EP1658372A2

EP1658372A2 - Novel ketolases and method for producing ketocarotinoids

Info

Publication number: EP1658372A2
Application number: EP04763696A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matt Sauer; Christel Renate Schopfer; Ralf Flachmann; Karin Herbers; Irene Kunze; Martin Klebsattel; Thomas Luck; Dirk Voeste; Angelika-Maria Pfeiffer; Hendrik Tschoep
Original assignee: SunGene GmbH
Current assignee: SunGene GmbH
Priority date: 2003-08-18
Filing date: 2004-07-31
Publication date: 2006-05-24

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing ketocarotinoids by cultivation of genetically modified, non-human organisms that have a modified ketolase activity as compared to the wild-type organism. The invention also relates to the genetically modified organisms, their use as food stuff and feeding stuff and to their use for producing ketocarotinoid extracts and to novel ketolases and nucleic acids encoding said ketolases.

Description

New ketolases and processes for the production of ketocarotenoids

description

The present invention relates to a process for the production of ketocarotenoids by cultivating genetically modified, non-human organisms which have a modified ketolase activity compared to the wild type, the genetically modified organisms, their use as food and feed and for the production of ketocarotenoid extracts and new ketolases and nucleic acids encoding these ketolases ..

Carotenoids are synthesized de novo in bacteria, algae, fungi and plants. Ketocarotenoids, i.e. carotenoids, which contain at least one keto group, such as astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, echinenone, 3-hydroxyechinenone, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, adonirubin and adonixanthin are natural antioxidants and pigments that are produced by some algae and microorganisms as secondary metabolites.

Due to their coloring properties, the ketocarotenoids and in particular astaxanthin are used as pigmenting aids in animal nutrition, especially in trout, salmon and shrimp farming.

Nowadays, astaxanthin is mainly produced using chemical synthesis processes. Natural ketocarotenoids, such as natural astaxanthin, are nowadays obtained in small amounts in biotechnological processes by cultivating algae, for example Haematococcus pluvialis or by fermentation of genetically optimized microorganisms and subsequent isolation.

An economical biotechnological process for the production of natural ketocarotenoids is therefore of great importance.

Nucleic acids encoding a ketolase and the corresponding protein sequences have been isolated and annotated from various organisms, such as nucleic acids encoding a ketolase from Agrobacterium aurantiacum (EP 735 137, Accession NO: D58420), from Alcaligenes sp. PC-1 (EP 735137, Accession NO: D58422), Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow em. Wille and Haematoccus pluvialis, NIES-144 (EP 725137, WO 98/18910 and Lotan et al, FEBS Letters 1995, 364, 125-128, Accession NO: X86782 and D45881), Paracoccus marcusii (Accession NO: Y15112), Synechocystis sp , Strain PC6803 (Accession NO: NP_442491), Bradyrhizobium sp. (Accession NO: AF218415) and Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 (Kaneko et al, DNA Res. 2001, 8 (5), 205-213; Accession NO: AP003592, BAB74888).

EP 735 137 describes the production of xanthophylls in microorganisms, such as, for example, E. coli by introducing ketolase genes (crtW) from Agrobacterium aurantiacum or Alcaligenes sp. PC-1 in microorganisms.

From EP 725 137, WO 98/18910, Kajiwara et al. (Plant Mol. Biol. 1995, 29, 343-352) and Hirschberg et al. (FEBS Letters 1995, 364, 125-128) it is known to introduce astaxanthin by introducing ketolase genes from Haematococcus pluvialis (crtW, crtO or bkt ) in E. coli.

Hirschberg et al. (FEBS Letters 1997, 404, 129-134) describe the production of astaxanthin in Synechococcus by introducing ketolase genes (crtO) from Haematococcus pluvialis. Sandmann et al. (Photochemistry and Photobiology 2001, 73 (5), 551-55) describe an analogous method which, however, leads to the production of canthaxanthin and only provides traces of astaxanthin.

