: SunGene GmbH
Current assignee: SunGene GmbH
Priority date: 2002-10-11
Filing date: 2003-07-30
Publication date: 2005-07-20

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for the targeted, transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences in plant blooms and transgenic expression cassettes and expression vectors which have promoters with an expression specificity for plant blooms. The invention further relates to organisms modified with said transgenic expression cassettes or expression vectors (preferably plants), cultures derived therefrom, parts or propagation material and the use of the above for the production of human and animal feedstuffs, seed stock, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

Description

Transgenic expression cassettes for the expression of nucleic acids in plant flowers

^' Description

The invention relates to methods for the targeted, transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences in plant flowers, and to transgenic expression cassettes and expression vectors which contain promoters with an expression specificity for plant flowers. The invention further relates to organisms (preferably plants) transformed with these transgenic expression cassettes or expression vectors, cultures, parts or propagation material derived therefrom, and the use thereof for the production of foodstuffs, animal feed, seeds, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

The aim of biotechnological work on plants is the production of ^• plants with advantageous, new properties, for example to increase agricultural productivity, to improve the quality of food or to produce certain chemicals or pharmaceuticals (Dunwell M (2000) J Exp Bot 51 Spec No: 487- 96). A basic requirement for the transgenic expression of certain genes is the provision of promoters which are functional in plants. Promoters are important tools in plant biotechnology to control the expression of certain genes in a transgenic plant and thus achieve certain essential characteristics of the plant.

Various promoters which are functional in plants are known, for example constitutive promoters such as the promoter, deτ nopaline synthase from agrobacterium, the TR double promoter or the promoter of the 35S transcript of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313: 810-812). A disadvantage of these promoters is that they are constitutively active in almost all tissues of the plant. A targeted expression of genes in certain parts of plants or at certain times of development is not possible with these promoters. The need for promoters with a defined activity profile and specificity for certain plant tissues is therefore particularly great.

Promoters with specificities for various plant tissues such as anthers, ovaries, flowers, leaves, stems, roots, tubers or seeds are described. The stringency of the specificity as well as the expression activity of these promoters is very different. The plant flower is used for the sexual reproduction of the seed plants. Vegetable flowers - especially the petals (petals) - often accumulate large amounts of secondary plant substances, such as terpenes, anthocyanins, carotenoids, alkaloids and phenylpropanoids, which serve the flowers as fragrances, repellents or dyes. Many of these substances are of economic interest. In addition, the flower bud and flower of the plant is a sensitive organ, especially against stress factors such as cold.

Flower-specific promoters, such as the phytoene synthase promoter (WO 92/16635), the promoter of the P-rr gene (WO 98/22593) or the promoter of the APETALA3 gene (Hill TA et al. (1998) Development 125: 1711- 1721) are known. However, these promoters all have one or more disadvantages that affect wide use:

1) They are specific for one or more flower tissues within the flower and do not guarantee expression in all tissues of the flower.

2 As in the example of the APETALA3 gene involved in flower development, they are strongly regulated during flower development and are not active in all phases of flower development.

3) They sometimes show strong side activities in other plant tissues.

Despite the large number of known plant promoters, there is a need for promoters with a specificity for plant flowering which ensure high expression over a long period of flower development and flowering.

The object was therefore to provide methods and suitable promoters for the targeted, transgenic expression of nucleic acids in the flower tissues. This problem was solved by providing promoters of ε-cyclase. These promoters show an unusually strong expression in numerous flower organs. A first subject of the invention relates to methods for the targeted, transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences in the flowering in plants, the following steps being included

I. Introduction of a transgenic expression cassette into plant cells, the transgenic expression cassette containing at least the following elements

a) at least one promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase, and

b) at least one further nucleic acid sequence, and

c) if necessary, further genetic control elements,

wherein at least one of said promoter sequences and a further nucleic acid sequence are functionally linked to one another and the further nucleic acid sequence is heterologous with respect to the promoter sequence or the plant cell, and

II. Selection of transgenic cells which contain said expression cassette stably integrated into the genome, and

III. Regeneration of whole plants from said transgenic cells, at least one of the further nucleic acid sequences being expressed in the flower.

Another subject relates to transgenic expression cassettes such as e.g. can be used in the method according to the invention. The transgene expression cassettes preferably comprise for the targeted, transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences in the plant flower,

a) at least one promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase, and

b) at least one further nucleic acid sequence, and

c) if necessary, further genetic control elements,

wherein at least one promoter sequence and a further nucleic acid sequence are functionally linked to one another and the further nucleic acid sequence is heterologous with respect to the promoter sequence. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention and / or the expression cassettes according to the invention, "promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase" means a sequence selected from the group of sequences consisting of

i) the promoter sequence of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta according to SEQ ID NO: 1, the ε-cyclase from Arabidopsis thaliana according to SEQ ID NO: 7, the ε-cyclase from Oryza sativa according to SEQ ID NO: 8, and

ii) functional equivalents of the promoter sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 with essentially the same promoter activity as the promoter of the ε-cyclases according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 and

iii) functionally equivalent fragments of the sequences under i) or ii) with essentially the same promoter activity as the promoter of the ε-cyclases according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8.

With particular preference “promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase” means the promoter sequence from Tagetes erecta according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and functionally equivalent fragments thereof.

The expression cassettes according to the invention can contain further genetic control sequences and / or additional functional elements.

The transgenic expression cassettes can preferably enable the expression of a protein encoded by said nucleic acid sequence and / or the expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoded by the nucleic acid sequence, vo-said, by said nucleic acid sequence, anti-sense RNA or double-stranded RNA by the transgenic expression.

Another object of the invention relates to transgenic

Expression vectors which contain one of the expression cassettes according to the invention.

The invention further relates to transgenic organisms which contain one of the expression cassettes or expression vectors according to the invention. The organism can be selected from the group consisting of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, non-human animal and plant organisms or cells, cell cultures, parts, tissues, organs or propagation material derived from them, the organism is preferably selected from the group of agricultural useful plants , Another object of the invention therefore relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising the promoter of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and functionally equivalent fragments thereof. 5

In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid sequence according to the invention or the transgenic expression cassette according to the invention in the form of a functionally equivalent promoter sequence comprises, in addition to the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, also 10 coding the sequence for the 5'-untranslated region of the ε-cyclase gene from Tagetes erecta. The sequence described by SEQ ID NO: 2 is particularly preferred.

In a further preferred embodiment, the 15th nucleic acid sequence according to the invention or the transgenic expression cassette according to the invention in the form of a functionally equivalent promoter sequence comprises, in addition to the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, the sequence coding for the 5'-untranslated region of the ε-cyclase gene from Tagetes erecta and a sequence coding for a transit peptide, preferably for the transit peptide of the ε-cyclase protein from Tagetes erecta according to SEQ ID NO: 4. This sequence is preferably oriented in the 3 'direction with respect to one of the promoters according to the invention. The sequence described by 5 SEQ ID NO: 3 is particularly preferred in this connection as the promoter sequence.

Another object relates to the use of the isolated nucleic acid sequences, transgenic expression vectors or transgenic organisms for the transgenic expression of 0 nucleic acids and / or proteins.

Another object of the invention relates to the use of the nucleic acid sequence according to the invention for reducing the expression of an ε-cyclase. In this context, expression cassettes are included according to the invention which are capable of expressing a double-stranded RNA corresponding to the promoter sequence.

It is particularly preferred to use the said transgenic organisms or derived cells, cell cultures, parts, tissues, organs or propagation material derived therefrom for the production of foodstuffs, animal feed, seeds, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals, the fine chemicals preferably enzymes, vitamins, Amino acids, sugars, saturated or unsaturated fatty acids, natural or synthetic flavors, aromas or colors. The invention also encompasses processes for the production of said foodstuffs, animal feeds, seeds, Pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals using the transgenic organisms according to the invention or derived cells, cell cultures, parts, tissues, organs or propagation material derived therefrom.

The transgenic expression cassettes according to the invention are particularly advantageous for the following reason:

a) They allow selective expression in the flower of plants and enable numerous applications, such as resistance to stress factors such as cold or targeted synthesis of phytochemicals. The expression takes place over the entire development period of the flower with high activity.

"Expression" means the transcription of the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically, but can - in the case of an open reading frame in "sense" orientation - also include the translation of the transcribed RNA of the transgenic nucleic acid sequence to be expressed into a corresponding polypeptide.

"Transgene" means - for example in relation to a transgenic expression cassette, a transgenic expression vector, a transgenic organism or methods for the transgenic expression of nucleic acids - all such constructions which have been obtained by genetic engineering methods or methods using the same, in which either

a) an ε-cyclase promoter (e.g. according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8) or a functional equivalent thereof or a functionally equivalent • F-röcrc ^ nt of the aforementioned, or

b) the transgenic nucleic acid sequence to be expressed in functional linkage with a promoter according to a), or

c) (a) and (b)

are not in their natural, genetic environment or have been modified by genetic engineering methods, the modification being for example a substitution, addition, deletion, inversion or insertion of one or more nucleotide residues. The promoter sequence according to the invention contained in the expression cassettes (for example the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8) is preferably heterologous in relation to the further nucleic acid sequence to be functionally linked and transgenically expressed. In this context, "heterologous" means that the further nucleic acid sequence does not code for the gene, which is naturally under the control of said promoter.

"Natural genetic environment" means the natural chro o-somal locus in the organism of origin or the presence in a genomic library. In the case of a genomic library, the natural, genetic environment of the nucleic acid sequence is preferably at least partially preserved. The environment flanks the nucleic acid sequence at least on one side and has a sequence length of at least 50 bp, preferably at least 500 bp, particularly preferably at least 1000 bp, very particularly preferably at least 5000 bp. A naturally occurring expression construct - for example the naturally occurring combination of the promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a gene coding for a protein according to SEQ ID NO: 10 or 12 becomes a transgenic expression construct if this is caused by unnatural, synthetic ("artificial") Methods such as mutagenization in vitro are changed. Corresponding methods are described (US 5,565,350; WO 00/15815; see also above).

In relation to expression (“transgenic expression”), “transgene” preferably means all those expressions realized using a transgenic expression cassette, transgenic expression vector or transgenic organism - according to the definitions given above.

The transgenic expression cassettes according to the invention, the transgenic expression vectors derived from them and transgenic organisms can comprise functional equivalents to the ε-cyclase promoter sequence described under SEQ ID NO: 1, 7th or .8 ^.

Functional equivalents also include all the sequences which are derived from the complementary counter strand of the sequences defined by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 and which have essentially the same promoter activity. Particularly preferred are the sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 2 or 3, which in addition to the promoter sequence contain the 5'-untranslated region or the 5'-untranslated region and the region coding for the transit peptide of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta ,

Functional equivalents mean in particular natural or artificial mutations of the ε-cyclase promoter sequence described under SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 and their homologues from other plant genera and species, which continue to be essentially have the same promoter activity as the ε-cyclase promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8.

Promoter activity is said to be essentially the same if the transcription of a particular gene to be expressed is under the control of e.g. a functional equivalent of the ε-cyclase promoter sequence described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 or a functionally equivalent fragment thereof - under otherwise unchanged conditions - is higher in at least one flower tissue than in another non-flower tissue , for example the root or the leaves. The expression under control of one of the promoters according to the invention in a flower tissue is preferably at least twice or five times, very particularly preferably at least ten times or fifty times, most preferably at least one hundred times than in another non-flower tissue, for example that Root or the leaves.

"Blossom" generally means a sprout of limited growth, the leaves of which are transformed into reproductive organs. The flower consists of different "flower tissues" such as the sepals (sepals), the petals, the stamens (or dust "vessels"; stamina) or the fruit leaves (carpels). Androeceu is the totality of the stamens in the flower. The stamens are located within the circle of petals or sepals. A stamen is divided into a filament and an anther sitting at the end. This in turn is divided into two counters, which are connected to each other by a connective. Each counter consists of two pollen sacks in which the pollen is formed.

With regard to the expression in the plant flowers, “targeted” preferably means that the expression under control of one of the promoters according to the invention in at least one plant flower tissue is at least ten times, particularly preferably at least fifty times, very particularly preferably at least one hundred times than in one Non-flower tissues such as leaves.

When determining the level of expression, preference is given to using those sequences which code for easily quantifiable proteins. Reporter proteins (Schenborn E, Groskreutz D. (1999) Mol Biotechnol 13 (1): 29-44) such as "green fluorescence protein" (GFP) (Chui WL et al. (1996) Curr Biol 6: 325 -330; Leffel SM et al. (1997) Biotechniques 23 (5): 912-8), chloramphenicol transferase, luciferase (Millar et al. (1992) Plant Mol Biol Rep 10: 324-414), β-glucuronidase or ß-galactosidase. The β-glucuronidase (Jefferson et al. (1987) EMBO J 6: 3901-3907) is very particularly preferred.

"Otherwise unchanged conditions" means that the expression which is initiated by one of the transgenic expression cassettes to be compared is not modified by combination with additional genetic control sequences, for example enhancer sequences. Unchanged conditions also means that all framework conditions such as plant type, development stage of the plants, breeding conditions, assay conditions (such as buffer, temperature, substrates etc.) are kept identical between the expressions to be compared.

Functional equivalents to the ε-cyclase promoter according to

SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 preferably comprises such sequences

a) have essentially the same promoter activity as the ε-cyclase promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 and

b) which have a homology of at least 50%, preferably 70%, preferably at least 80%, particularly preferably at least 90%, very particularly preferably at least 95%, most preferably 99% to the sequence of the ε-cyclase promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8, the homology extending over a length of at least 100 base pairs, preferably at least 200 base pairs, particularly preferably of at least 300 base pairs, very particularly preferably of at least 400 base pairs, most preferably of at least 500 base pairs.

The level of expression of the functional equivalents can differ both downwards and upwards compared to a comparison value. Preference is given to those sequences whose expression level, measured on the basis of the transcribed mRNA or the protein translated as a result, under otherwise unchanged conditions, quantitatively by no more than 50%, preferably 25%, particularly preferably 10%, of a comparison value obtained with those obtained by SEQ ID NO : 1, 7 or 8 described promoters differs. Particularly preferred are those sequences whose expression level, measured on the basis of the transcribed mRNA or the protein translated as a result, under otherwise unchanged conditions, quantitatively by more than 50%, preferably 100%, particularly preferably 500%, very particularly preferably 1000%, is compared with that promoter described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8. Further examples of the functionally equivalent promoter sequences used in the transgenic expression cassettes or transgenic expression vectors according to the invention can be found, for example, in various organisms, the genomic sequence of which is at least partially known, for example

Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Nicotiana tabacum, Solanum tuberosum, Helianthium annuus, Linu sativum or Oryza sativa can be easily found by comparing homology in databases. For this purpose, one can preferably start from the coding regions of the gene whose promoter is described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8. Starting from, for example, the cDNA sequences of these genes described by SEQ ID NO: 9, 11, 13 or 15 or the protein sequence derived from them described by SEQ ID NO: 10, 12, 14 or 16, the corresponding homologous genes - and thus the associated promoter regions - can - can be easily identified in other plant species by screening databases or gene banks (using appropriate gene probes) in the manner familiar to the person skilled in the art.

In a further preferred embodiment, functional equivalents to the ε-cyclase promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 comprise those sequences which are located in a plant organism in the 5 'direction in front of a genomic sequence which are suitable for an ε- Cyclase encoded.

ε-Cyclase generally means all those proteins which have ε-cyclase activity.

Ε-Cyclase activity means the enzyme activity of an ε-cyclase.

An ε-cyclase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert a terminal, linear residue of lycopene into an ε-ionone ring.

In particular, ε-cyclase generally means all those proteins which are capable of catalyzing the ring formation of lycopene to δ-carotene (and possibly further to ε-carotene) and / or of neurospores to α-zeacarotin. The ε-cyclase preferably has an oxidoreductase activity and / or naturally shows a predominant localization in the plastids, in particular the chloroplasts and chromoplasts.

An ε-cyclase is preferably understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert lycopene to δ-carotene. Accordingly, the ε-cyclase activity in understood a certain time by the protein ε-cyclase converted amount of lycopene or amount of δ-carotene formed.

The determination of the ε-cyclase activity in ⁵ genetically modified plants according to the invention and in wild-type or reference plants is preferably carried out under the following conditions:

The ε-cyclase activity can be determined in vitro according to Fräser and Sandmann (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 185 (1) (1992) 9-15) if potassium phosphate is used as a buffer for a certain amount of plant extract (pH 7.6) , Lycopene as substrate, Stromaprotein from paprika, NADP +, NADPH and ATP are added.

• _] _5 The determination of the ε-cyclase activity in genetically modified plants according to the invention and in wild-type or reference plants is carried out particularly preferably according to Bouvier, d'Harlingue and Ca ara (Arch Biochem Biophys 346 (1) (1997) 53-64) : The in vitro assay is carried out in a volume of 0.25 ml. The approach

20 holds 50 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7, 6) different amounts of plant extract, 20 nM lycopene, 0.25 mg of chromoplastic paprika stromal protein, 0.2 mM NADP +, 0.2 mM NADPH and 1 mM ATP. NADP / NADPH and ATP are dissolved in 0.01 ml ethanol with 1 mg Tween 80 immediately before adding to the incubation medium. After a reaction time of 60 minutes at 30 ° C., the reaction is terminated by adding chloroform / methanol (2: 1). The reaction products extracted in chloroform are analyzed by HPLC.

0 An alternative assay with a radioactive substrate is described in Fräser>? Nά- Sandmann (Biochem Biophys Res Comm 185 (1) (1992) 9-15). Another analytical method is described in Beyer, Kröncke and Nievelstein (J Biol Chem 266 (26) (1991) 17072-17078).

5 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, functional equivalents of the ε-cyclase promoter described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 comprise all those promoters which are located in a 5 'direction in front of a genomic sequence in a plant organism which are for encode an ε-cyclase with a homology 0 of at least 60%, preferably at least 80%, particularly preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% to a protein according to SEQ ID NO: 10, 12, 14 or 16, said promoters represent the natural promoter of said genomic sequence. 5 Functional equivalents of the ε-cyclase promoter described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 particularly preferably comprise all those promoters which are located in a plant organism in the 5 'direction in front of a genomic sequence which codes for a nucleic acid sequence thereof derived cDNA has a homology of at least 60%, preferably at least 80%, particularly preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% to the nucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 9, 11, 13 or 15, said promoters being the natural promoter of the represent said genomic sequence and the cDNA codes for an ε-cyclase.