WO 98/18910 and Hirschberg et al. (Nature Biotechnology 2000, 18 (8), 888-892) describe the synthesis of ketocarotenoids in nectaries of tobacco flowers by introducing the ketolase gene from Haematococcus pluvialis (crtO) into tobacco.

WO 01/20011 describes a DNA construct for the production of ketocarotenoids, in particular astaxanthin, in seeds of oilseed plants such as oilseed rape, sunflower, soybean and mustard using a seed-specific promoter and a ketolase from Haematococcus pluvialis.

All the ketolases and processes for the preparation of ketocarotenoids described in the prior art and in particular the processes described for the preparation of astaxanthin have the disadvantage that on the one hand the yield is not yet satisfactory and on the other hand the transgenic organisms have a large amount of hydroxylated by-products , such as zeaxanthin and adonixanthin.

The object of the invention was therefore to provide a process for the production of ketocarotenoids by cultivating genetically modified, non-human organisms, or further genetically modified, non-human organisms which produce ketocarotenoids and new, advantageous ketolases to provide, which have the disadvantages of the prior art described above to a lesser extent or no longer or which provide the desired ketocarotenoids, in particular astaxanthin, in higher yields. Accordingly, a method for producing ketocarotenoids has been found by cultivating genetically modified non-human organisms which have an altered ketolase activity compared to the wild type and which altered ketolase activity is caused by a ketolase selected from the group

A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has

B ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 has

C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has.

In the case that the starting organism or wild type has no ketolase activity, “an altered ketolase activity compared to the wild type” is preferably understood to mean a “ketolase activity caused compared to the wild type”.

In the case that the starting organism or wild type has a ketolase activity, “an altered ketolase activity compared to the wild type” is preferably understood to mean an “increased ketolase activity compared to the wild type”.

The non-human organisms according to the invention, such as, for example, microorganisms or plants, are preferably naturally able, as starting organisms, to produce carotenoids such as, for example, β-carotene or zeaxanthin, or can be changed by genetic modification, such as re-regulating metabolic pathways or complementing them Be able to produce carotenoids such as ß-carotene or zeaxanthin. Some organisms, as starting or wild type organisms, are already able to produce ketocarotenoids such as astaxanthin or canthaxanthin. These organisms, such as, for example, Haematococcus pluvialis, Paracoccus marcusii, Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, Bacillus circulans, Chlorococcum, Phaffia rhodozyma, Adonis floret (Adonis aestivalis), Neochloris wimmeri, Protosiphon botryoides, Scotiellopsisenedosusmusesolusisolusismusisolusisosusmusisolusisolusismusisolusisosusmusisolusisosusmusisolusisosusmusisolusisosusmusesolusisosusmusesolusisosodismusisolusisosodismusisolusisosusmusesolusisosusmusesolusisosusmusesolusisosusmusesolusisosusmusisosolusisosomusisosolusisosusmusisosolusisosodomisosolusisosusmusesolusisosusmusesolusisosomusisosolusisosomusisosolusisoso musculosus Euglena sanguinea and Bacillus atrophaeus already have ketolase activity as a starting or wild-type organism.

According to the invention, the term “wild type” is understood to mean the corresponding starting organism.

Depending on the context, the term “organism” can be understood to mean the non-human starting organism (wild type) or an inventive, genetically modified, non-human organism or both.

Preferably and in particular in cases in which the plant or the wild type cannot be clearly assigned, “wild type” is used to increase or cause the ketolase activity, for the increase or cause described below, or to cause the hydroxylase activity for which Increase or cause of β-cyclase activity described below, for the increase in HMG-CoA reductase activity described below, for the increase in (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate described below Reductase activity, for the increase in 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity described below, for the increase in 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate described below.