Preferred are promoters which comprise a sequence range of at least 250 base pairs, preferably at least 500 base pairs, particularly preferably 1000 base pairs, most preferably at least 2000 base pairs in the 5 'direction calculated from the ATG start codon of the said genomic sequences.

Functional equivalents of the ε-cyclase promoter are particularly preferred described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 all those promoters which are located in a plant organism in the 5 'direction in front of a genomic sequence which codes for an ε-cyclase that contains at least one of the following sequence motifs:

1 G (G / C) GPAGL (A / S) (V / L) A (SEQ ID NO: 17) 2 (L / I) (N / G / S) RXYG (K / R) (V / L) (SEQ ID NO: 18) 3 MVFMD (Y / W) RD (SEQ ID NO: 19) 4 PTFLY (A / V) M (P / A) (SEQ ID NO: 20) 5 AXMVHP (S / A) TGY (M / S) V (A / V) R (SEQ ID- NO: 21) 6 - WP7S3R (R / K) RQRXFF (SEQ ID NO: - 22)

Functional equivalents of the promoter described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 are those promoters which are located in a plant organism in the 5 'direction in front of a genomic sequence which codes for a protein, the said Protein comprises at least one of the following sequences:

1. the homologous sequence (Hl) from Lactuca sativa according to SEQ ID NO: 24,

2. the homologous sequences (H2 and H3) from Adonis palaestina according to SEQ ID NO: 26 or 28,

3. the homologous sequence (H4) from Arabidopsis thaliana according to SEQ ID NO: 30

4. the homologous sequences (H5 and H6) from Citrus x paradisi according to SEQ ID NO: 32 or 34 5. the homologous sequence (H7) from Citrus sinensis according to SEQ ID NO: 36

6. the homologous sequence (H8) from Spinacea oleracea according to SEQ ID NO: 38 7. the homologous sequence (H9) from Solanum tuberosum according to SEQ ID NO: 40

8. the homologous sequences (H10 and Hll) from Daucus carota according to SEQ ID NO: 42 or 44

9. the homologous sequence (H12) from tomato according to SEQ ID NO: 46

The most preferred functional equivalents of the promoter described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 are those promoters which are located in a plant organism in the 5 'direction in front of a genomic sequence which codes for a nucleic acid sequence whose derived cDNA is at least one of the following sequences, includes:

the homologous sequence (Hl) from Lactuca sativa according to

SEQ ID NO: 23, 2. the homologous sequences (H2 and H3) from Adonis palaestina according to SEQ ID NO: 25 or 27, the homologous sequences (H4) from Arabidopsis thaliana according to

SEQ ID NO: 29 the homologous sequences (H5 and H6) from Citrus x paradisi according to SEQ ID NO: 31 or 33 the homologous sequence (H7) from Citrus sinensis according to

SEQ ID NO: 35 the homologous sequence (H8) from Spinacea oleracea according to

SEQ ID NO: 37 6. The homologous sequence (H9) from Solanum tuberosum according to

.7ΞQ .ID NO: .39 the homologous sequences (H10 and Hll) from Daucus carota according to

SEQ ID NO: 41 or 43 the homologous sequence (H12) from tomato according to SEQ ID NO: 45

Further examples of the functionally equivalent promoter sequences used in the transgenic expression cassettes or transgenic expression vectors according to the invention can be found, for example, in various organisms whose genomic sequence is at least partially known, such as, for example, Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Oryza sativa, Nicotiana tabacu, Solanum tuberosum, Easily find Helianthium annuus, Linum sativum by comparing homology in databases.

Another object of the invention relates to the use of at least one nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof in methods for the identification and / or isolation of promoters of genes coding for said nucleic acid sequence, wherein said nucleic acid sequence codes for an amino acid sequence which comprises at least one sequence motif according to SEQ ID NO: 17, 18, 1 * 9, 20, 21 or 22 or a variation 5 given for these sequence motifs. Said nucleic acid sequence preferably codes for an amino acid sequence comprising a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 or 46. Particularly preferably, said nucleic acid sequence comprises a sequence according to SEQ ID NO : 23, 25, 27, 29, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 or 10 45. With respect to the nucleic acid sequence, "part" preferably means a sequence of at least 10 bases, preferably 15 bases, particularly preferably 20 bases, most preferably 30 bases.

Methods for identification are also included according to the invention

15 and / or isolation of promoters from genes coding for a promoter with specificity for plant flowering, wherein at least one nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof is used in the identification and / or isolation, said nucleic acid sequence for an amino acid sequence

20 encodes, which comprises at least one sequence motif according to SEQ ID NO: 17, 18, .19, 20, 21 or 22 or a variation specified for these sequence motifs. Said nucleic acid sequence preferably codes for an amino acid sequence comprising a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 or 46.

25 Said nucleic acid sequence particularly preferably comprises a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 23, 25, 27, 29, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 or 45. “Part” in relation to the nucleic acid sequence preferably means one Sequence of at least 10 bases, preferably 15 bases, particularly preferably 20 bases, most preferably

30 moves 30 bases. In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is based on the polymerase chain reaction, said nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof being used as a primer.

Various methods are known to the person skilled in the art to identify and isolate the promoter of the corresponding gene on the basis of a nucleic acid sequence (e.g. a gene transcript such as a cDNA). In principle, for example, all methods for amplification are flanking this

40 chromosomal sequences are available. The two most frequently used methods are inverse PCR ("iPCR"; shown schematically in FIG. 13) and "Thermal Asymmetry Interlaced PCR" ("TAIL PCR"). Also suitable is the method of "PCR walking" (Devic et al. (1997) Plant Physiol Biochem

45 35: 331-339). For the "iPCR", genomic DNA of the organism from which the functionally equivalent promoter is to be isolated is completely digested with a given restriction enzyme and then the individual fragments are re-ligated in a diluted batch, ie linked to themselves to form a ring-shaped molecule , The large number of ring-shaped DNA molecules which are formed also contain those which contain the known sequence (for example the sequence coding for the homologous protein). Based on this, the ring-shaped molecule can be amplified by means of PCR using a pair of primers in which both primers can attach to the known sequence section. An example of an embodiment of the "iPCR" is shown in Example 2.

The "TAIL-PCR" is based on the use of, on the one hand, a set of successively shortened, highly specific primers which attach to the known genomic sequence (for example the sequence coding for the homologous protein), and on the other hand a set of shorter random primers with a low melting temperature, so that there is a more sequence-unspecific attachment to the known genomic sequence flanking genomic DNA. The attachment of the primers to the DNA to be amplified can be designed with such a pri combination in such a way that a specific amplification of the desired target sequence is possible. An example of an embodiment of the "TAIL-PCR" is shown in Example 2.

The invention further relates to methods for producing a transgenic expression cassette with specificity for the plant flowers, comprising the following steps:

I. Isolation of a promoter sequence, wherein at least one nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof is used in the isolation, said nucleic acid sequence coding for an amino acid sequence which has at least one sequence motif according to SEQ ID NO: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 or one for this sequence motifs includes specified variation.

II. Functional linkage of said promoter sequence with a further nucleic acid sequence, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is heterologous with respect to the promoter.

Said nucleic acid sequence preferably codes for an amino acid sequence comprising a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 or 46. Particularly preferably, said nucleic acid sequence comprises a sequence according to SEQ ID NO : 23, 25, 27, 29, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 or 45. “Part” in relation to the nucleic acid sequence preferably means a sequence of at least 10 bases, preferably 15 bases, particularly preferably 20 bases, most preferably 30 bases. In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is based on the polymerase chain reaction, said nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof being used as a primer. In the context of the functional linkage, methods known to the person skilled in the art such as ligation etc. can be used (see below).

The level of expression of a functionally equivalent promoter can differ both downwards and upwards compared to the promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8. Preference is given to those sequences whose expression level, measured on the basis of the transcribed mRNA or the protein translated as a result, under otherwise unchanged conditions, quantitatively by no more than 50%, preferably 25%, particularly preferably 10%, of a comparison value obtained with those obtained by SEQ ID NO : 1, 7 or 8 described promoters differs. Particularly preferred are those sequences whose expression level, measured on the basis of the transcribed mRNA or the protein translated as a result, under otherwise unchanged conditions, quantitatively by more than 50%, preferably 100%, particularly preferably 500%, very particularly preferably 1000%, is compared with that promoter described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8. Preferred as a comparison value is the expression level of the mRNAs of an ε-cyclase naturally expressed by the promoter or of the protein resulting therefrom. Also preferred as a comparative value is the level of expression obtained with any, but certain, nucleic acid sequence, preferably those nucleic acid sequences which code for easily quantifiable proteins. Reporter proteins (Schenborn E & Groskreutz D (1999) Mol Biotechnol 13 (l): 29-44) such as the "green fluorescence protein" (GFP) (Chui WL et al. (1996) Curr Biol 6 : 325-330; Leffel SM et al. (1997) Biotechniques. 23 (5): 912-8), chloramphenicol transferase, a luciferase (Millar et al. (1992) Plant Mol Biol Rep 10: 324-414) or the β-glucuronidase, β-glucuronidase is very particularly preferred (Jefferson et al. (1987) EMBO J 6: 3901-3907).

Functional equivalents also include natural or artificial mutations of the promoter sequence described under SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8. Mutations include substitutions, additions, deletions, inversions or insertions of one or more nucleotide residues. Thus, for example, the present invention also includes those nucleotide sequences which can be obtained by modifying the ε-cyclase promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 receives. The aim of such a modification may be to further narrow down the sequence contained therein or, for example, to insert or remove restriction endonuclease interfaces, to remove unnecessary DNA or to add further sequences, for example further regulatory sequences.

Where insertions, deletions or substitutions, e.g. Transitions and transversions, in question, techniques known per se, such as in vitro mutagenesis, primer repair, restriction or ligation can be used. Transition means a base pair exchange of a purine / pyridine pair into another purine / pyrimidine pair (e.g. A-T for G-C). Transversion means a base pair exchange of a purine / pyrimidine pair for a pyrimidine / purine pair (e.g. A-T for T-A). Deletion means the removal of one or more base pairs. Insertion means the introduction of one or more base pairs.

Through manipulations, such as Restriction, chewing-back or filling of overhangs for blunt ends, complementary ends of the fragments can be made available for the ligation. Analogous results can also be obtained using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific oligonucleotide primers.

Homology between two nucleic acids is understood to mean the identity of the nucleic acid sequence over the entire entire length of the sequence, which can be determined by comparison using the program algorithm GAP (Wisconsin Package Version 10.0, University of Wisconsin, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, USA) with the following parameters is calculated:

Gap Weight: 12 Length Weight: 4

Average Match: 2,912 Average Mismatch: -2, 003

By way of example, a sequence which has a homology of at least 50% on a nucleic acid basis with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 is understood to mean a sequence which, when compared with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 according to the above program algorithm with the above parameter set Has at least 50% homology.

Homology between two polypeptides means the identity of the amino acid sequence over the respective sequence length, which can be determined by comparison using the program algorithm GAP (Wisconsin Package Version 10.0, University of Wisconsin, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, USA) using the following parameters:

Gap Weight: 8 Length Weight: 2

Average Match: 2,912 Average Mismatch: -2, 003

By way of example, a sequence which has a homology of at least 60% on a protein basis with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 10 is understood to mean a sequence which, when compared with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 10 according to the above program algorithm with the above parameter set, has a homology of has at least 60%.

Functional equivalents also means DNA sequences which hybridize under standard conditions with the nucleic acid sequence coding for the ε-cyclase promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 or the nucleic acid sequences complementary to it and which have essentially the same promoter properties. The term “standard hybridization conditions” is to be understood broadly and means both stringent and less stringent hybridization conditions. Such hybridization conditions are described, inter alia, in Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T et al., In Molecular Cloning - A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989, pages 9.31-9.57 or in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. described.

For example, the conditions during the washing step can be selected from the range of conditions limited to those with low stringency (with approximately 2X SSC at 50 ° C) and those with high stringency (with approximately 0.2X SSC-bs-i 50 ° C) preferably at 65 ° C) (20X SSC: 0.3 M sodium citrate, 3 M NaCl, pH 7.0). In addition, the temperature during the washing step can be raised from low stringent conditions at room temperature, about 22 ° C, to more stringent conditions at about 65 ° C. Both parameters, salt concentration and temperature, can be varied simultaneously, one of the two parameters can be kept constant and only the other can be varied. Denaturing agents such as formamide or SDS can also be used during hybridization. In the presence of 50% formamide, the hybridization is preferably carried out at 42 ° C. Some exemplary conditions for hybridization and washing steps are given as a result: (1) Hybridization conditions with, for example

a) 4X SSC at 65 ° C, or b) 6X SSC, 0.5% SDS, 100 μg / ml denatured, fragmented salmon sperm DNA at 65 ° C, or c) 4X SSC, 50% formamide, at 42 ° C , or d) 2X or 4X SSC at 50 ° C (weakly stringent condition), or e) 2X or 4X SSC, 30 to 40% formamide at 42 ° C (weakly stringent condition), or f) 6x SSC at 45 ° C , or, g) 0.05 M sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, 2 mM EDTA, 1% BSA and 7% SDS.

(2) washing steps with for example

a) 0.1X SSC at 65 ° C, or b) 0.1X SSC, 0.5% SDS at 68 ° C, or c) 0.1X SSC, 0.5% SDS, 50% formamide at 42 ° C , or d) 0.2X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 42 ° C, or e) 2X SSC at 65 ° C (weakly stringent condition), or f) 40 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, 1% SDS, 2 mM EDTA.

Methods for producing functional equivalents according to the invention preferably include the introduction of mutations into the ε-cyclase promoter according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8. Mutagenesis can be carried out in an undirected ("random") manner, the mutagenized sequences then being based on their Properties are screened after a "trial-and-error" procedure. Particularly advantageous selection criteria include, for example, the level of the resulting expression of the introduced ^ small acid sequence in a flower tissue.

Methods for mutagenizing nucleic acid sequences are known to the person skilled in the art and include, for example, the use of oligonucleotides with one or more mutations in comparison to the region to be mutated (for example as part of a "site-specific utagenesis"). Typically, primers with approximately 15 to approximately 75 nucleotides or more are used, preferably approximately 10 to approximately 25 or more nucleotide residues being located on both sides of the sequence to be changed. The details and implementation of said mutagenesis methods are known to the person skilled in the art (Kunkel et al. (1987) Methods Enzymol 154: 367-382; Tomic et al. (1990) Nucl Acids Res 12: 1656; Upender et al. (1995) Biotechniques 18 (1 ): 29-30; US 4,237,224). Mutagenesis can also be achieved by treating, for example, transgenic expression vectors that contain one of the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention contain, can be realized with mutagenizing agents such as hydroxylamine.

Alternatively, non-essential sequences of a promoter according to the invention can be deleted without significantly impairing the essential properties mentioned. Such deletion variants are functionally equivalent fragments to the promoters described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 or to the equivalent thereof. The restriction of the promoter sequence to certain essential regulatory regions can e.g. using the search routine to search for promoter elements. Certain promoter elements are often abundant in the regions relevant to promoter activity. This analysis can be carried out, for example, with computer programs such as the program PLACE ("Plant Cis-acting Regulatory DNA Elements"; Higo K et al. (1999) Nucl Acids Res 27 (1): 297-300), the BIOBASE database "Transfac" (biological Databases GmbH, Braunschweig; Wingender E et al. (2001) Nucleic Acids Res 29 (l): 281-3) or database PlantCARE (Lescot M et al. (2002) Nucleic Acids Res 30 (l): 325-7) become.

The functionally equivalent fragments of one of the promoters according to the invention - for example the ε-cyclase promoters described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 - preferably comprise at least 200 base pairs, very particularly preferably at least 500 base pairs, most preferably at least 1000 base pairs of the 3 ' -End of the respective promoter according to the invention - for example the promoters described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 -, the length from the translation start ("ATG" codon) being calculated upstream in the 5 'direction.

Further functionally equivalent fragments can be generated, for example, by deleting any 5 'untranslated regions which are still present. For this purpose, the start of transcription of the corresponding genes can be determined by methods familiar to the person skilled in the art (such as 5'-RACE) and the 5'-untranslated can be deleted by PCR-mediated methods or endonuclease digestion. For example, the 5 'untranslated regions included in the promoters according to SEQ ID NO: 7 or 8 can be deleted without the promoter being essential

Functionality loses. Corresponding deletion variants are expressly included as functional equivalents. In transgenic expression cassettes according to the invention, at least one of the promoters according to the invention (for example described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8) is functionally linked xa.it with at least one nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically.

A functional link is understood to mean, for example, the sequential arrangement of one of the promoters according to the invention (described, for example, by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8) with a nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically and, if appropriate, further genetic control sequences such as, for example, a terminator or a polyadenylation sequence of this kind that the promoter can fulfill its function in the transgenic expression of the nucleic acid sequence under suitable conditions and the expression of the nucleic acid sequence (ie transcription and, if necessary, translation) takes place. "Suitable conditions" preferably means the presence of the expression cassette in a plant cell, preferably a plant cell encompassed by a plant flower.

Arrangements are preferred in which the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically is positioned behind one of the promoters according to the invention (e.g. described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8), so that both sequences are covalently linked to one another. The distance between the promoter sequence and the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically is preferably less than 200 base pairs, particularly preferably less than 100 base pairs, very particularly preferably less than 50 base pairs.

The creation of a functional link as well

Production of a transgenic expression can be achieved using common recombination and cloning techniques, such as those described in Maniatis T, Fritsch EF and Sambrook J (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor ( NY), in Silhavy TJ, Berman ML and Enquist LW (1984) Experiments with Gene Fusions, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor (NY) and in Ausubel FM et al. (1987) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Interscience. However, further sequences can also be positioned between the two sequences, which for example have the function of a linker with certain restriction enzyme interfaces or a signal peptide. The insertion of sequences can also lead to the expression of fusion proteins. The transgenic expression construct, consisting of a linkage of promoter and nucleic acid sequence to be expressed, can preferably be integrated are present in a vector and can be inserted into a plant genome by, for example, transformation.

However, an expression cassette is also to be understood to mean those constructions in which one of the promoters according to the invention (described, for example, by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8), without it having first been functionally linked to a nucleic acid sequence to be expressed, for example is introduced via a targeted homologous recombination or a random insertion into a host genome, takes over regulatory control over endogenous nucleic acid sequences then functionally linked to it and controls the transgenic expression thereof. By inserting the promoter - for example by homologous recombination - in front of a nucleic acid coding for a specific polypeptide, an expression cassette according to the invention is obtained which specifically controls the expression of the specific polypeptide in the plant flower. For example, the natural promoter of an endogenous gene can also be exchanged for one of the promoters according to the invention (e.g. described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8) and the expression behavior of the endogenous gene can be modified in this way.

Furthermore, the insertion of the promoter can also take place in such a way that antisense RNA or a double-stranded RNA (e.g. in the form of an inverted "repeat") is expressed to the nucleic acid coding for a specific polypeptide. This selectively down-regulates or switches off the expression of the particular polypeptide in the plant flower.

Analogously, a nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically - for example by an '-h-iαologic recombination - can code behind the sequence for one of the promoters according to the invention (for example described by SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8) which is in its natural chromosomal Context is placed so that an expression cassette according to the invention is obtained which controls the expression of the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically in the plant flower.

The transgenic expression cassettes according to the invention can comprise further genetic control sequences. The term “genetic control sequences” is to be understood broadly and means all those sequences which have an influence on the formation or the function of a transgenic expression cassette according to the invention. Genetic control sequences modify, for example, transcription and translation in prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms. The transgenic expression cassettes according to the invention preferably comprise 3 ′ downstream a terminator sequence as an additional genetic control sequence, as well as, if appropriate, other customary regulatory elements, each functionally linked to the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically from the respective nucleic acid sequence to be expressed.

Genetic control sequences also include further promoters, promoter elements or minimal promoters that can modify the expression-controlling properties. Genetic control sequences can, for example, also result in tissue-specific expression depending on certain stress factors. Corresponding elements are, for example, for water stress, abscisic acid (La E and Chua NH, J Biol Chem 1991; 266 (26): 17131-17135) and heat stress (Schoffl F et al. (1989) Mol Gen Genetics 217 (2- 3): 246-53).

Furthermore, further promoters can be functionally linked to the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed, which enable transgenic expression in other plant tissues or in other organisms, such as E. coli bacteria. In principle, all promoters which are functional in plants are suitable as promoters. 'Promoters which are functional in plants basically mean any promoter which can control the expression of genes, in particular foreign genes, in plants or plant parts, cells, tissues or crops. The expression can be constitutive, inducible or development-dependent, for example.

Constitutive promoters, tissue-specific, are preferred

Promoters, development-dependent promoters, chemically inducible stress-inducible or pathogen-inducible promoters. Corresponding promoters - s-inci- '<2eaι expert generally known.

Further advantageous control sequences can be found, for example, in the promoters of gram-positive bacteria such as amy and SP02 or in the yeast or fungal promoters ADCl, MFa, AC, P-60, CYCl, GAPDH, TEF, rp28, ADH.

In principle, all natural promoters with their regulatory sequences such as those mentioned above can be used for the method according to the invention. In addition, synthetic promoters can also be used advantageously.

Genetic control sequences also include the 5'-untranslated regions, introns or non-coding 3 'regions of genes, such as the actin-1 intron, or the Adhl-S

Introns 1, 2 and 6 (general: The Maize Handbook, Chapter 116, Freeling and Walbot, Eds., Springer, New York (1994)) of the genes with the locus At2g46720, At3g01980 and Atlg63140 from Arabidopsis thaliana. It can be shown that such regions can play a significant role in the regulation of gene expression. It has been shown that 5'-untranslated sequences can increase the transient expression of heterologous genes. An example of translation enhancers is the 5 'leader sequence from the tobacco mosaic virus (Gallie et al. (1987) Nucl Acids Res 15: 8693-8711) and the like. They can also promote tissue specificity (Rouster J et al. (1998) Plant J 15: 435-440). The nucleic acid sequences given under SEQ ID NO: 2, 7 or 8 each represent the promoter region and the 5 'untranslated regions up to the ATG start codon of the respective genes.

The transgenic expression construct can advantageously contain one or more so-called "enhancer sequences" functionally linked to the promoter, which enable increased transgenic expression of the nucleic acid sequence. Additional advantageous sequences, such as further regulatory elements or terminators, can also be inserted at the 3 'end of the nucleic acid sequences to be expressed transgenically. The nucleic acid sequences to be expressed transgenically can be contained in one or more copies in the gene construct.

Polyadenylation signals suitable as control sequences are plant polyadenylation signals, preferably those which essentially contain T-DNA polyadenylation signals from Agrobacterium turne faciens. Examples of particularly suitable terminator sequences are the OCS (octopine synthase) terminator and the NOS (nopalin synthase) terminator.

Control sequences are also to be understood as those which enable homologous recombination or insertion into the genome of a host organism or which allow removal from the genome. In homologous recombination, for example, the coding sequence of a specific endogenous gene can be specifically exchanged for the sequence coding for a dsRNA. Methods such as cre / lox technology allow tissue-specific, possibly inducible removal of the transgenic expression construct from the genome of the host organism (Sauer B (1998) Methods 14 (4).-381-92). Here certain flanking sequences are added to the target gene (lox sequences), which later enable removal using the cre recombinase.

A transgenic expression cassette and / or the transgenic expression vectors derived from it can contain further functional elements. The term functional element is to be broadly understood and means all those elements which have an influence on the production, multiplication or function of the transgenic expression constructs according to the invention, the transgenic expression vectors or the transgenic organisms. Examples include, but are not limited to:

a) Selection markers which are resistant to biocides such as metabolism inhibitors (for example 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate; WO 98/45456), antibiotics (for example kanamycin, G 418, bleomycin, hygro ycin) or - preferably - herbicides (for example phosphinotricin ) to lend. Examples of selection markers are: phosphinothricin acetyltransferases (bar and pat gene), which inactivate glutamine synthase inhibitors, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthases (EPSP synthase genes), which confer resistance to Glyphosate ^® (N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine) Glyphosat ^® degrading enzymes (gox gene product; glyphosate oxidoreductase), dehalogenases which inactivate, for example, dalapon (deh gene product), sulfonylurea and imidazolinone inactivating acetolactate synthases and nitrilases which, for example, degrade bromoxynil (bxn gene product), the aasa gene product Resistance to the antibiotic apectinomycin, streptomycin phosphotransferases (SPT), which confer resistance to streptomycin, neomycin phosphotransferases (NPTII), which confer resistance to kanamycin or geneticidin, that

Hygromycin phosphotransferases (HPT), which confer resistance to hygromycin, acetolactate synthases (ALS), which confer resistance to sulfonylurea herbicides (e.g. mutated ALS variants with, for example, the S4 and / or Hra mutation).

b) reporter genes which code for easily quantifiable proteins and which, by means of their own color or enzyme activity, ensure an evaluation of the transformation efficiency or of the location or time of expression. Reporter proteins (Schenborn E, Groskreutz D. Mol Biotechnol. 1999; 13 (1): 29-44) such as the "green fluorescence protein" (GFP) (Sheen et al. (1995) Plant Journal 8 (5): 777-784), the chloramphenicol transferase, a luciferase (Ow et al. (1986) Science 234: 856-859), the aequorin gene (Prasher et al. (1985) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 126 (3): 1259-1268), the β-galactosidase, the β-glucuronidase being very particularly preferred (Jefferson et al. (1987) EMBO J 6: 3901-3907). c) origins of replication, which ensure an increase in the transgenic expression constructs or transgenic expression vectors according to the invention in, for example, E. coli. Examples are ORI (origin of DNA replication), the pBR322 ori or the P15A ori (Sambrook et al .: Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, ^2nd ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 1989).

d) Elements which are required for an agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, such as, for example, the right or left border of the T-DNA or the vir region.

In the context of the invention, “insertion” comprises all methods which are suitable for directly or indirectly inserting a nucleic acid sequence (for example an expression cassette according to the invention) into an organism (for example a plant) or a cell, compartment, tissue, organ or propagation material ( to introduce or generate seeds or fruits) of the same. Direct and indirect procedures are included. The introduction can lead to a temporary (transient) presence of said

Nucleic acid sequence or lead to a permanent (stable). Introducing includes, for example, methods such as transfection, transduction or transformation. Depending on the host organism, the organisms used in the processes are grown or cultivated in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

The introduction of a transgenic expression cassette according to the invention into an organism or cells, tissues, organs, parts or seeds of the same (preferably into plants or plant cells, tissues, organs, parts or seeds) can advantageously be carried out using vectors, in which the transgenic expression cassettes are contained. Vectors can be, for example, plasmids, cosmids, phages, viruses or even agrobacteria. The transgenic expression cassettes can be inserted into the vector (preferably a plasmid vector) via a suitable restriction site. The resulting vector can first be introduced into E. coli and amplified. Correctly transformed E. coli are selected, grown and the recombinant vector obtained using methods familiar to the person skilled in the art. Restriction analysis and sequencing can be used to check the cloning step. Preferred vectors are those which enable stable integration of the expression cassette into the host genome.

The production of a transformed organism (or a transformed cell or tissue) requires that the corresponding DNA (eg the expression vector) or RNA be incorporated into the appropriate host cell is introduced. A large number of methods are available for this process, which is referred to as transformation (or transduction or transfection) (Keown et al. (1990) Methods in Enzymology 185: 527-537). For example, the DNA or RNA can be introduced directly by microinjection or by bombardment with DNA-coated microparticles. The cell can also be chemically permeabilized, for example with polyethylene glycol, so that the DNA can get into the cell by diffusion. The DNA can also be obtained by protoplast fusion with other DNA-containing units such as minicells, cells, lysosomes or liposomes. Electroporation is another suitable method for introducing DNA, in which the cells are reversibly permeabilized by an electrical impulse. Appropriate methods are described (for example in Bilang et al. (1991) Gene 100: 247-250; Scheid et al. (1991) Mol Gen Genet 228: 104-112; Guerche et al. (1987) Plant Science 52: 111- 116; Neuhause et al. (1987) Theor Appl Genet 75: 30-36; Klein et al. (1987) Nature 327: 70-73; Howell et al. (1980) Science 208: 1265; Horsch et al. (1985 ) Science 227: 1229-1231; DeBlock et al. (1989) Plant Physiology 91: 694-701; Methods for Plant Molecular Biology (Weissbach and Weissbach, eds.) Academic Press Inc. (1988); and Methods in Plant Molecular Biology (Schuler and Zielinski, eds.) Academic Press Inc. (1989)).

Preferred vectors for expression in E. coli are pQE70, pQE60 and pQE-9 (QIAGEN, Inc.); pBluescript vectors, Phagescript vectors, pNH8A, pNHlδa, pNH18A, pNH46A (Stratagene Cloning Systems, Inc.); ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5 (Pharmacia Biotech, Inc.).

Preferred vectors for expression in mammalian cells include pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXTl and pSG (Stratagene Inc.); pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL (Pharmacia Biotech, Inc.). Examples of inducible vectors are pTet-tTak, pTet-Splice, pcDNA4 / TO, pcDNA4 / TO / LacZ, pcDNA6 / TR, pcDNA4 / T0 / Myc-His / LacZ, pcDNA4 / TO / Myc-His A, pcDNA4 / TO / Myc -His B, pcDNA4 / TO / Myc-His C, pVgRXR (Invitrogen, Inc.) or the pMAM series (Clontech, Inc .; GenBank Accession No.: U02443). These already provide the inducible regulatory control element, for example for chemical, inducible expression.

Vectors for expression in yeast include, for example, pYES2, pYDl, pTEFl / Zeo, pYES2 / GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ, pGAPZalph, pPIC9, pPIC3.5, PHIL-D2, PHIL-SI, pPIC3SK, pPIC9K, and PA0 In15 (Invitrogen .). Cloning vectors and techniques for the genetic manipulation of ciliates and algae are known to the person skilled in the art (WO 98/01572; Falciatore et al. (1999) Marine Biotechnology 1 (3): 239-251; Dunahay et al. (1995) J Phycol 31: 10004 -1012).

In principle, processes similar to those for the "direct" transformation of plant cells are to be used for the transformation of animal cells or of yeast cells. In particular, methods such as the transformation mediated by calcium phosphate or liposomes or else electroporation are preferred.

Various methods and vectors for introducing genes into the genome of plants and for regenerating plants from plant tissues or plant cells are known (Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida), Chapter 6/7, pp. 71-119 (1993); White FF (1993) Vectors for Gene Transfer in Higher Plants; in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, ed.: Kung and Wu R, Academic Press, 15-38; Jenes B et al. (1993) Techniques for Gene Transfer, in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, ed .: Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press, S.128-143; Potrykus (1991) Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Molec Biol 42: 205-225; Haiford NG, Shewry PR (2000) Br Med Bull 56 (1): 62-73). Examples include those mentioned above. In plants, the methods described for the transformation and regeneration of plants from plant tissues or plant cells for transient or stable transformation are used. Suitable methods are above all the protoplast transformation by polyethylene glycol-induced DNA uptake, calcium phosphate-mediated transformation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transformation, lipo-εoift-mediated transformation (Freeman et al. (1984) Plant Cell Physiol. 29: 1353ff; US 4,536,475), biolistic methods with the gene cannon ("particle bombardment" method; US 5,100,792; EP-A 0 444 882; EP-A 0 434 616; Fromm ME et al. (1990) Bio / Technology 8 ( 9): 833-9; Gordon-Kamm et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2: 603), electroporation, the incubation of dry embryos in DNA-containing solution, electroporation (EP-A 290 395, WO 87/06614), Microinjection (WO 92/09696, WO 94/00583, EP-A 0 331 083, EP-A 0 175 966) or other methods of direct DNA introduction (DE 4 005 152, WO 90/12096, US 4,684,611). An overview of the physical methods of introducing DNA into plant cells is presented in Oard (1991) Biotech Adv 9: 1-11.

In the case of these "direct" transformation methods, there are no special requirements for the plasmid used.

Simple plasmids such as those of the pUC series, pBR322, M13mp series, pA-CYC184 etc. can be used. Should be whole plants regenerated from the transformed cells, it is necessary that there is an additional selectable marker gene on the plasmid.

In addition to these "direct" transformation techniques, a transformation can also be carried out by bacterial infection using an agrobacterium (for example EP 0 116 718), viral infection using viral vectors (EP 0 067 553; US 4,407,956; WO 95/34668; WO 93/03161) or using pollen (EP 0 270 356; WO 85/01856; US 4,684,611).

The transformation is preferably carried out using agrobacteria which contain "disarmed" Ti plasmid vectors, the natural ability of which for gene transfer to plants to be used (EP-A 0 270 355; EP-A 0 116 718).

Agrobacterium transformation is widely used for the transformation of dicotyledons, but is also increasingly being applied to monocotyledons (Toriyama et al. (1988) Bio / Technology 6: 1072-1074; Zhang et al. (1988) Plant Cell Rep 7: 379-384; Zhang et al. (1988) Theor Appl Genet 76: 835-840; Shimamoto et al. (1989) Nature 338: 274-276; Datta et al. (1990) Bio / Technology 8: 736-740; Christou et al. (1991) Bio / Technology 9: 957-962; Peng et al. (1991) International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines 563-574; Cao et al. (1992) Plant Cell Rep 11: 585-591 ; Li et al. (1993) Plant Cell Rep 12: 250-255; Rathore et al. (1993) Plant Mol Biol 21: 871-884; Fromm et al. (1990) Bio / Technology 8: 833-839; Gordon -Kamm et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2: 603-618; D'Halluin et al. (1992) Plant Cell 4: 1495-1505; Walters et al. (1992) Plant Mol Biol 18: 189-200; Koziel et al. (1993) Bio-sciences 11: 194-200; Vasil IK (1994) Plant Mol Biol 25: .925-93-7- Weeks et al. (1993) Plant Physiol 102: 1077- 1084; So ers et al. (1992) Bio / Technology 10: 1589-1594; WO 92/14828; Hiei et al. (1994) Plant J 6: 271-282).

The strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens or Agrobacterium rhizogenes mostly used for Agrobacterium transformation contain a plasmid (Ti or Ri plasmid) which is transferred to the plant after Agrobacterium infection. Part of this plasmid, called T-DNA (transferred DNA), is integrated into the genome of the plant cell. Alternatively, binary vectors (mini-Ti plasmids) can also be transferred to plants by Agrobacterium and integrated into their genome.

The use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens for the transformation of plants using tissue culture explants has been described (inter alia Horsch RB et al. (1985) Science 225: 1229ff .; Fraley et al. (1983) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 80: 4803-4807; Bevans et al. (1983) Nature 304: 184-187). Many strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens are able to transfer genetic material - for example the 5 expression cassettes according to the invention - such as the strains

EHA101 [pEHAl01], EHA105 [pEHA105], LBA4404 [pAL4404], C58Cl [pMP90] and C58Cl [pGV2260] (Hood et al. (1993) Transgenic Res 2: 208-218; Hoekema et al. (1983) Nature 303: 179-181; Koncz and Schell (1986) Gen Genet 204: 383-396; Deblaere et al. (1985) Nucl Acids Res 13: 10 4777-4788).