Reductoisomerase activity, for the increase in isopenyl diphosphate-Δ-isomerase activity described below, for the increase in geranyl diphosphate synthase activity described below, for the increase in famesyl diphosphate synthase activity described below, for the increase in geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase activity described below, for the increase in phytoene synthase activity described below, for the increase in phytoene desaturase activity described below, for the increase in zeta-carotene described below Desaturase activity, for the increase in crtlSO activity described below, for the increase in FtsZ activity described below, for the increase in MinD activity described below, for the reduction in ε-cyclase activity described below and for that described below Reduction of endogenous ß-hydroxylase activity u nd the increase in the content of ketocarotenoids was understood as a reference organism. This reference organism is preferably Haematococcus pluvialis for microorganisms which already have ketolase activity as a wild type.

This reference organism is preferably Blakeslea for microorganisms which, as a wild type, have no ketolase activity.

For plants which already have a ketolase activity as a wiid type, this reference organism is preferably Adonis aestivalis, Adonis flammeus or Adonis aηnuus, particularly preferably Adonis aestivalis.

This reference organism is particularly preferred for plants which, as wild type, have no ketolase activity in petals, preferably Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, Tagetes lucida, Tagetes pringlei, Tagetes palmeri, Tagetes minuta or Tagetes campanulata.

Ketolase activity means the enzyme activity of a ketolase.

A ketolase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity of introducing a keto group on the optionally substituted β-ionone ring of carotenoids.

In particular, a ketolase is understood to be a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert β-carotene into canthaxanthin.

Accordingly, ketolase activity is understood to mean the amount of β-carotene or amount of canthaxanthin formed by the protein ketolase in a certain time.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, non-human organisms are used as starting organisms which already have a ketolase activity as wild type or starting organism, such as, for example, Haematococcus pluvialis, Paracoccus marcusii, Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, Bacillus circulans, Chlorococcum, Phaffia rhodozyma, Adonis florets (Adonis aestivalis), Neochloris wimmeri, Protosiphon botryoides, Scotiellopsis oocystiformis, Scenedesmus vacuolatus, Chlorela zoofingiensis, Ankistrodesmus braunii, Euglena sanguinea or Bacillus atrophaeus. In this embodiment, the genetic modification causes an increase in ketolase activity compared to the wild type or parent organism.

If the ketolase activity is higher than that of the wild type, the protein ketolase will convert the amount of ß- Carotene or the amount of canthaxanthin formed increases.

This increase in ketolase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, further preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the ketolase Wild type activity.

The ketolase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably determined under the following conditions:

The ketolase activity in plant or microorganism material is determined in accordance with the method of Fraser et al., (J. Biol. Chem. 272 (10): 6128-6135, 1997). The ketolase activity in plant or microorganism extracts is determined with the substrates β-carotene and canthaxanthin in the presence of lipid (soy lecithin) and detergent (sodium cholate). Substrate / product ratios from the ketolase assays are determined by means of HPLC.

The ketolase activity can be increased in various ways, for example by switching off inhibitory regulatory mechanisms at the translation and protein levels or by increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase compared to the Wiid type, for example by inducing the ketolase gene by activators or by introducing nucleic acids encoding a ketolase into the organism.

Increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase means, according to the invention, in this embodiment also the manipulation of the expression of the organism's own endogenous ketolases. This can be achieved, for example, by changing the promoter DNA sequence for genes encoding ketolase. Such a change, which results in a changed or preferably increased expression rate of at least one endogenous ketolase gene, can be carried out by deleting or inserting DNA sequences.

As described above, it is possible to change the expression of at least one endogenous ketolase by applying exogenous stimuli. This can take place through special physiological conditions, ie through the application of foreign substances.

Furthermore, an increased expression of at least one endogenous ketolase gene can be achieved in that one that is not found in the wild-type organism or modified regulatory protein interacts with the promoter of these genes.

Such a regulator can represent a chimeric protein which consists of a DNA binding domain and a transcription activator domain, as described, for example, in WO 96/06166.

In a preferred embodiment, the ketolase activity is increased compared to the wild type by increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase selected from the group

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has

increased compared to the wild type.

In a further preferred embodiment, the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase is increased by introducing nucleic acids encoding ketolases selected from the group

A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% on amino acids level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has

in the organism.

In this embodiment, the genetically modified organism according to the invention accordingly has at least one exogenous (= heterologous) nucleic acid encoding a ketolase, or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a ketolase, the ketolases being selected from the group A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ , ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2, B ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10, C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has

In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, non-human organisms are used as starting organisms which, as a wild type, have no ketolase activity, such as, for example, Blakeslea, Marigold, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes lucida, Tagetes minuta, Tagetes pringlei, Tagetes palmeri and 7a getes campanulata.

In this preferred embodiment, the genetic modification causes ketolase activity in the organisms. In this preferred embodiment, the genetically modified organism according to the invention thus has a ketolase activity in comparison to the genetically unmodified wild type and is therefore preferably able to transgenically express a ketolase, the ketolases being selected from the group

In this preferred embodiment, the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase is caused analogously to that described above Increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase, preferably by introducing nucleic acids encoding ketolases into the starting organism, the ketolases being selected from group A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2, B ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10, C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has

In principle, any ketolase gene, that is to say any, can do this in both embodiments

Nucleic acids encoding a ketolase are used, the ketolases being selected from the group

C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or one of this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids derived sequence, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or

All nucleic acids mentioned in the description can be, for example, an RNA, DNA or cDNA sequence.

In the case of genomic ketolase sequences from eukaryotic sources which contain introns, in the event that the host organism is unable or unable to express the corresponding ketolase, preference is given to nucleic acid sequences such as that which have already been processed to use corresponding cDNAs.

Examples of nucleic acids encoding a ketolase and the corresponding ketolases from group A that can be used in the method according to the invention are, for example, the ketolase sequences according to the invention

Nodularia spumigena strain NSOR10,

Nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 1, protein: SEQ ID NO: 2 (Acc. -No.AY210783, wrong sequence annotated as putative keto analysis),

Nodularia spumigena (Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Vienna, (CCAUV) 01-037), nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 3, protein: SEQ ID NO: 4),

Nodularia spumigena (Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Vienna (CCAUV) 01-053), nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 5, protein: SEQ ID NO: 6) and

Nodularia spumigena (Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Vienna (CCAUV) 01-061), nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 7, protein: SEQ ID NO: 8)

An example of nucleic acids encoding a ketolase and the corresponding ketolases from group B which can be used in the method according to the invention are, for example, the ketolase sequences according to the invention Nostoc puntiforme (collection of algal cultures Göttingen (SAG) 60.79 nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 9, protein: SEQ ID NO: 10.

An example of nucleic acids encoding a ketolase and the corresponding ketolases from group C that can be used in the method according to the invention are, for example, the ketolase sequences according to the invention

Nostoc puntiforme (Collection of Algae Cultures Göttingen (SAG) 71.79 Nucleic Acid: SEQ ID NO: 11, Protein: SEQ ID NO: 12.

An example of nucleic acids encoding a ketolase and the corresponding ketolases from group D that can be used in the method according to the invention are, for example, the ketolase sequences according to the invention

Gloeobacter violaceous PCC7421, Acc.Nr: GV7421

Nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 13, protein: SEQ ID NO: 14.

Further natural examples of ketolases and ketolase genes that can be used in the method according to the invention can be obtained, for example, from different organisms whose genomic sequence is known by comparing the identity of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the sequences described above and easy to find especially with the sequences SEQ ID NO: 2 and / or 10 and / or 12 and / or 14.

Further natural examples of ketolases and ketolase genes can furthermore be derived from the nucleic acid sequences described above, in particular from the sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 and / or 9 and / or, 11 and / or 13 from different organisms, the genomic sequence of which is not is known to be easily found by hybridization techniques in a manner known per se.

The hybridization, and this condition applies to all nucleic acid sequences in the description, can take place under moderate (low stringency) or preferably under stringent (high stringency) conditions.

Such hybridization conditions, which apply to all nucleic acids in the description, are described, for example, by Sambrook, J., Fritsch, EF, Maniatis, T., 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.