If agrobacteria are used, the expression cassette is to be integrated into special plasmids, either into an intermediate vector (English: shuttle or intermediate vector) or one

15 binary vector. Binary vectors which can replicate both in E. coli and in Agrobacterium are preferably used. They usually contain a selection marker gene and a linker or polylinker, flanked by the right and left T-DNA restriction sequences. They can be transformed directly into Agrobacterium 0 (Holsters et al. (1978) Mol Gen Genet

163: 181-187). The agrobacterium which acts as the host organism in this case should already contain a plasmid with the vir region. This is necessary for the transfer of T-DNA to the plant cell. An agrobacterium 5 transformed in this way can be used to transform plant cells. The use of T-DNA for the transformation of plant cells has been intensively investigated and described (EP-A 0 120 516; Hoekema, In: The Binary Plant Vector System, Offsetdrukkerij Kanters BV, Alblasserdam, Chapter V; An et al. (1985) EMBO J 4: 277-287). Encryption 0 different binary vectors are known and partially commercially available ^• as for example, pBI101.2 or pBIN19 (Clontech Laboratories, Inc. USA; Bevan et al (1984) Nucl Acids Res. 12: 8711th), pBinAR, pPZP200 or pPTV ,

5 The agrobacteria transformed with such a vector can then be used in a known manner for the transformation of plants, in particular crop plants, such as, for example, oilseed rape, for example by bathing wounded leaves or leaf pieces in an agrobacterial solution and then cultivating them in suitable media , The transformation of plants by agrobacteria is described (White FF (1993) Vectors for Gene Transfer in Higher Plants; in Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, edited by SD Kung and R Wu, Academic Press, pp. 15-38 ; Jenes B et al. (1993) Techniques for 5 Gene Transfer, in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, edited by SD Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press, S.128-143; Potrykus (1991) Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Molec Biol 42: 205-225). From the transformed cells of the wounded leaves or leaf pieces, transgenic plants can be regenerated in a known manner, which plants contain the above-described expression systems according to the invention.

Stably transformed cells (i.e. those that contain the inserted DNA integrated into the DNA of the host cell) can be selected from untransformed ones if a selectable marker is part of the inserted DNA. Any gene that can confer resistance to a biocide (for example an antibiotic or herbicide (see above) can act as a marker, for example). Transformed cells which express such a marker gene are able, in the presence of concentrations, of a The selection marker allows the selection of transformed cells from untransformed ones (McCorick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5: 81-84). The plants obtained can be cultivated and crossed in the customary manner Two or more generations should be cultivated to ensure that genomic integration is stable and inheritable.

Once a transformed plant cell has been made, a complete plant can be obtained using methods known to those skilled in the art. For example, callus cultures, individual cells (e.g. protoplasts) or leaf disks are used here (Vasil et al. (1984) Cell Culture and Somatic Cel Genetics of Plants, Vol I, II and III, Laboratory Procedures and Their Applications, Academic Press; Weissbach and Weissbach (1989) Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press). From these still undifferentiated callus cell masses. can the..BilcTut ^ - be induced by shoot and root in a known manner. The sprouts obtained can be planted out and grown. Appropriate methods have been described (Fennell et al. (1992) Plant Cell Rep. 11: 567-570; Stoeger et al (1995) Plant Cell Rep. 14: 273-278; Jahne et al. (1994) Theor Appl Genet 89: 525-533).

The effectiveness of the expression of the transgenically expressed nucleic acids can be determined, for example, in vitro by increasing the shoot meristem using one of the selection methods described above. In addition, a change in the type and level of expression of a target gene and the effect on the phenotype of the plant on test plants can be tested in greenhouse experiments. Another object of the invention relates to transgenic organisms, transformed with at least one expression cassette according to the invention or a vector according to the invention, as well as cells, cell cultures, tissues, parts - such as leaves, roots etc. in plant organisms - or propagation material derived from such organisms.

Organism, starting or host organisms are understood to mean prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms, such as, for example, microorganisms or plant organisms. Preferred microorganisms are bacteria, yeast, algae or fungi.

Preferred bacteria are bacteria of the genus Escherichia, Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Bacillus or Cyanobacteria, for example of the genus Synechocystis and others in Brock Biology of Microorganisms Eighth Edition on pages A-8, A-9, A10 and All described types of bacteria.

Particularly preferred are microorganisms which are capable of infecting plants and thus of transmitting the constructs according to the invention. Preferred microorganisms are those from the genus Agrobacterium and in particular from the type Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Particularly preferred microorganisms are those which are used to produce toxins (for example botulinum toxin), pigments (for example carotenoids or flavonoids), antibiotics (for example penicillin), phenylpropanoids (for example tocopherol), polyunsaturated fatty acids (for example arachidonic acid) or vitamins (for example vitamin B12) are qualified.

• Preferred yeasts are Oandida, Saccharomyces, Hansenula • <Ä *> 3_ "Pichia.

Preferred mushrooms are Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Ashbya, Neurospora, Fusarium, Beauveria or others in Indian Chem Engr. Section B. Vol 37, No 1,2 (1995) on page 15, Table 6 described mushrooms.

Host or parent organisms preferred as transgenic organisms are primarily plant organisms. "Plant organism or cells derived therefrom" generally means any cell, tissue, part or propagation material (such as seeds or fruits) of an organism capable of photosynthesis. Included in the scope of the invention are all genera and species of higher and lower plants in the plant kingdom. Annual, perennial, monocot and dicot plants are preferred.

"Plant" in the context of the invention means all genera and species of higher and lower plants in the plant kingdom. Included under the term are the mature plants, seeds, shoots and seedlings, as well as parts derived from them, propagation material (e.g. tubers, seeds or fruits), plant organs, tissues, protoplasts, callus and other cultures, e.g. row or callus cultures, as well all other types of groupings of plant cells into functional or structural units. Mature plants mean plants at any stage of development beyond the seedling. Seedling means a young, immature plant at an early stage of development.

Plant organisms in the sense of the invention are further photosynthetically active organisms, such as algae, cyanobacteria and mosses. Preferred algae are green algae, such as algae of the genus Haematococcus,

Phaedactylum tricornatum, Volvox or Dunaliella. Synechocystis, Chlamydomonas and Scenedesmus are particularly preferred.

In the context of the method according to the invention, plant organisms in particular are preferably selected from the group of flowering plants (Phylum anthophyta "Angiospenαen'H _" '.'"All annual and perennial, monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants are included. The plant is preferably selected from the following plant families: Amaranthaceae , Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaeeae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Labiatae, Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Liliaceae, Linaceae, Malvaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Scifragaceaeaeaea, Saxifraga- aceaeaeae, Saxifraga- aceaeaeae The invention is particularly preferably applied to dicotyledonous plant organisms. Preferred dicotyledonous plants are selected in particular from the dicotyledonous crop plants, such as, for example, the following

1) Category: Dicotyledonae (dicotyledons). Preferred families:

- Aceraceae (maples)

- Cactaceae (cacti)

- Rosaceae (roses, apples, almonds, strawberries)

- Salicaceae (willows)

- Asteraeeae (Compositae) especially the genus Lactuea, especially the species sativa (lettuce), as well as sunflower, dandelion, tagetes or calendula and others,

- Crueiferae (Brassicaceae), especially the genus Brassica, especially the species napus (rape), campestris (turnip), oleracea (e.g. cabbage, cauliflower or broccoli and other types of cabbage); and the genus Arabidopsis, especially the species thaliana as well as cress, radish, canola and others,

- Cucurbitaceae such as melon, pumpkin, cucumber or zucchini and others,

- Leguminosae (Fabaceae) especially the genus Glycine, especially the type max (soybean) soybean as well as A3 f lfa, pea, bean family, lupine or peanut and others,

- Malvaceae in particular mallow, cotton, edible marshmallow, hibiscus and others,

Rubiaceae, preferably of the subclass Lamiidae such as Coffea arabica or Coffea liberica (coffee bush) and others,

- Solanaceae, especially the genus Lycopersicon, especially the species esculentum (tomato) and the genus Solanum, especially the species tuberosum (potato) and melongena (eggplant) and the genus Capsicum, especially the species annum (paprika), and tobacco, Petunia and others, Sterculiaceae, preferably of the subclass Dilleniidae such as Theobroma cacao (cocoa bush) and others,

Theaceae, preferably of the subclass Dilleniidae, such as, for example, Camellia sinensis or Thea sinensis (tea bush) and others,

- Umbelliferae (Apiaceae), especially the genus Daucus (especially the species carota (carrot)), Apium (especially the species graveolens dulce (celery)) as well as parsley and others;

as well as flax, hemp, flax, spinach, carrot, sugar beet and the various types of trees, nuts and wines, especially banana and kiwi.

However, monocot plants are also suitable. These are preferably selected from the monocotyledonous crop plants, such as, for example, the families

- Arecaceae (palm trees)

- Bromeliaceae (pineapple, Spanish moss)

- Cyperaceae (sedge)

- Liliaceae (lilies, tulips, hyacinths, onions, garlic) - Orchidaceae (orchids)

- Poaceae (grasses, bamboos, corn, sugar cane, wheat)

- Iridaceae (irises, gladiolus, crocuses)

Gramineae such as rice, corn, wheat or other types of cereals such as barley, millet, rye, triticale or oats 'and sugar cane' and all types are very particularly preferred. of grasses.

In the context of the expression cassette according to the invention, the expression of a specific nucleic acid by a promoter with specificity for plant flowering can lead to the formation of sense RNA, antisense RNA or double-stranded RNA in the form of an inverse repeat (dsRNAi). As a result, the sense RNA can be translated into certain polypeptides. With the antisense RNA and dsRNAi, the expression of certain genes can be downregulated.

The method of gene regulation using double-stranded RNA ("double-stranded RNA interference"; dsRNAi) has been described many times in animal and plant organisms (e.g. Matzke MA et al. (2000) Plant Mol Biol 43: 401-415; Fire A et al ( 1998) Nature 391: 806-811; WO 99/32619; WO 99/53050; WO 00/68374; WO 00/44914; WO 00/44895; WO 00/49035; WO 00/63364). On the The procedures and methods described in the quotations are expressly incorporated by reference.

The specificity of the expression constructs and vectors according to the invention for plant flowers is particularly advantageous. The flower has a function in attracting beneficial insects through pigment storage or synthesis of volatile chemicals.

The plant's natural defense mechanisms, for example against pathogens, are often inadequate. The introduction of foreign genes from plants, animals, or microbial sources can strengthen the immune system. Examples are protection against insect damage in tobacco by expression of the Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin (Vaeck et al. (1987) Nature 328: 33-37) or protection of the tobacco against fungal attack by expression of a chitinase from the bean (Broglie et al. (1991 Science 254: 1194-1197).

Cold spells during the flowering period lead to considerable crop losses each year. A targeted expression of protective proteins specifically in the flowering period can provide protection.

For a high efficiency of such genetic engineering approaches, concentrated expression of the corresponding nucleic acid sequence to be expressed transgenically is particularly advantageous in the petals of the flower. A constitutive expression in the entire plant can question the effect, for example by dilution, or impair the growth of the plant or the quality of the plant product. In addition, constitutive expression can increasingly turn off the transgene ("gene silencing").

Promoters with specificity for flowering are advantageous for this. A large number of proteins are known to the person skilled in the art, the recombinant expression of which in flower is advantageous. Furthermore, a large number of genes are known to the person skilled in the art, by means of their repression or elimination by means of expression of a corresponding antisense RNA, advantageous effects can also be achieved. Examples include, but are not limited to, advantageous effects: achieving resistance to abiotic stress factors (heat, cold, dryness, increased humidity, environmental toxins, UV radiation) and biotic stress factors (pathogens, viruses, insects and diseases), improving Food or feed properties, improving the growth rate or yield, achieving a longer or earlier flowering period, changing or intensifying the fragrance or color of the flowers. For the nucleic acid sequences or which can be used in these applications Polypeptides may be mentioned as examples, but not by way of limitation:

1. Improved UV protection of plant flowers by changing the pigmentation by expressing certain polypeptides such as enzymes or regulators of flavonoid biosynthesis (eg chalcone synthases, phenylalanine ammonium lyases), DNA repair (eg photolyases; Sakamoto A et al. (1998) DNA Seq 9 (5-6): 335-40), isoprenoid biosynthesis (eg deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate synthases), IPP synthesis or carotenoid biosynthesis (eg phytoene synthases, phytoene desaturases, lycopene cyclases, hydroxylases or ketolases). Preferred nucleic acids are those for the chalcone synthase from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc.-No .: M20308), the 6-4 photolyase from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc.-No.: BAB00748) or the

Encode blue light photoreceptor / photolyase homolog (PHHl) from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc.-No .: U62549) or functional equivalents thereof.

2. Improved protection of the plant flower against abiotic stress factors such as drought, heat or cold, for example by overexpression of the "antifreeze" polypeptides (e.g. from Myoxocephalus Scorpius; WO 00/00512), the Arabidopsis thaliana transcription activator CBFl, glutamate dehydrogenases ( WO 97/12983, WO 98/11240), a late one

Embryogenesis genes (LEA) for example from barley (WO 97/13843), calcium-dependent protein kinase genes (WO 98/26045), calcine neurins (WO 99/05902), farnesyltransferases (WO 99/06580; Pei ZM et al. (1998 ) Science 282: 287-290), Ferritin (Deak M et al. (1999) Nature Biotechnology 17: 192-196), Oxalatoxidase (WO 99/04013; Dunwell JM (1998) Biotechnology- and Genetic Engeneering Reviews 15: 1- 32), DREBIA factor (dehydration response element B 1A; Kasuga M et al. (1999) Nature Biotechnology 17: 276-286), genes of mannitol or trehalose synthesis (e.g. trehalose phosphate synthases; trehalose phosphate phosphatases, WO 97/42326 ); or by inhibiting genes such as trehalase (WO 97/50561). Nucleic acids which are particularly preferred are those for the transcriptional activator CBF1 from Arabidopsis thaliana (Gen-Bank Acc.-No .: U77378) or the "antifreeze" protein from Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus (GenBank Acc.-No .: AF306348) or functional equivalents encode them.

3. Achieving resistance to fungi, insects, nematodes and diseases, for example, through the targeted secretion or accumulation of certain metabolites or proteins in the flower. Glucosinolates (nematode defense), chitinases or glucanases and other enzymes that destroy the cell wall of parasites, ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) and other proteins of the plant resistance and stress reaction, such as those caused by injury or microbial attack on plants or chemically by Example, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid or ethylene can be induced, lysozymes from non-plant sources such as, for example, T4 lysozyme or lysozm from various mammals, insecticidal proteins such as Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin, α-amylase inhibitor or protease inhibitors (cowpea trypsin inhibitor), glucanases, lectins Phytohemagglutinin, snowdrop lectin, wheat germ agglutinin), RNAsen or ribozymes. Nucleic acids which are particularly preferred are those for the chit42 endochitinase from Trichoderma harzianum (GenBank Acc.-No .: S78423) or for the N-hydroxylating, multifunctional cytochrome P-450 (CYP79) from Sorghum bicolor (GenBank Acc.-No .: U32624 ) or encode functional equivalents thereof.

4. Achieving insect defense or attraction, for example by increasing the release of volatile fragrance or messenger substances, for example by enzymes of terpene biosynthesis.

5. Achieving a storage capacity in flower tissues that normally do not contain any storage proteins or lipids with the aim of increasing the yield of these substances, e.g. by expression of an acetyl-CoA carboxylase or enzymes for the esterification of metabolites. Preference is given to nucleic acids which code for Medicago sativa acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Accase) (GenBank Acc.-No .: L25042) or functional equivalents thereof.

6. Expression of transport proteins which improve the uptake of metabolites, nutrients or water into the flower and thus optimize the flower growth, the metabolite composition or the yield, for example by expression of an amino acid transporter which accelerates the uptake of amino acids or a monosaccharide transporter that promotes the absorption of sugars. Preferred nucleic acids are those for the cationic amino acid transporter from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc.-No .: X92657) or for the monosaccharide transporter from Arabidopsis thaliana (Gen-Bank Acc.-No .: AJ002399) or functional equivalents encode them. 7. Expression of genes which cause an accumulation of fine chemicals, such as tocopherols, tocotrienols, phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids or carotenoids, in the flower. Examples include the deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate syntases, phytoene synthases, lycopene-β-cyclases and the β-carotene ketolases. Preference is given to nucleic acids which code for the Haematoccus pluvialis NIES-144 (Acc. No. D45881) ketolase or functional equivalents thereof.

8. Modification of wax ester formation or the composition of the stored oligosaccharides to improve protection against environmental influences or to improve digestibility when used in feed or food. The overexpression of endoxyloglucan tr n-ferase may be mentioned as an example. Preferred nucleic acids are those for

Encode Arabidopsis thaliana endo-xyloglucan transferase (EXGT-Al) (Gen-Bank Acc.-No .: AF163819} or encode functional equivalents thereof.

9. Expression of genes, DNA binding proteins, dsRNA and antisense constructions, to change the flower morphology, the time of flowering and flower senescence as well as the flower metabolism. Constructions that increase the number of petals are preferred, e.g. by downregulating AGAMOUS and its homologous genes (Yanofsky MF et al. (1990) Nature 346: 35-39) by downregulating FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) (Tadege M et al. (2001) Plant J 28 (5): 545-53) or late e.g. by overexpressing FLC and delaying senescence e.g. by imparting a flower-specific ethylene sensitivity.

10. Generation of sterile plants by preventing fertilization and / or germination with the help of the expression of a suitable inhibitor, for example a toxin in flowers.

11. Production of nutraceuticals such as

a) Carotenoids and / or phenylpropanoids, for example by optimizing the flower's own metabolic pathways, for example by expressing enzymes and regulators of isoprenoid biosynthesis. Preferred are nucleic acids which are suitable for the chalcone synthase from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc.- No .: M20308), the 6-4 photolyase from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc.No.: BAB00748) or the blue light photoreceptor / photolyase homolog (PHHl) from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc.-No .: U62549) or functional parts Encode equivalents thereof. Also preferred are nucleic acids that are used for enzymes and regulators of iso-prenoid biosynthesis such as deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate synthases and carotenoid biosynthesis such as phytoene synthases, lycopene cyclases and ketolases such as tocopherols, tocotrienols, phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids, or carotenoids of flowering. Examples include the deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate synthases, phytoene synthases, lycopene cyclases and the carotene ketolases. Nucleic acids which code for the Hae atoccus pluvialis, NIES-144 (Acc. No. D45881) ketolase or functional equivalents are particularly preferred.

b) polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid or EP (eicosapentaenoic acid) or DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) by expression of fatty acid elongases and / or desaturases or production of proteins with improved nutritional value such as, for example, with a high proportion of essential amino acids (e.g. the 2S albumingens of Brazil nut). Preferred nucleic acids are those which, for the methionine-rich 2S albumin from Bertholletia excelsa (GenBank Acc.-No .: AB044391), the Δ6-acyl lipid desaturase from Physcomitrella patens (GenBank Acc.-No .: AJ222980; Girke et al. (1998) Plant J 15: 39-48), the Δ6-desaturase from Mortierella alpina (Sakura-dani et al 1999 Gene 238: 445-453), the Δ5-desaturase from Caenorhabditis elegans (Michaelson et al. (1998) FEBS Letters 439: 215 -218), the Δ5-fatty acid desaturase (des-5) from Caenorhabditis elegans (GenBank Acc.-No .: AF078796), the Δ5-desaturase from

Mortiereil-a- -ώl ina (Michaelson et al. J Biol Chem 273: 19055-19059), the Δ6 elongase from Caenorhabditis elegans (Beaudoin et al. (2000) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. 97: 6421-6426) , the A6 elongase from Physcomitrella patens (Zank et al. (2000,) Biochemical Society Transactions

28: 654-657) or encode functional equivalents thereof.

12. Production of pharmaceuticals, such as, for example, antibodies, vaccines, hormones and / or antibiotics, as described for example by Hood EE &. Jilka JM (1999) Curr Opin Biotechnol 10 (4): 382-6; Ma JK & Vine ND (1999) CurrTop Microbiol Immunol 236: 275-92. Further examples of advantageous genes are mentioned, for example, in Dunwell JM (2000) Transgenic approaches to crop improvement. J Exp Bot. 51 Spec No: 487-96.

Another object of the invention relates to the use of the transgenic organisms according to the invention described above and the cells, cell cultures, parts derived therefrom - such as roots, leaves etc. for transgenic plant organisms - and transgenic propagation material such as seeds or fruits for the production of food or feed, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

Also preferred is a process for the recombinant production of pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals in host organisms, wherein a host organism is transformed with one of the expression cassettes described above and this expression cassette contains one or more structural genes which code for the desired fine chemical or catalyze its biosynthesis, the transformed Host organism is grown and the desired fine chemical is isolated from the growth medium. This process is widely applicable to fine chemicals such as enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, natural and synthetic flavors, aromas and colors. The production of tocopherols and tocotrienols and carotenoids such as astaxanthin is particularly preferred. The transformed host organisms are grown and isolated from the host organisms or from the growth medium using methods known to those skilled in the art. The production of pharmaceuticals, such as antibodies or vaccines, is described in Hood EE & Jilka JM (1999) Curr Opin Biotechnol 10 (4) 382-6; Ma JK & Vine NB ■ ^• - {-! $ 9D) - *. rιr.r Top Microbiol Immunol 236: 275-92.

The invention further relates to the use of the ε-cyclase promoter sequences according to the invention (preferably the sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8) for reducing the amount of protein, mRNA and / or activity of an ε-cyclase.

If ε-cyclase activity is reduced compared to the wild type, the amount of lycopene converted or the amount of δ-carotene formed is reduced in a certain time by the protein ε-cyclase in comparison to the wild type.

"Reduction" or "decrease" is to be interpreted broadly in connection with an ε-cyclase, or be the amount of protein, amount of mRNA and / or activity, and includes the partial or essentially complete prevention or blocking of the functionality of a, based on different cell biological mechanisms ε-Cyclase in a plant cell, plant or a part derived therefrom, tissue, organ, cells or seeds.

A reduction in the sense of the invention also includes a quantitative reduction of an ε-cyclase up to an essentially complete absence of the ε-cyclase (i.e. lack of detectability of ε-cyclase activity or lack of immunological detectability of the ε-cyclase). A certain ε-cyclase (or the associated amount of protein, amount of mRNA and / or activity) in a cell or an organism is preferably reduced by at least 5, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, further preferably 100% , In particular, reduction also means the complete absence of ε-cyclase (or its amount of protein, amount of mRNA and / or activity).

According to the invention, various strategies for reducing the amount of protein, amount of mRNA and / or activity of the ε-cyclase are included. The person skilled in the art recognizes that a number of different methods are available in order to influence the protein amount, mRNA amount and / or activity of an ε-cyclase in the desired manner. By way of example, the reduction can be achieved by introducing at least one double-stranded ribonucleic acid sequence which has at least partial homology to the ε-cyclase promoter sequences according to the invention (ε-cyclase promoter dsRNA). Alternatively, expression cassettes ensuring dsRNA expression can also be attached.

The method of gene regulation using double-stranded RNA ("double-stranded RNA interference"; dsRNAi) has been described many times for animal and plant organisms (for example Matzke .'MΑ -e. ^ I -; - (2000) Plant Mol Biol 43 : 401-415; Fire A. et al (1998) Nature 391: 806-811; WO 99/32619; WO 99/53050; WO 00/68374; WO 00/44914; WO 00/44895; WO 00/49035; WO 00/63364). We hereby expressly refer to the methods and methods described in the quotations given. dsRNAi methods are based on the phenomenon that the simultaneous introduction of complementary strand and counter strand of a gene transcript leads to a highly efficient suppression of the expression of the corresponding gene. The phenotype caused is very similar to that of a corresponding knock-out mutant (Waterhouse PM et al. (1998) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 95: 13959-64).

In the context of the invention, “double-stranded RNA molecule” preferably means one or more ribonucleic acid sequences which, on the basis of complementary sequences, are theoretically (for example according to the base pair rules of Waston and Crick) and / or factually (for example are based on hybridization experiments in vitro and / or in vivo ) in the Are able to form double-stranded RNA structures. The person skilled in the art is aware that the formation of double-stranded RNA structures represents an equilibrium state. The ratio of double-stranded molecules to corresponding dissociated forms is preferably at least 1 to 10, preferably 1: 1, particularly preferably 5: 1, most preferably 10: 1.

Another object of the invention therefore relates to • double-stranded RNA molecules (dsRNA molecules) which, when introduced into a plant organism (or a cell, tissue, organ or propagation material derived therefrom), reduce at least one ε-cyclase. The double-stranded RNA molecule for reducing the expression of an ε-cyclase (ε-cyclase-dsRNA) preferably comprises

a) a “sense” RNA strand comprising at least one ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially identical to at least part of a nucleic acid sequence coding for the promoter region of an ε-cyclase, and

b) an “antisense” RNA strand which is essentially — preferably completely — complementary to the RNA “sense” strand under a).

The promoter region of the ε-cyclase is preferably described by a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8.

“Essentially identical” means that the dsRNA sequence can also have insertions, deletions and individual point mutations in comparison to the ε-cyclase promoter target sequence and the oe-h-. r'sn ^ .efficient reduction in expression causes-. The homology (according to the definition below) is preferably at least 75%, preferably at least 80%, very particularly preferably at least 90%, most preferably 100% between the "sense" strand of an inhibitory dsRNA and at least part of the nucleic acid sequence coding for one ε-cyclase promoter (or between the "antisense" strand the complementary strand of a nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase promoter). The person skilled in the art is aware that when comparing homology between RNA and DNA, the bases uracil and thymine are to be regarded as equivalent.

A 100% sequence identity between dsRNA and an ε-cyclase promoter is not absolutely necessary in order to bring about an efficient reduction in ε-cyclase expression. As a result, there is the advantage that the method is tolerant of sequence deviations such as those resulting from genetic mutations, poly- morphisms or evolutionary divergences may exist.

The length of the section is at least 10 bases, preferably at least 25 bases, particularly preferably at least 50 bases, very particularly preferably at least 100 bases, most preferably at least 200 bases or at least 300 bases.

Alternatively, an "essentially identical" dsRNA can also be defined as a nucleic acid sequence which is capable of hybridizing with part of an ε-cyclase gene or promoter sequence (for example in 400 mM NaCl, 40 mM PIPES pH 6.4, 1 mM EDTA at 50 ° C or 70 ° C for 12 to 16 h).

“Essentially complementary” means that the “antisense” RNA strand can also have insertions, deletions and individual point mutations in comparison to the complement of the “sense” RNA strand. The homology is preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, very particularly preferably at least 95%, most preferably 100% between the “antisense” RNA strand and the complement of the “sense” RNA strand.

"Part of a nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase promoter" means fragments of a nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase promoter, preferably the promoter sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3 or functional equivalents thereof. The fragments preferably have a sequence length of at least 20 bases, preferably at least 50 bases, particularly preferably at least 100 bases, very particularly preferably at least 200 bases, most preferably at least 500 bases.

The use of the ε-cyclase promoter region to reduce the ε-cyclase activity is particularly advantageous, since there are only slight homologies to other genes and a high specificity of the reduction can be achieved without affecting the expression of other genes.

The dsRNA can consist of one or more strands of polyribonucleotides. Of course, in order to achieve the same purpose, several individual dsRNA molecules, each comprising one of the ribonucleotide sequence sections defined above, can be introduced into the cell or the organism. The double-stranded dsRNA structure can be formed from two complementary, separate RNA strands or - preferably - from a single, self-complementary RNA strand. In this case there are "sense" RNA strand and "antisense" RNA strand preferably covalently linked together in the form of an inverted "repeat".

In a preferred embodiment, a further object of the invention comprises ribonucleic acid molecules

a) at least one ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially identical to at least part of a nucleic acid sequence coding for the promoter region of an ε-cyclase, and

b) at least one further ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially complementary to at least part of the ribonucleotide sequence under a),

where a) and b) are covalently connected to one another and, if appropriate, further functional elements can be located between a) and b).

The promoter region of the cyclase is preferably described by a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8.

Such as. described in WO 99/53050, the dsRNA can also comprise a hairpin structure by connecting the “sense” and “antisense” strand by means of a connecting sequence (“linker”; for example an intron). The self-complementary dsRNA structures are preferred since they only require the expression of an RNA sequence and always comprise the complementary RNA strands in an equi-olar ratio. Preferably, the connecting sequence is an intron (e.g. an intron of the ST-LSI gene aπc-Kartoffel; Vancanneyt GF et al .. (1990). Mol Gen Genet 220 (2): 245-250).

If the two strands of the dsRNA are to be brought together in a cell or plant, this can be done, for example, in the following way:

a) transformation of the cell or plant with a vector which comprises both expression cassettes,

b) Co-transformation of the cell or plant with two vectors, one comprising the expression cassettes with the “sense” strand, the other the expression cassettes with the “antisense” strand. c) crossing of two individual plant lines, one comprising the expression cassettes with the "sense" strand, the other the expression cassettes with the "antisense" strand.

The formation of the RNA duplex can be initiated either outside the cell or inside it.

The dsRNA can be synthesized either in vivo or in vitro. For this purpose, a DNA sequence coding for a dsRNA can be placed in an expression cassette under the control of at least one genetic control element (such as, for example, a promoter). Polyadenylation is not required, and there is no need for elements to initiate translation. The expression cassette for the ε-cyclase promoter dsRNA is preferably contained on the expression vector. Corresponding expression vectors are included according to the invention.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the expression of the dsRNA takes place starting from an expression construct under the functional control of a flower-specific promoter. The promoter used in this connection is preferably not the ε-cyclase promoter from which the dsRNA was derived. However, it can very well be a ε-cyclase promoter of a different type. For example, the ε-cyclase

Sunflower promoter can be used to express the dsRNA derived from the ε-cyclase promoter from Tagetes erecta. The expression of the dsRNA derived from an ε-cyclase promoter is preferably under the control of a promoter which is not an ε-cyclase promoter, particularly preferably under the control of the CHRC promoter from Cucumis sativus (SEQ ID NO: 81) or the 'P3P- Promotors (SEQ ID NO: 77) or a ^" functionally equivalent part thereof

The expression cassettes coding for the "antisense" and / or the "sense" strand of an ε-cyclase dsRNA or for the self-complementary strand of the dsRNA are preferably inserted into a transformation vector for this purpose and into the plant cell introduced. A stable insertion into the genome is advantageous for the method according to the invention.

The dsRNA can be introduced in an amount that enables at least one copy per cell. Larger quantities (e.g. at least 5, 10, 100, 500 or 1000 copies per cell) can possibly result in an efficient reduction. The invention furthermore encompasses processes for the preparation of ketocarotenoids, the amount of mRNA and / or activity of at least one ε-cyclase being reduced by introducing at least one of the double-stranded RNA sequences or ribonucleic acid sequences or one thereof

Expression-guaranteeing expression cassette or expression cassettes.

Ketocarotenoids means carotenoids which contain at least one keto group, such as astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, echinenone, 3-hydroxyechinenone, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, adonirubin and adonixanthin.

sequences

1. SEQ ID NO: 1 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta

2. SEQ ID NO: 2 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter of the ε-cyclase including the 5 'untranslated region of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta

SEQ ID NO: 3 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter including 5 'untranslated region and region coding for the transit peptide of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta

4. SEQ ID NO: 4 amino acid sequence coding for the putative transit peptide of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta

5. SEQ ID NO: 5 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter of the ε-cyclase including the 5 'untranslated region of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta flanked by restriction sites for the cloning

6. SEQ ID NO: 6 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter including 5 'untranslated region and region coding for the transit peptide of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta flanked by restriction sites for the cloning

7. SEQ ID NO: 7 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter of the ε-cyclase including the 5 'untranslated region of the ε-cyclase from Arabidopsis thaliana

8. SEQ ID NO: 8 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter of ε-cyclase including 5 'untranslated region of ε-cyclase from Oryza sativa

9. SEQ ID NO: 9 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta 10. SEQ ID NO: 10 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta

11. SEQ ID NO: 11 nucleic acid sequence coding for a 5 ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta

12. SEQ ID NO: 12 amino acid sequence coding for the ε-cyclase Tagetes erecta

10 13. SEQ ID NO: 13 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase from Arabidopsis thaliana

14. SEQ ID NO: 14 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase from Arabidopsis thaliana 15

15. SEQ ID NO: 15 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase from rice

16. SEQ ID NO: 16 amino acid sequence coding for a 20 ε-cyclase from rice

17.-22 SEQ ID NO: 17 to 22: sequence motifs for ε-cyclase proteins

23. SEQ ID NO: 23 nucleic acid sequence coding for one

25 ε-cyclase (homologous sequence Hl) from Lactuea sativa

24. SEQ ID NO: 24 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence Hl) from Lactuea 30 sative

25. SEQ ID NO: 25 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H2) from Adonis palaestina 35

26. SEQ ID NO: 26 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H2) from Adonis palaestina

40 27. SEQ ID NO: 27 Nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H3) from Adonis palaestina

28. SEQ ID NO: 28 amino acid sequence coding for a 45 ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H3) from Adonis palaestina 29. SEQ ID NO: 29 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H4) from Arabidopsis thaliana

5 30. SEQ ID NO: 30 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H4) from Arabidopsis thaliana

31. SEQ ID NO: 31 nucleic acid sequence coding for one

10 ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H5) from Citrus X paradisi

32. SEQ ID NO: 32 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H5) from Citrus X 15 paradisi

33. SEQ ID NO: 33 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H6) from Citrus X paradisi 20

34. SEQ ID NO: 34 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H6) from Citrus X paradisi

25 35. SEQ ID NO: 35 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H7) from Citrus sinensis

36. SEQ ID NO: 36 amino acid sequence coding for one

30 ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H7) from Citrus sinensis

37. SEQ ID NO: 37 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H8) from Spinacea 35 oleracea

38. SEQ ID NO: 38 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H8) from Spinacea oleracea 40

39. SEQ ID NO: 39 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H9) from Solanum tuberosum

5 40. SEQ ID NO: 40 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H9) from Solanum tuberosum

5 41. SEQ ID NO: 41 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H10) from Daucus carota

42. SEQ ID NO: 42 amino acid sequence coding for one

10 ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H10) from Daucus carota

43. SEQ ID NO: 43 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence Hll) from Daucus 15 carota

44. SEQ ID NO: 44 amino acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence Hll) from Daucus carota 20

45. SEQ ID NO: 45 nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H12) from tomato

46. SEQ ID NO: 46 amino acid sequence coding for one

25 ε-cyclase (homologous sequence H12) from tomato

47. SEQ ID NO: 47 nucleic acid sequence coding for ε-cyclase-specific probe (cycled; 510 bp)

30 48. SEQ ID NO: 48 oligonucleotide primer PR16

5 '-gcrc ogaggcaaagcaaagg-3'

49. SEQ ID NO: 49 oligonucleotide primer PR22

5 '-cgataagtgcgacattcaagc-3' 35

50. SEQ ID NO: 50 nucleic acid sequence comprising part of the

Promoters of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta obtained using iPCR

40 51. SEQ ID NO: 51 nucleic acid sequence comprising part of the

Tagetes erecta ε-cyclase promoters obtained by TAIL-PCR

52. SEQ ID NO: 52 oligonucleotide primer PR50 45 5'-cgccttgtatctgtttggattgg-3 ' 53. SEQ ID NO: 53 oligonucleotide primer PR51

5 '-ctaacaatcaatgagtatgagagc-3'

54. SEQ ID NO: 54 oligonucleotide primer PR60

5 5 '-agagcaaggccagcaggaccacaacc-3'

55. SEQ ID NO: 55 oligonucleotide primer PR61

5 '-ccttgggagcttttgggataggctag-3'

10 56. SEQ ID NO: 56 oligonucleotide primer PR63

5 '-tcacgccttgtatctgtttggattgg-3'

57. SEQ ID NO: 57 oligonucleotide primer from the set of ADl

Primer as found in the amplificate 15 5 '-gtcgagtatggagtt-3'

58. SEQ ID NO: 58 nucleic acid sequence encoding iPCR fragment

(734 bp) from pTA-ecycP

20 59. SEQ ID NO: 59 oligonucleotide primer OL1

5 '-ctcgagagtaaaatcgttagttatg-3'

60. SEQ ID NO: 60 oligonucleotide primer OL2

5 '-ccatggccattgattgttagtaatgattc-3' 25

61. SEQ ID NO: 61 oligonucleotide primer OL3

5 '-ccatggtaatttgcttcgtgtatctgatg-3'

62. SEQ ID NO: 62 oligonucleotide primer OL4

30 5 '-ccatggcgctagcagcgacagtaatg-3'

63. SEQ ID NO: 63 oligonucleotide primer OL5

5 '-atatccggtgtgagggaactag-3'

35 64. SEQ ID NO: 64 oligonucleotide primer PR1

5 '-gcaagctcgacagctacaaacc-3'

65. SEQ ID NO: 65 oligonucleotide primer PR2

5 '-gaagcatgcagctagcagcgacag-3' 40

66. SEQ ID NO: 66 nucleic acid sequence coding for

Ketolase 35S terminator construct

67. SEQ ID NO: 67 oligonucleotide primer PR7

45 5'-gagctcactc actgatttcc attgcttg-3 ' 68. SEQ ID NO: 68 oligonucleotide primer PR8

5 '-cgccgttaagtcgatgtccgttgatttaaacagtgtc-3'

69. SEQ ID NO: 69 oligonucleotide primer PR9

5 5 '-atcaacggac atcgacttaa cggcgtttgt aaac-3'

70. SEQ ID NO: 70 oligonucleotide primer PR10

5 '-taagcttttt gttgaagaga tttgg-3'

10 71. SEQ ID NO: 71 oligonucleotide primer PR40

5 '-gtcgactacg taagtttctg cttctacc-3'

72. SEQ ID NO: 72 oligonucleotide primer PR41

5 '-ggatccggtg atacctgcac atcaac-3' 15

73. SEQ ID NO: 73 oligonucleotide primer PR124

5 '-aagcttaccg atagtaaaat cgttagtt-3'

74. SEQ ID NO: 74 oligonucleotide primer PR125

20 5 '-ctcgagctta ccgatagtaa aatcgttagt t-3'

75. SEQ ID NO: 75 oligonucleotide primer PR126

5 '-gtcgacaaca acaacaaaca acctttgc-3'

25 76. SEQ ID NO: 76 oligonucleotide primer PR127

5 '-ggatccaaca acaacaaaca acctttgc-3'

77. SEQ ID NO: 77 nucleic acid sequence coding for a modified version (AP3P) of the flower-specific promoter AP3 from Arabidopsis thaliana

78. SEQ ID NO: 78 nucleic acid sequence coding for PIV2

Intron of the ST-LSl gene from potato. 35

79. SEQ ID NO: 79 nucleic acid sequence coding for the sense

Strand of the dsRNA directed against the ε-cyclase promoter.