For example, the conditions during the washing step can be selected from the range of conditions limited by those with low stringency (with 2X SSC at 50 ° C) and those with high stringency (with 0.2X SSC at 50 ° C, preferably at 65 ° C) (20X SSC: 0.3 M sodium citrate, 3 M sodium chloride, pH 7.0).

In addition, the temperature during the washing step can be raised from moderate conditions at room temperature, 22 ° C, to stringent conditions at 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 step are given as a result:

(l) Hybridization conditions with, for example

(i) 4X SSC at 65 ° C, or

(ii) 6X SSC at 45 ° C, or

(iii) 6X SSC at 68 ° C, 100 mg / ml denatured fish sperm DNA, or

(iv) 6X SSC, 0.5% SDS, 100 mg / ml denatured, fragmented salmon sperm DNA at 68 ° C, or

(v) 6XSSC, 0.5% SDS, 100 mg / ml denatured, fragmented salmon sperm DNA, 50% formamide at 42 ° C, or

(vi) 50% formamide, 4X SSC at 42 ° C, or

(vii) 50% (vol / vol) formamide, 0.1% bovine serum albumin, 0.1% Ficoll, 0.1% polyvinyl pyrrolidone, 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 6.5, 750 mM NaCI, 75 mM sodium citrate at 42 ° C, or (viii) 2X or 4X SSC at 50 ° C (moderate conditions), or

(ix) 30 to 40% formamide, 2X or 4X SSC at 42_ (moderate conditions).

(2) washing steps for 10 minutes each with for example

(i) 0.015 M NaCI / 0.0015 M sodium citrate / 0.1% SDS at 50 ° C, or

(ii) 0.1X SSC at 65 ° C, or

(iii) 0.1X SSC, 0.5% SDS at 68 ° C, or

(iv) 0.1X SSC, 0.5% SDS, 50% formamide at 42 ° C, or

(v) 0.2X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 42 ° C, or

(vi) 2X SSC at 65 ° C (moderate conditions).

Group A ketolases contain the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 97%, particularly preferably at least 99% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has.

Group B ketolases contain the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 97%, particularly preferably at least 99% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 has.

Group C ketolases contain the SEQ amino acid sequence. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 97%, particularly preferably at least 99% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 has.

The group D ketolases contain the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50%, more preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 97%, particularly preferably at least 99% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has.

The following definitions and conditions of identity comparison of proteins apply to all proteins in the description.

The term "substitution" is to be understood as the exchange of one or more amino acids by one or more amino acids. So-called conservative exchanges are preferably carried out, in which the replaced amino acid has a similar property to the original amino acid, for example replacement of Glu by Asp, Gin by Asn, Val by Ile, Leu by Ile, Ser by Thr.

Deletion is the replacement of an amino acid with a direct link. Preferred positions for deletions are the termini of the polypeptide and the links between the individual protein domains.

Inserts are insertions of amino acids into the polypeptide chain, with a direct bond being formally replaced by one or more amino acids.

Identity between two proteins means the identity of the amino acids over the respective total protein length, in particular the identity that is obtained by comparison using the Vector NTI Suite 7.1 software from Informax (USA) using the clustal method (Higgins DG, Sharp PM Fast and sensitive multiple sequence alignments on a microcomputer. Comput Appl. Biosci. 1989 Apr; 5 (2): 151-1) is calculated using the following parameters:

Multiple alignment parameter: gap opening penalty 10

Gap extension penalty 10

Gap Separation penalty ranks 8th

Gap separation penalty off

% identity for alignment delay 40 Residue specific gaps off

Hydrophilic residue gap off

Transition weighing 0

Pairwise alignment parameters: FAST algorithm on K-tuplesize 1 Gap penalty 3 Window size 5 Number of best diagonals 5

A protein which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with a specific sequence is accordingly understood to be a protein which has an identity of at least 80% when comparing its sequence with the specific sequence, in particular according to the above-mentioned program logarithm with the above parameter set.

A protein which has, for example, an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 is accordingly understood to be a protein which, when its sequence is compared with the sequence

SEQ ID NO: 2, in particular according to the above program logarithm with the above parameter set, has an identity of at least 80%.