40 80th SEQ ID NO: 80 nucleic acid sequence coding for the antisense strand of the dsRNA directed against the ε-cyclase promoter.

45 81. SEQ ID NO: 81 nucleic acid sequence coding for the

Promoter of the chromoplast-specific carotenoid-associated protein (CHRC) from Cucumis sativus

82. SEQ ID NO: 82 oligonucleotide primer PRCHRC5

5 '-gagctctaca aattagggtt ac-3'

83. SEQ ID NO: 83 oligonucleotide primer PRCHRC3 5 '-aagcttatta tttccaaatt ccg-3'

pictures

The general abbreviations used in the following figures have the following meaning:

GUSI-Intron-GUSII: reporter gene (bacterial ß-glucuronidase)

Intron: intron

NosT: Terminator sequence of nopaline synthase (NOS) RB / LB: Right or left T-DNA boundary

35-T: 35S CaMV terminator

Nptll: Kanamycin resistance

NosP: promoter sequence of nopaline synthase (NOS) aadA: bacterial spectinomycin resistance colEl: origin of replication

1. Fig. 1: Analysis of the ecyclase transcript level total RNA isolated from leaves (L) and flower stages (1-7) of Tagetes erecta by means of RNA gel blot analysis

2. Fig.- 2: ■ € hematic representation of the vector pEcycPl: GUS for flower-specific expression of the ß-glucuronidase reporter gene

(GUS) under the control of the Tagetes erecta ecycPl regulatory elements (promoter and 5 'untranslated region)

ecycPl: promoter of the e-cyclase from Tagetes erecta including the 5 'untranslated region (SEQ ID NO: 2)

3. Fig. 3: Schematic representation of the vector pEcycP2: GUS for the flower-specific expression of the β-glucuronidase reporter gene (GUS) under the control of the Tagetes erecta ecycP2 regulatory element (promoter and 5 'untranslated region and transit peptide) ecycP2: Tagetes erecta e-cyclase promoter including 5 'untranslated region and transit peptide (SEQ ID NO: 3)

4. Fig. 4: Schematic representation of the vector pEcycP2: KETO for the flower-specific expression of the Hae atococcus pluvialis ketolase (KETO; SEQ ID NO: 66) under the control of the Tagetes erecta ecycP2 regulatory element (promoter and 5'-untranslated region and transit peptide ; SEQ ID NO: 3).

5. Fig. 5: Schematic representation of the vector pS5AI7 for the flower-specific expression of ε-cyclase promoter-specific dsRNA under control of the AP3P promoter fragment for the flower-specific reduction of the ε-cyclase transcript level.

ÄP3P: modified AP3P promoter (777 bp),

P-sense: 358 bp promoter fragment of the cyclase in sense

Orientation, intron: IV2 intron of the potato gene ST-LSI P-anti: the 361 bp promoter fragment ε-cyclase in antisense orientation.

6. Fig. 6: Schematic representation of the vector pS5CI7 for the flower-specific expression of ε-cyclase promoter specific dsRNA under control of the CHRC promoter fragment for the flower-specific reduction of the ε-cyclase transcript level

CHRC: CHRC promoter (1537 bp),

P-sense: 358 bp promoter fragment of the ε-cyclase in sense orientation, in ron: IV2 intron of the potato gene ST-LSl

P-anti: the 361 bp promoter fragment ε-cyclase in antisense

Orientation.

7. Fig. 7: iPCR certificate which contains the 312 bp fragment of the ε-cyclase promoter

8. Fig. 8: TAIL PCR certificate which contains the 199 bp fragment of the ε-cyclase promoter

9. Fig. 9: Comparison of nucleotide sequences between the published sequence of Haematococcus pluvialis ketolase (GenBank Acc. No.: X86782) and the sequence provided in the context of the invention (cf. Example 3). 10. Fig. 10: Comparison of protein sequences between the published sequence of Haematococcus pluvialis ketolase (GenBank Acc.-No .: X86782) and the sequence provided in the context of the invention (cf. Example 3).

11. Fig. 11: Cloning cassette for the production of inverted repeat expression cassettes for the flower-specific expression of ε-cyclase dsRNAs.

AP3P: modified AP3P promoter (777 bp), rbcs: rbcS transit peptide from pea (206 bp), intron: PIV2 intron of the ST-LSI gene (SEQ ID NO: 78) te m: 35S polyadenylation signal from CaMV (762 bp).

12. Fig. 12A-C: sequence comparison of various plant ε-cyclases.

A: GenBank Acc.-No AF152246 (524 Citrus x pardisi "lycopene cyclase" B: GenBank Acc. -No.: AF212130 (165 Daucus carota partial ecyclase sequence C: GenBank Acc. -No.: AF229684 (201 Daucus carota partial ecyclase sequence D: GenBank Acc. -No.: AF251016 (516 Tagetes erecta ecyclase E: GenBank Acc.-No. AF321535 (529 Adonis palaestina ecyclase F: GenBank Acc.-No. AF321536 (529 Adonis palaestina ecyclase G: GenBank Acc .-No. AF321537 (382 Solanum tuberosum partial ecyclase sequence H: GenBank Acc.-No.: AF321538 (533 Lactuea sativa ecyclase I: GenBank Acc. -No.: AF450280 (262 Citrus sinensis ecyclase J.: • GenBank .Acc. -No .: AF463497 (517 Spinacea oleracea ecyclase

K: GenBank Acc. -No. : AF486650 (437 Citrus x pardisi ecyclase L: GenBank Acc.-No .: AP003332 (540 rice ecyclase

M: GenBank Acc.-No. : AY099485 (525 Tagetes erecta ecyclase

N: GenBank Acc. -No. : L40176 (501) Arabidopsis "lycopene cyclase" 0: GenBank Acc. -No. : NM125085 (524) Arabidopsis ecyclase P: GenBank Acc. -No. : 065837 ecyclase (526) tomato

13. Fig.13: Schematic representation of inverse PCR ("iPCR")

For the "iPCR", genomic DNA of a target organism with the promoter sequence to be isolated is completely digested with a given restriction enzyme and then the individual fragments are re-ligated in a diluted batch, that is, they are linked to form a ring-shaped molecule. The large number of ring-shaped DNA molecules which are formed also contain those which contain the known sequence (ie the sequence coding for a homologous protein). Based on this, the ring-shaped molecule can be amplified by PCR using a pair of primers in which both primers can attach to the known sequence section. Abbreviations: P - promoter sequence; CR coding region; L - ligation point; PCR - polymerase chain reaction. Arrows show the binding site of potential oligonucleotide primers in the region of the coding region.

Examples

General methods:

The chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides can, for example, be carried out in a known manner using the phosphoamidite method (Voet & Voet (1995), 2nd edition, Wiley Press New York, pages 896-897). The cloning steps carried out in the context of the present invention, e.g. Restriction cleavage, agarose gel electrophoresis, purification of DNA fragments, transfer of nucleic acids to nitrocellulose and nylon membranes, linking of DNA fragments, transformation of E. coli cells, cultivation of bacteria, multiplication of phages and sequence analysis of recombinant DNA are the same as with Sambrook et al. (1989) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; ISBN 0-87969-309-6. The sequencing of recombinant DNA molecules takes place with a laser fluorescence DNA sequencer from ABI according to the method of Sanger (Sanger et al. (1977) Pro Natl Acad Sei USA 74.54-63-5467).

Example 1: Analysis of ε-cyclase RNA transcript levels during the flower development of Tagetes erecta

To prepare total RNA from the leaves and flowers of Tagetes erecta, plant tissue is harvested, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar. Then 100 mg of the frozen, pulverized plant tissue are transferred to a reaction vessel and placed in 0.8 ml Trizol ^® buffer (Life-

Technologies). The suspension is extracted with 0.2 ml of chloroform. After centrifugation at 12,000 g for 15 minutes, the aqueous supernatant is removed and transferred to a new reaction vessel and extracted with a volume of ethanol. The RNA is precipitated with a volume of isopropanol, washed with 75% ethanol and the pellet in DEPC water (overnight incubation of water with 1/1000 volume of diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) at room temperature, then autoclaved). The RNA concentration is determined photometrically.

• the relative amount of ε-cyclase transcript in Tagetes leaves and flower stages is by RNA gel blot as described in Sambrook & Trunk (2001, Molecular Cloning: A laboratory manual, ^3rd Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, - Cold Spring Harbor, New York Chapter 7, Protocol 6), analyzed: Approx. 10 to 15 μg total RNA per sample are separated in a formaldehyde agarose gel. The relative amounts of total RNA can be estimated from the rRNA bands stained with ethidium bromide (FIG. 1A). To estimate the ε-cyclase transcript amounts, the separated RNA is transferred to a nylon membrane using a capillary blot.

To produce a radioactively labeled ε-cyclase-specific probe, the fragment SEQ ID NO: 47 (cycled) was generated by means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from genomic DNA from Tagetes erecta using a sense-specific primer (PR16 = 5'-ggcacgaggcaaagcaaagg- 3 ', SEQ ID NO: 48) and an antisense-specific primer (PR22 = 5' -cgataagtgcgacattcaagc-3 ', SEQ ID NO: 49).

To prepare genomic DNA from Tagtes erecta, leaf material from Tagetes erecta is harvested, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar. 100 mg of the frozen, pulverized plant tissue are then transferred to a reaction vessel, taken up in 0.75 ml of extraction buffer and incubated at 65 ° C. for 60 min. The extraction buffer is freshly prepared from 25 ml buffer 1 (0.35 M sorbitol, 0.1 M. tris base, 5 mM EDTA, pH 7.5), 25 ml buffer 2 (0.2 M Tris base, 0 , 05 M EDTA, 2 M NaCL, 2% CTAB), 10 ml 5% N-lauroylsarcosine-sodium) and 0.24 g sodium bisulfite. Following the 65 ° C. incubation, the suspension is mixed with 0.7 ml of chloroform / isoamyl alcohol (24: 1), then centrifuged for 5 min at 10,000 g. The upper aqueous phase is transferred to a new reaction vessel and the chloroform / isoamyl alcohol extraction is repeated as described. The upper aqueous phase is then transferred to a new reaction vessel, and the DNA is pelleted by adding 1 ml of isopropanol and then centrifuging for 5 min at 10,000 g. The DNA pellet is washed with 0.5 ml of 75% ethanol, then dried and then resuspended in 0.05 ml of sterile water by incubation at 65 ° C. for 5 minutes. The PCR conditions for the amplification of a ε-cyclase-specific fragment from genomic DNA from Tagetes erecta are as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of a ε-cyclase-specific fragment is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

1 μg genomic DNA from Tagetes erecta

0.25 mM dNTPs - 0.2 μM primer PR16 (SEQ ID NO: 48)

0.2 μM primer PR22 (SEQ ID NO: 49)

5 μl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

0.25 μl R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

- 25.8 μl of sterile, distilled water

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C. for 2 minutes. 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 51 ° C for 2 minutes and 72 ° C for 3 minutes. Finally, a cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes.

The PCR amplification with PR16 and PR22 results in a 510 bp fragment (SEQ ID NO: 47) which hybridizes specifically under stringent hybridization conditions with the ε-cyclase but not with the lycopene ß-cyclase from Tagetes erecta. The amplification product is cleaned with the NucleonSpin Extraet Kit (Machery & Nagel) according to the manufacturer's instructions and used for a radioactive labeling reaction with the Highprime Kit (Boehringer Mannheim) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The prehybridization, hybridization and washing steps are carried out as in Sambrook & Rüssel (2001, Molecular Cloning: A laboratory manual, 3 ^r E-itjon, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York Chapter 6, Protocol 10 ). The last washing step with 0.1x SSC / 0.1% SDS at 65 ° C. results in high stringency of the hybridization, which is sufficient to specifically detect the ε-cyclase, but not the lycopene ß-cyclase, with the probe described. The relative ε-cyclase transcript levels can be estimated on the basis of the hybridization signals, detected with the aid of a phosphoimager. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, ε-cyclase transcript levels in the leaves are below the detection limit under the given experimental conditions, while large amounts of ε-cyclase transcripts can be detected throughout the flower development. Example 2: Cloning of the ε-cyclase promoter

A 199 bp fragment or the 312 bp fragment of the Tagetes erecta ε-cyclase promoter can be separated by two independent cloning strategies, Inverse PCR (iPCR; adapted Long et al. Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 90: 10370) and TAIL-PCR (Liu YG et al. (1995) Plant J 8: 457-463) using genomic DNA (as described above) from the Tagetes erecta line Orange Prince.

For the iPCR approach, 2 μg genomic DNA are digested in a 25 μl reaction mixture with EcoRV and Rsal, then diluted to 300 μl and religated overnight at 16 ° C. with 3U ligase. Using the primers PR50 (SEQ ID NO: 52) and PR51 (SEQ ID NO: 53), a fragment is produced by PCR amplification which, in each sense orientation, contains 354 bp of the ε-cyclase cDNA (Genbank Acc. -NO .: AF251016), ligated to 312 bp of the ε-cyclase promoter and 70 bp of the 5'-terminal region of the ε-cyclase contains cDNA (see FIG. 7).

The conditions of the PCR reactions are as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the PR50-PR51 DNA fragment, which contains, among other things, the 312 bp promoter fragment of ε-cyclase, is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

- 1 μl ligation mixture (prepared as described above)

0.25 mM dNTPs

0.2 μM Primer PR50 (SEQ ID NO: 52) - 0.2 μM Primer PR51 (SEQ ID NO: 53)

5 μl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

0.25 μl R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

28.8 ul sterile, distilled water

The PCR reactions are carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C. for 2 minutes. 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 53 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 1 minute. Finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes.

The PCR amplification with primers PR50 and PR51 results in a 734 bp fragment which contains, among other things, the 312 bp promoter fragment of ε-cyclase (FIG. 7). The amplificate is cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen) using standard methods. Sequencing with primers M13 and T7 results in the sequence SEQ ID NO: 50 for the certificate. For the TAIL-PCR approach, three successive PCR reactions are carried out, each with different gene-specific primers (“nested primers”).

The TAILl-PCR is carried out in a 20 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

100 ng genomic DNA (prepared as described above)

0.2 mM each dNTP - 0.2 μM primer PR60 (SEQ ID NO: 54)

0.2 μM primer mixture ADl

2 μl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

0.5 U R Taq Polymerase (TAKARA) made up to 20 μl with sterile, distilled water

The primer mixture AD1 was initially a mixture of primers of the sequences

5 '- (a / c / g / t) tcga (g / c) t (a / t) t (g / c) g (a / t) gtt-3'. The primer with SEQ ID NO: 57 was found in the resulting certificate.

The TAILI PCR reaction is carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 93 ° C. for 1 minute and 95 ° C. for 1 minute,

5 cycles with 94 ° C for 30 seconds, 62 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 2.5 minutes,

1 cycle at 94 ° C for 30 seconds, 25 ° C for 3 minutes, then a temperature rise to 72 ° C within 3 minutes, 72 ° C for 2.5 minutes

15 cycles of 94 ° C for 10 seconds, 68 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 2.5 minutes; 94 ° C for 10 seconds, 68 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 2.5 minutes; 94 ° C for 10 seconds, 29 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 2.5 minutes; - 1 cycle at 72 ° for 5 minutes.

The TAIL2-PCR is carried out in a 21 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

- 1 μl of a 1:50 dilution of the TAILl reaction mixture

(manufactured as described above)

0.8mM dNTP

0.2 μM primer PR61 (SEQ ID NO: 55)

0.2 μM Primer ADl (SEQ ID NO: 57) - 2 ul 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

0.5 UR Taq Polymerase (TAKARA) made up to 21 μl with sterile, distilled water The PCR reaction TAIL2 is carried out under the following cycle conditions:

12 cycles with 94 ° C for 10 seconds, 64 ° C for 1 minute,

72 ° C for 2.5 minutes; 94 ° C for 10 seconds, 64 ° C for 1 minute, 72 ° C for 2.5 minutes; 94 ° C for 10 seconds, 29 ° C for 1 minute,

72 ° C for 2.5 minutes;

1 cycle at 72 ° C for 5 minutes.

The TAIL3-PCR is carried out in a 100 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

1 μl of a 1:10 dilution of the TAIL2 reaction mixture

(prepared as described above) 0.8 mM dNTP - 0.2 µM Primer PR63 (SEQ ID NO: 56) 0.2 µM Primer ADl (SEQ ID NO: 57) 10 µl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA) 0.5 UR Taq Polymerase (TAKARA) made up to 100 μl with sterile, distilled water

The PCR reaction TAIL3 is carried out under the following cycle conditions:

20 cycles at 94 ° C for 15 seconds, 29 ° C for 30 seconds, 72 ° C for 2 minutes;

1 cycle at 72 ° C for 5 minutes.

The PCR amplification with primer PR63 and AD1 results in a 280 bp fragment which contains, inter alia, the 199 bp promoter fragment of ε-cyclase (FIG. 8).

The amplificate was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen) using standard methods. Sequencing with the primers M13 and T7 results in the sequence SEQ ID NO: 51. This sequence is identical in the overlap region to the sequence SEQ ID NO: 50, which is isolated using the iPCR strategy, and thus represents the nucleotide sequence in the Tagetes erecta line used Orange Prince.

The pCR2.1 clone, which contains the 734 bp fragment (SEQ ID NO: 58), which is isolated by the iPCR strategy, is called pTA-ecycP and is used for the production of the expression constructs. Example 3: Production of transgenic ε-cyclase expression cassettes and expression vectors

The ε-cyclase regulatory element ecycPl, containing a promoter fragment and the 5 'untranslated region of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta, is used to convert the ß-glucuronidase (Jefferson et al. (1987) EMBO J 6: 3901 -3907) in tomato flowers (Lycopersicon esculentum). Furthermore, the ε-cyclase regulatory element ecycP2, containing a promoter fragment, the 5 'untranslated region and the putative transit peptide of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta, is used to express either the ß-glucuronidase or the Haematococcus pluvialis ketolase in plastids of tomato flowers.

The transgenic expression vectors pEcycPl: GUS, pEcycP2: GUS, pEcycP2: KET0 for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Lycopersicon esculentum was carried out using the binary vector pS0301 (WO 02/00900). To produce the transformation plasmids, the fragments ecycPl and ecycP2 are generated by means of PCR using the clone pTA-ecycP and the primers OL1 (SEQ ID NO: 59) and OL2 (SEQ ID NO: 60) (for ecycPl) and the primer OLl (SEQ ID NO: 59) and OL3 (SEQ ID NO: 61) (for ecycP2).

50ng pTA-ecycP plasmid

0.25 mM dNTPs - 0.2 μM primer OLl (SEQ ID NO 59)

0.2 μM primer OL2 (SEQ ID NO 60) for ecycPl 'or Primer OL3 (SEQ ID NO 61) for ecycP2

5 μl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

0.25 μl R Taq Polymerase (TAKARA) - 25.8 μl sterile, distilled water

The PCR is carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C for 2 minutes, 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 50 ° C for 2 minutes and 72 ° C for 3 minutes, finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 mins.

The PCR amplification with OLl and OL2 results in a 456 bp fragment (ecycPl, SEQ ID NO: 5), the PCR amplification with OLl and OL3 results in a 543 bp fragment (ecycP2, SEQ ID NO: _6). The amplificates ecycPl or ecycP2 are cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen) using standard methods and the clones pTA-ecycPl or pTA-ecycP2 obtained. Sequencing of the two clones confirm sequences that are identical to SEQ ID NO: 47 or SEQ ID NO: 58 in the respective overlap area. These clones are therefore used for ligation in the transformation vector pS0301 (WO 02/00900).

To produce the transformation plasmid pEcycPl: GUS, the 454 bp Xhol-Ncol ecycPl fragment is isolated from pTA-ecycPl and ligated into the Xhol-Ncol cut vector pS0301. The clone that contains the ecycPl fragment in the correct orientation is called pEcycPl: GUS (Fig. 2, construct map).

To produce the transformation plasmid pEcycP2: GUS, the 541 bp Xhol-Ncol ecycPl fragment is isolated from pTA-ecycP2 and ligated into the Xhol-Ncol cut vector pS0301. The clone that contains the ecycP2 fragment in the correct orientation is called pEcycP2: GUS (FIG. 3, construct map).

To produce the transformation plasmid pEcycP2: KETO, the region "GUSI / intron / GUSII / 35ST" is delimited by an Ncol and a Hindlll restriction site in pEcycP2: GUS against a "Ketolase / 35S terminator" region. For this, the plasmid is replaced pEcycP2: GUS linearized with HindIII according to standard methods, the resulting 5 overhangs filled with Klenow fragment and finally the "GUSI / intron / GUSII / 35ST" region removed by restriction digestion with Ncol.

The "Ketolase / 35STerminator" region is manufactured by

1. Cloning of a ketolase cDNA, produced with - RH-, = - followed by isolated from Haematococcus pluvialis (Flotow em. Wille)

2. Preparation of a transcriptional ketolase / terminator fusion by ligating the ketolase sequence into the vector pJIT117, which is then used as a template for

3. PCR amplification of the ketolase / 35S terminator region is used.

The cDNA coding for the ketolase from Haematococcus pluvialis is amplified by means of PCR from Haematococcus pluvialis (strain 192.80 from the "Collection of algal cultures of the University of Göttingen") suspension culture.

For the preparation of total RNA from a suspension culture of Haematococcus pluvialis (strain 192.80), which was exposed to indirect daylight at room temperature for 2 weeks in Haematococcus medium (1.2 g / 1 sodium acetate, 2 g / 1 yeast extract, 0.2 g / 1 MgCl x 6 H ₂ 0, 0.02 CaCl x 2 H ₂ 0; pH 6.8; after autoclaving, adding 400 mg / 1 L-asparagine, 10 mg / 1 FeSθ x H0), the cells are harvested, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar. Then 100 mg of the frozen, pulverized algae cells are transferred to a reaction vessel and taken up in 0.8 ml of Trizol ^® buffer (LifeTechnologies). The suspension is extracted with 0.2 ml of chloroform. After centrifugation at 12,000 g for 15 minutes, the aqueous supernatant is removed and transferred to a new reaction vessel and extracted with a volume of ethanol. The RNA is precipitated with a volume of isopropanol, washed with 75% ethanol and the pellet is dissolved in DEPC water (incubation of water overnight with 1/1000 volume of diethyl pyrocarbonate at room temperature, then autoclaved). The RNA concentration is determined photometrically.

For the cDNA synthesis, 2.5 μg of total RNA are used for 10 min. denatured at 60 ° C, cooled on ice for 2 min and using a cDNA kit (Ready-to-go-you-prime beads, Pharmacia Biotech) according to the manufacturer's instructions using an antisense-specific primer (PRI SEQ ID NO: 64) rewritten in cDNA.

The nucleic acid encoding a kematolase from Haematococcus pluvialis (strain 192.80) is obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from Haematococcus pluvialis cDNA using a sense-specific primer (PR2; SEQ ID NO: 65) and an antisense-specific primer (PRI; SEQ ID NO: 64 ) amplified. The PCR conditions are as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the cDNA, which codes for a ketolase protein consisting of the entire primary sequence, is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, in which i-

4 ul of a Haematococcus pluvialis cDNA

(prepared as described above) - 0.25 mM dNTPs

0.2 μM Primer PRl (SEQ ID NO: 64) 0.2 μM Primer PR2 (SEQ ID NO: 65)

5 μl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA) 0.25 μl R Taq polymerase (TAKARA) - 25.8 μl sterile, distilled water

The PCR is carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C. for 2 minutes; 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 53 ° C for 2 minutes and 72 ° C for 3 minutes. Finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes. The PCR amplification with PR1 and PR2 results in an 1155 bp fragment which codes for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence. Using standard methods, the ketolase amplificate is cloned into the PCR cloning vector pGEM-Teasy (Promega) and the clone pGKET02 is obtained.

Sequencing of the clone pGKET02 with the T7 and the SP6 primer confirms a sequence which differs from the published sequence only in the three codons 73, 114 and 119 in one base each (Genbank Acc.No .: X86782). These nucleotide exchanges are reproduced in an independent amplification experiment and thus represent the nucleotide sequence in the Haematococcus pluvialis strain 192.80 used (FIGS. 9 and 10, sequence comparisons). This clone is used for cloning into the expression vector pJITH7 (Guerineau et al. (1988) Nucl Acids Res 16: 11380). The further cloning is carried out by isolating the 1031 bp SpHI fragment from pGKET02 and ligation into the SpHI-cut vector pJIT117. The clone that contains the Haematococcus pluvialis ketolase in the correct orientation as an N-terminal translational fusion with the rbcs transit peptide is called pJKET02.

The 1795 bp ketolase / 35S terminator region is produced by means of PCR using pJKET02 and the primers 0L4 (SEQ ID NO: 62) and OL5 (SEQ ID NO: 63). The conditions of the PCR reactions are as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the OL4-OL5 DNA fragment, which contains the coding region of the ketolase followed by the 35S terminator from caMV, is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture which contains:

1 μl pJKET02 (1 ng plasmid DNA)

0.25 mM dNTPs - 0.2 μM primer OL4 (SEQ ID NO: 62)

0.2 μM primer OL5 (SEQ ID NO: 63)

5 μl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

0.25 μl R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

28.8 ul sterile, distilled water

The PCR reactions are carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C. for 2 minutes. 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 53 ° C for 2 minutes and 72 ° C for 3 minutes. Finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes. PCR amplification with primers 0L4 and 0L5 results in a 1795 bp fragment which contains the coding region of the ketolase followed by the 35S terminator from CaMV. This 1795 bp certificate is cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen) using standard methods and the clone "pTA-KETO / Term" is obtained. Sequencing of the clone confirms a ■ identical sequence in the respective overlap area to SEQ ID NO: 66 or pJIT117. This clone is therefore used for the ligation into the transformation vector pEcycP2: GUS (see above). In order to produce the transformation plasmid pEcycP2: KETO, the 1791 bp NcoI-EcoRV "KETO / Term" fragment is isolated from pTA-KETO / Term and into the linearized vector pEcycP2: GUS, containing an Ncol-5 'overhang and a blunt End, ligated. The clone that contains the ecycP2 fragment in the correct orientation is called pEcycP2: KET0 (FIG. 4, construct map).

Example 4: Production and analysis of transgenic tomato plants

The constructs pEecycPl: GUS, pEcycP2: GUS and pEcycP2: KETO were transformed into tomato by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. Cotyledons and hypocotyls of seven to ten day old seedlings of the Microtome line serve as the starting explant for the transformation. The culture medium according to Murashige and Skoog (Murashige & Skoog (1962) Physiol Plant 15,473-497) with 2% sucrose, pH 6.1 is used for germination. Germination takes place at 21 ° C with little light (20 to 100 μE). After seven to ten days, the cotyledons are divided transversely and the hypocotyls are cut into sections approx. 5 to 10 mm long and placed on the medium MSBN (MS, pH 6.1, 3% sucrose with 1 mg / 1 benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0 , 1 mg / 1 naphthalene acetate

(NAA) set which had been charged the day before with ^• suspensicirJkultivierten tomato cells. The tomato cells are covered with sterile filter paper without air bubbles. The explants are precultured on the medium described for three to five days. The explants are then infected with the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404, which carries the binary plasmid with the gene to be transformed, as follows: The strain which has been cultivated overnight in YEB medium with the antibiotic for the binary plasmid at 28 ° C. centrifuged. The bacterial pellet is resuspended with liquid MS medium (3% sucrose, pH 6.1) and adjusted to an optical density of 0.3 (at 600 nm). The precultivated explants are transferred to the suspension and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature with gentle shaking. The explants are then dried with sterile filter paper and placed back on their preculture medium for the three-day co-culture (21 ° C). After the co-culture, the explants are transferred to MSZ2 medium (MS pH 6.1 with 3% sucrose, 2 mg / 1 zeatin, 100 mg / 1 kanamycin, 160 mg / 1 titanium) and for selective regeneration at 21 ° C stored under low light conditions (20 to 5 100 μE, light / dark rhythm 16h / 8h). The explants are transferred every two to three weeks until shoots form. Small shoots can be separated from the explant and rooted on MS (pH 6.1 with 3% sucrose) 160 mg / 1 timentin, 30 mg / 1 kanamycin, 0.1 mg / 1 IAA. Rooted plants 0 are transferred to the greenhouse.

The transgenicity of rooted tomato plants is confirmed by PCR using genomic DNA. The activity profile of the ε-cyclase promoter fragment can be examined in the case of the ecycP: GUS construct by GUS assay according to standard methods (Jefferson et al. (1987) EMBO J 6: 3901-3907). The activity profile of the ε-cyclase promoter fragment can be determined in the case of the construct pEcycP2: KETO by Northern blot analysis according to standard methods using a ketolase-specific hybridization probe or by ketolase-specific real-time PCR (Sambrook & Rüssel, 2001, Molecular Cloning: A laboratory manual, examine ^3rd Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York).

Example 5: Production of a transgenic expression vector for the production of double-stranded ε-cyclase-ribonucleic acid sequence

The expression of inverted "repeat" transcripts consisting of fragments of the ε-cyclase promoter in Tagetes erecta takes place under the control of a modif-izieι? Ten-s-rsi.on (AP3P) of the flower-specific promoter AP3 from Arabidopsis thaliana (GenBank Acc. -NO .: AL132971: nucleotide region 9298 to 10200; Hill et al. (1998) Development 125: 1711-1721). The inverted "repeat" transcript each contains a fragment in the correct orientation (sense fragment) and a sequence-identical fragment in the opposite orientation (antisense fragment), which is generated by a functional intron, the PIV2 intron of the ST-LH1 gene from potato (Vancanneyt G et al. (1990) Mol Gen Genet 220: 245-50).

The cDNA coding for the AP3 promoter (-902 to +15) from Arabidopsis thaliana is PCR-analyzed using genomic DNA (isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana according to the standard method) and the primers PR7 (SEQ ID NO: 67) and PR10 (SEQ ID NO: 70). The PCR conditions are as follows: The PCR for the amplification of the DNA encoding the AP3 promoter fragment (-902 to +15) is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture which contains:

- 1 μl (corresponding to 20 ng) of genomic DNA

A. thaliana (1: 100 dil.; Prepared as described above) 0.25 mM dNTPs

0.2 μM Primer PR7 (SEQ ID NO: 67) - 0.2 UM Primer PR10 (SEQ ID NO: 70) 5 μl 10X PCR buffer (Stratagene) 0.25 μl Pfu polymerase (Stratagene) 28.8 μl sterile , distilled water

The PCR is carried out under the following cycle conditions:

1 cycle at 94 ° C for 2 minutes. 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 50 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 1 minute. Finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes.

The 922 bp amplificate is cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR 2.1 (Invitrogen) using standard methods and the plasmid pTAP3 is obtained. Sequencing of the clone pTAP3 confirms a sequence which is only in an insert (a G in position 9765 of the sequence GenBank Acc.-No .: AL132971) and a base exchange (a G instead of an A in position 9726 of the sequence GenBank Acc.- No .: AL132971) differs from the published AP3 sequence (GenBank Acc.-No .: AL132971, nucleotide region 9298 to 10200) (position 33: T instead of G, position 55: T instead of G). These nucleotide differences can be reproduced in an independent amplification experiment and thus represent the nucleotide sequence in the Arabidopsis thaliana plant used.

The modified version AP3P is produced by means of recombinant PCR using the plasmid pTAP3. The region 10200 to 9771 is amplified with the primers PR7 (SEQ ID NO: 67) and primers PR9 (SEQ ID NO: 69) (certificate A7 / 9), the region 9526 to 9285 was with the PR8 (SEQ ID NO: 68 ) and PR10 (SEQ ID NO: 70) amplified (certificate A8 / 10). The PCR conditions are as follows: The PCR reactions for the amplification of the DNA fragments which code for the regions 10200 to 9771 and 9526 to 9285 of the AP3 promoter are carried out in 50 μl reaction batches which contain:

100: ng AP3 certificate (described above)

0.25 mM dNTPs

0.2 μM primer PR7 (SEQ ID NO: 67) or primer PR8 (SEQ ID NO: 68) 10 - 0 0 ,, .22 μ μMM primer PR9 (SEQ ID NO: 69) or

Primer PR10 (SEQ ID NO: 70)

5 μl 10 X PCR buffer (Stratagene)

0.25 μl Pfu Taq polymerase (Stratagene)

2E! , 8 ul sterile, distilled water

15

The PCR is carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C. for 2 minutes. 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 50 ° C for 2 minutes and 72 ° C for 3 minutes. Finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes.

20

The recombinant PCR includes annealing of the amplificates A7 / 9 and A8 / 10, which overlap over a sequence of 25 nucleotides, completion into a double strand and subsequent amplification. This creates a modified version of the

25 AP3 promoters (AP3P) in which positions 9670 to 9526 are deleted. The denaturation (5 min at 95 ° C) and annealing (slow cooling at room temperature to 40 ° C) of both amplificates A7 / 9 and A8 / 10 takes place in a 17.6 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

30

0.5 μg • A7 / 9-0.25 μg A8 / 10

The 3 'ends (30 min at 30 ° C) are filled in a 35 20 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

17.6 μl A7 / 9 and A8 / 10 annealing reaction (prepared as described above) 50 μM dNTPs 40 - 2 μl I Klenow buffer 2 U Klenow enzyme

The nucleic acid coding for the modified promoter version AP3P is PCR by means of a sense-specific primer (PR7 SEQ ID NO: 67) and an antisense-specific Primers (PR10 SEQ ID NO: 70) amplified. The PCR conditions are as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the AP3P fragment is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

1 μl annealing reaction (prepared as described above)

0.25 mM dNTPs - 0.2 μM primer PR7 (SEQ ID NO: 67)

0.2 μM primer PR10 (SEQ ID NO: 70)

- 5 μl 10 X PCR buffer (Stratagene)

0.25 μl Pfu Taq polymerase (Stratagene)

28.8 ul sterile, distilled water

The PCR is carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C. for 2 minutes. 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 50 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 1 minute. Finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes.

The PCR amplification with the primers PR7 (SEQ ID NO: 67) and PR10 (SEQ ID NO: 70) results in a 777 bp fragment which codes for the modified promoter version AP3P (SEQ ID NO: 77). The amplificate is cloned into the cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen). Sequencing with the primers T7 and M13 confirmed a sequence identical to the sequence GenBank Acc.-No .: AL132971, region 10200 to 9298, the internal region 9285 to 9526 being deleted. This clone is used for cloning into the expression vector pJITH7 (Guerineau et al. (1988) Nucl Acids Res 16: 11380).

The cloning is carried out by isolating the 775 bp SacI-HindIII fragment from pTAP3P and ligating into the SacI-HindIII cut vector pJIT117. The clone that contains the AP3P promoter instead of the original d35S promoter is called pJAP3P.

A DNA fragment which contains the PIV2 intron of the ST-LS1 gene is PCR by means of plasmid DNA p35SGUS INT (Vancanneyt G. et al. (1990) Mol Gen Genet 220: 245-250) and the primer PR40 ( SEQ ID NO: 71) and PR41 (SEQ ID NO: 72). The PCR conditions are as follows: The PCR for the amplification of the sequence of the intron PIV2 of the ST-LS1 gene is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture which contains:

- 50 ng p35SGUS INT

0.25 mM dNTPs

0.2 μM primer PR40 (SEQ ID NO: 71)

0.2 UM Primer PR41 (SEQ ID NO: 72)

5 μl 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA) - 0.25 μl R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

- 28.8 μl of sterile, distilled water

The PCR is carried out under the following cycle conditions: 1 cycle at 94 ° C. for 2 minutes. 35 cycles at 94 ° C for 1 minute, 53 ° C for 1 minute and 72 ° C for 1 minute. Finally 1 cycle at 72 ° C for 10 minutes.

PCR amplification with PR40 and PR41 results in a 212 bp fragment (SEQ ID NO: 78). The standard is cloned into the PCR cloning vector pBluntII (Invitrogen) using standard methods and the clone pBluntII-40-41 is obtained. Sequencing of this clone with the primer SP6 confirms a sequence which is identical to the corresponding sequence from the vector p35SGUS INT. This clone is used for cloning into the vector pJAP3P (see above). The cloning is carried out by isolating the 210 bp Sall-BamHI fragment from pBluntII-40-41 and ligation with the Sall-BamHI cut vector pJAP3P. The clone, which contains the intron PIV2 of the gene ST-LSl in the correct orientation after the 3 "end of the rbcs transit peptide, is called pJAIl and is suitable, expression cassette-te? I -. 'For the flower-specific expression of inverted repeat transcripts manufacture.

Example 6: Production of inverted “repeat” expression cassettes for the flower-specific expression of ε-cyclase promoter dsRNAs in Tagetes erecta

The expression of inverted "repeat" transcripts consisting of promoter fragments of ε-cyclase in Tagetes erecta was carried out under the control of a modified version (AP3P) of the flower-specific promoter AP3 from Arabidopsis (see Example 5) or of the flower-specific promoter CHRC (Genbank Acc.-No AF099501). The inverted "repeat" transcript each contains an ε-cyclase promoter fragment in the correct orientation (sense fragment) and a sequence-identical ε-cyclase promoter fragment in the opposite orientation (antisense fragment), which are indicated by a functional intron (see example 5) are connected to each other.

The promoter fragments are PCR by means of plasmid DNA (clone pTA-ecycP, see Example 2) and the primers PR124 (SEQ ID NO: 73) and PR126 (SEQ ID NO: 75) or the primer PR125 (SEQ ID NO : 74) and PR127 (SEQ ID NO: 76). The conditions of the PCR reactions are as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the PR124-PR126 DNA fragment, which contains the promoter fragment of ε-cyclase, is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

1 ul pTA-ecycP (10ng / ul; see example 2) - 0.25mM dNTPs

0.2 μM primer PR124 (SEQ ID NO: 73)

0.2 μM primer PR126 (SEQ ID NO: 75)

5 μl 10X PCR buffer (Stratagen)

0.25 μl Pfu polymerase (Stratagen) - 28.8 μl sterile, distilled water

The PCR for the amplification of the PR125-PR127 DNA fragment, which contains the 312bp promoter fragment of ε-cyclase, is carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, which contains:

1 ul pTA-ecycP (10ng / ul; see example 2) 0.25mM dNTPs

0.2 μM primer PR125 (SEQ ID NO: 74) 0.2 μM primer PR127 (SEQ ID NO: 76) - 5 μl 10X PCR buffer (Stratagen) 0.25 -μl P ^ - polymerase (Stratagen) 28, 8 μl sterile, distilled water

PCR amplification with primers PR124 and PR126 resulted in a 358 bp fragment, PCR amplification with primers PR125 and PR127 resulted in a 361 bp fragment.

The two amplificates, the PR124-PR126 (HindIII-Sall sense) fragment and the PR125-PR127 (EcoRI-BamHI antisense) fragment, are cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR-BluntII (Invitrogen) using standard methods. Sequencing with the primer SP6 confirms one Sequence which, apart from the restriction sites introduced, is identical to SEQ ID NO: 58. These clones are therefore used for the production of an inverted repeat construct in the cloning vector pJAII (see Example 5).

The first cloning step is carried out by isolating the 356 bp PR124-PR126 Hindlll-Sall fragment from the cloning vector pCR-Bluntll (Invitrogen) and ligation with the Hindlll-Sall cut vector pJAIl. The clone that contains the ε-cyclase promoter fragment in the sense orientation is called cs43. The sense fragment of the ε-cyclase promoter is inserted between the AP3P promoter and the intron by the ligation. The second cloning step is carried out by isolating the 359 bp PR125-PR127 BamHI-EcoRI fragment from the cloning vector pCR-BluntII (Invitrogen) and ligation with BamHI-EcoRI cut vector cs43. The clone that contains the ε-cyclase promoter fragment in the antisense orientation is called cs44. The ligation creates a transcriptional fusion between the intron and the antisense fragment of the ε-cyclase promoter.

For the production of an inverted “repeat” expression cassette under the control of the CHRC promoter, a CHRC promoter fragment using genomic DNA from petunia (produced according to standard methods) and the primers PRCHRC5 ^λ (SEQ ID NO 82) and PRCHRC3 ^λ (SEQ ID NO : 83) amplified. The amplificate is cloned into the cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen). Sequencing of the resulting clone pCR2.1-CHRC with the primers M13 and T7 confirm a sequence identical to the sequence GenBank Acc.-No .: AF099501. This clone is therefore used for the cloning into the expression vector cs44. The by isolating the 1535 bp Sacl-Hindlll fragment from pCR2.1-CHRC and ligating into the Sacl-Hindlll cut vector cs44. The clone that contains the CHRC promoter instead of the original AP3P promoter is called cs45.

The transformation plasmids for the Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of the AP3P-controlled inverted repeat transcript in Tagetes erecta are produced using the binary vector pSUN5 (WO 02/00900).

To produce the transformation plasmid pS5AI7, the 1683 bp Sacl-Xhol fragment from cs44 is ligated with the Sacl-Xhol cut vector pSUN5 (FIG. 5, construct map). To produce the transformation plasmid pS5Cl7, the 2448 bp Sacl-Xhol fragment from cs45 is ligated with the Sacl-Xhol cut vector pSUN5 (FIG. 6, construct map).

Example 7: Production and analysis of transgenic day plants

The transformation plasmids pS5AI7 and pS5CI7 are transformed into Tagetes by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation.

Day tea seeds are sterilized and placed on germination medium (MS medium; Murashige & Skoog (1962) Physiol Plant 15: 473-497) pH 5.8, 2% sucrose). Germination takes place in a temperature / light / time interval of 18 to 28 ° C / 20 to 200 μE / 3 to 16 weeks, but preferably at 21 ° C, 20 to 70 μE, for 4 to 8 weeks.

All leaves of the in vitro plants that had developed up to that point are harvested and cut across the midrib. The resulting leaf explants with a size of 10 to 60 mm ² are kept in the course of the preparation in liquid MS medium at room temperature for a maximum of 2 h.

Any Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain, but preferably a supervirulent strain, such as EHA105 with a corresponding binary plasmid, which can carry a selection marker gene (preferably bar or pat) and one or more trait or reporter genes, is grown overnight and used for co-cultivation used with the sheet material. The bacterial strain can be grown as follows: A single colony of the corresponding strain ird 'ϊϊ- ^ ΞS (0.1% yeast extract, 0.5% beef extract, 0.5% peptone, 0.5% sucrose, 0.5% magnesium sulfate x 7 H ₂ 0) inoculated with 25 mg / 1 kanamycin and dressed at 28 ° C for 16 to 20 h. The bacterial suspension is then harvested by centrifugation at 6000 g for 10 min and resuspended in liquid MS medium in such a way that an OD _OOO of approximately 0.1 to 0.8 was obtained.

Immediately before the co-cultivation, the MS medium in which the leaves have been kept is replaced by the bacterial suspension. The leaflets were incubated in the agrobacterial suspension for 30 min with gentle shaking at room temperature. The infected explants are then placed on an MS medium solidified with agar (for example 0.8% Plant Agar (Duchefa, NL) with growth regulators, such as 3 mg / 1 benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1 mg / 1 indolylacetic acid (IAA) The orientation of the sheets on the Medium is meaningless. The explants are cultivated for 1 to 8 days, but preferably for 6 days, the following conditions can be used: light intensity: 30 to 80 μmol / m ² x sec, temperature: 22 to 24 ° C., light / dark change from 16/8 hours. The co-cultivated explants are then transferred to fresh MS medium, preferably with the same growth regulators, this second medium additionally containing an antibiotic to suppress bacterial growth. Timentin in a concentration of 200 to 500 mg / 1 is very suitable for this purpose. The second selective component is used to select the success of the transformation. Phosphinothricin in a concentration of 1 to 5 mg / 1 selects very efficiently, but other selective components according to the method to be used are also conceivable. After one to three weeks, the explants are transferred to fresh medium until shoot buds and small shoots develop, which are then on the same basal medium including timentin and PPT or alternative components with growth regulators, namely, for example, 0.5 mg / 1 indolylbutyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg / 1 gibberillic acid GA ₃ , are transferred for rooting. Rooted shoots can be transferred to the greenhouse.

In addition to the described method, the following advantageous modifications are possible:

Before the explants are infected with the bacteria, they can be pre-incubated for 1 to 12 days, preferably 3 to 4, on the medium described above for the co-culture. The infection, co-culture and selective regeneration then take place as described above.

The pH for regeneration (usually 5.8) can be lowered to pH 5.2. This improves the control of agrobacterial growth.

The addition of AgN0 ₃ (3 to 10 mg / 1) to the regeneration medium improves the state of the culture, including the regeneration itself.

- Components that reduce phenol formation and are known to the person skilled in the art, such as, for example, citric acid, ascorbic acid, PVP and many others, have a positive effect on the culture. Liquid culture medium can also be used for the entire process. The culture can also be incubated on commercially available carriers which are positioned on the liquid medium.

The transgenicity of rooted shoots can be examined using isolated genomic DNA using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The reduction of the ε-cyclase transcript levels (compared to the one used to transform wild-type) as a result of transformation with the transformation plasmid pS5Al7 or pS5CI7 can be examined by Northerngelblotanalyse by standard methods (Sambrook & Russel, 2001 Molecular Cloning: ^rd A laboratory manual, 3 Edition , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York) using an ε-cyclase-specific hybridization probe, for example as described in Example 1. Furthermore, the reduction in the ε-cyclase transcript amounts (in comparison with the wild type used for the transformation) can be investigated by means of ε-cyclase-specific realtime PCR.

Claims

claims

1. A method for the transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences in the plant flower, the following steps being included

a) at least one promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase, and

b) at least one further nucleic acid sequence, and

c) if necessary, further genetic control elements,

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase, a sequence is selected from the group of sequences consisting of

ii) functional equivalents of the promoter sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 with essentially the same promoter activity as the promoter of the ε-cyclases according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8 and iii) functionally equivalent fragments of the sequences under i) or ii) with essentially the same promoter activity as the promoter of the ε-cyclases according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8.

3. Methods for the identification and / or isolation of

Promoters of genes coding for an ε-cyclase, wherein at least one nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof is used in the identification and / or isolation, said nucleic acid sequence coding for an amino acid sequence which has at least one sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 or a variation of these sequences.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 23, 25, 27, 29, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 or 45.

5. The method according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the method is carried out using the polymerase chain reaction and said nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof is used as a primer.

6. A method for producing a transgenic expression cassette with specificity for plant flowering, comprising the following steps:

I. Isolation of a promoter sequence, wherein at least one nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof is used in the isolation, said nucleic acid sequence coding for an amino acid sequence which has at least one sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 or a variation of these sequences.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 23, 25, 27, 29, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 or 45.

8. The method according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the method is carried out using the polymerase chain reaction and said nucleic acid sequence or a part thereof is used as a primer.

9. Transgenic expression cassette for the targeted, transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences in the plant flower, comprising

a) at least one promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase, ^' and

b) at least one further nucleic acid sequence, and

c) if necessary, further genetic control elements,

wherein at least one promoter sequence and a further nucleic acid sequence are functionally linked to one another and the further nucleic acid sequence is heterologous with respect to the promoter sequence.

10. The transgenic expression cassette according to claim 9, wherein the promoter sequence of a gene coding for an ε-cyclase is a sequence selected from the group of sequences consisting of

i) the promoter sequence of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta according to SEQ ID NO: 1, the ε-cyclase from Arabidopsis thaliana according to SEQ ID NO: 7, the ε-cyclase from Oryza sativa according to SEQ ID NO: 7, and

11. The transgenic expression cassette according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the transgenic nucleic acid sequence to be expressed

a) the expression of a protein encoded by said nucleic acid sequence, or

b) the expression of a sense RNA, anti-sense RNA or double-stranded RNA encoded by said nucleic acid sequence

10 allows.

12. Including isolated nucleic acid sequence

15 a) the promoter of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or

b) a functionally equivalent fragment of a) with essentially the same promoter activity as a). 20

13. An isolated nucleic acid sequence according to claim 12, comprising in 3 'orientation to the promoter of the ε-cyclase from Tagetes erecta according to SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functionally equivalent fragment of the aforementioned, coding for a sequence

25 5 'untranslated region and / or a transid peptide.

14. The isolated nucleic acid sequence according to claim 12 or 13 comprising a sequence described by SEQ ID NO: 2 or 3.

30 15. Including double-stranded RNA molecule

a) a “sense” RNA strand comprising at least one ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially identical to at least part of a nucleic acid sequence

35 for the promoter region of an ε-cyclase, and

b) an "antisense" RNA strand which leads to the

RNA "sense" strand under a) is essentially complementary.

40

16. A double-stranded RNA molecule according to claim 15, wherein the

Promoter area of ε-cyclase. a sequence comprises selected from the sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8.

5

17. Including ribonucleic acid molecule

a) at least one ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially identical to at least part of a nucleotide

5 acid sequence coding for the promoter region of an ε-cyclase, and

b) at least one further ribonucleotide sequence which is part of at least part of the ribonucleotide sequence under a)

10 is essentially complementary,

where a) and b) are covalently linked to one another and, if appropriate, further functional elements can be located between a) and b). 15

18. Ribonucleic acid molecule according to claim 17, wherein the promoter region of the ε-cyclase comprises a sequence selected from the sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 1, 7 or 8.

20. 19. Transgenic Expression Cassette, Comprehensive

a) at least one promoter functional in plants, and

b) at least one nucleic acid sequence coding for a

25 double-stranded RNA molecule according to one of claims 15 or 16 or coding for a ribonucleic acid molecule according to one of claims 17 or 18,

wherein at least one of said promoter and at least 30 one of said nucleic acid sequences are functionally linked to one another and the promoter is -in. Pull on the nucleic acid sequence is heterologous.

20. The transgenic expression cassette according to claim 19, wherein the 35 promoter is a promoter with specificity for the plant

Bloom is.

21. Transgenic expression vector containing a nucleic acid sequence according to one of claims 12 to 14 or a transgenic expression cassette according to one of claims 9, 10, 11, 19 or 20.

22. Transgenic organism containing a nucleic acid sequence according to one of claims 12 to 14, a double-stranded RNA 5 according to claim 15 or 16, a ribonucleotide sequence according to

Claim 17 or 18, a transgenic expression cassette according to one of claims 9, 10, 11, 19 or 20 or a transgenic expression vector according to claim 21.

23. Transgenic organism according to claim 22 selected from the group consisting of bacteria, yeast, fungi, animal and plant organisms.

24. Transgenic organism according to claim 22 selected from the group consisting of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, non-human animal and plant organisms or cells, cell cultures, parts, tissues derived therefrom. Organs or reproductive material.

25. Transgenic organism according to claim 23 or 24 selected from the group of agricultural crops.

26. Use of an isolated nucleic acid sequence according to one of claims 12 to 14, a double-stranded RNA according to claim 15 or 16, a ribonucleotide sequence according to claim 17 or 18, a transgenic expression cassette according to one of claims 9, 10, 11, 19 or 20, a transgenic Expression vector according to claim 21 or a transgenic organism according to one of claims 23 to 25 or cell cultures, parts, organs, tissues or transgenic propagation material derived therefrom in methods for the transgenic expression of nucleic acids or proteins.

27. Use of an isolated nucleic acid sequence according to one of claims 12 to 14, a double-stranded RNA according to claim 15 or 16, a ribonucleotide sequence according to

Claim 17 or 18, a transgenic expression cassette according to one of Claims 9, 10, 11, 19 or 20, a transgenic expression vector according to Claim 21 or a transgenic organism according to one of Claims 23 to 25 or cell cultures, parts, organs derived therefrom , Tissue or transgenic propagation material for the production of food, animal feed, seeds, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.

28. Process for the production of food, animal feed, seeds, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals, a transgenic

Organisms are grown according to one of claims 23 to 25 and the desired food, feed, seed, pharmaceutical or fine chemical is produced and / or isolated using said organism.

9. A process for the preparation of ketocarotenoids, wherein the amount of mRNA and / or activity of at least one ε-cyclase is reduced by introducing at least one double-stranded RNA according to claim 15 or 16, a ribonucleotide sequence according to claim 17 or 18 or a transgenic expression cassette according to one of the Claims 19 or 20.