A protein which has, for example, an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 10 is accordingly understood to be a protein which, when comparing its sequence with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 10, in particular according to the above program logarithm The above parameter set has an identity of at least 90%.

A protein which has, for example, an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 12 is accordingly understood to be a protein which, when comparing its sequence with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 12, in particular according to the above program logarithm The above parameter set has an identity of at least 90%.

A protein which has, for example, an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 14 is accordingly understood to be a protein which, when its sequence is compared with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 14, in particular according to the program logic above. with the above parameter set has an identity of at least 50%.

Suitable nucleic acid sequences can be obtained, for example, by back-translating the polypeptide sequence in accordance with the genetic code. Those codons that are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage are preferably used for this. The codon usage can easily be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other, known genes of the organisms in question.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 is introduced into the organism.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 10 is introduced into the organism.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 12 is introduced into the organism.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 14 is introduced into the organism.

All of the above-mentioned ketolase genes can also be produced in a manner known per se by chemical synthesis from the nucleotide building blocks, for example by fragment condensation of individual overlapping, complementary nucleic acid building blocks of the double helix. The chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides can be carried out, for example, in a known manner using the phosphoamidite method (Voet, Voet, 2nd edition, Wiley Press New York, pp. 896-897). The attachment of synthetic oligonucleotides and the filling of gaps using the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase and ligation reactions as well as general cloning methods are described in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

In a preferred embodiment, plants are cultivated which, in addition to the wild type, have an increased or caused hydroxylase activity and / or β-cyclase activity.

In the event that the starting organism or wild type has no β-cyclase activity, “β-cyclase activity changed compared to the wild type” is preferably understood to mean “β-cyclase activity caused compared to the wild type”.

In the case that the starting organism or wild type has a .beta.-cyclase activity, "a .beta.-cyclase activity changed in comparison to the wild type." preferably understood to mean an “increased β-cyclase activity compared to the Wiid type”.

In the event that the starting organism or wild type has no hydroxylase activity, “hydroxylase activity that is changed in comparison with the wild type” is preferably understood to mean “hydroxylase activity caused in comparison with the wild type”.

In the case that the starting organism or wild type has a hydroxylase activity, a “hydroxylase activity changed in comparison to the wild type” is preferably understood to mean “an increased hydroxylase activity in comparison to the wild type”.

Hydroxylase activity means the enzyme activity of a hydroxylase.

A hydroxylase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity of introducing a hydroxyl group on the optionally substituted β-ionone ring of carotenoids.

In particular, a hydroxylase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert β-carotene into zeaxanthin or canthaxanthin into astaxanthin.

Accordingly, hydroxyase activity is understood to mean the amount of β-carotene or canthaxanthin converted or the amount of zeaxanthin or astaxanthin formed in a certain time by the protein hydroxylase.

If the hydroxylase activity is higher than that of the wild type, the amount of β-carotene or canthaxantine or the amount of zeaxanthin or astaxanthin formed is increased by the protein hydroxylase in a certain time compared to the wild type.

This increase in the hydroxylase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the hydroxylase activity of the wild type.

Β-cyclase activity means the enzyme activity of a β-cyclase.

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

In particular, a β-cyclase is understood to be a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert γ-carotene into β-carotene.

Accordingly, ß-cyclase activity is understood to mean the amount of γ-carotene converted or the amount of ß-carotene formed in a certain time by the protein ß-cyclase.

If the β-cyclase activity is higher than that of the wild type, the amount of γ-carotene converted or the amount of β-carotene formed is increased by the protein ß-cyclase in a certain time compared to the wild type.

This increase in the β-cyclase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the β- Wild-type cyclase activity.

The hydroxylase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably determined under the following conditions:

The activity of the hydroxylase is according to Bouvier et al. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1391 (1998), 320-328) in vitro. Ferredoxin, ferredoxin-NADP oxidoreductase, catalase, NADPH and beta-carotene with mono- and digalactosylglycerides are added to a certain amount of organism extract.

The hydroxylase activity is particularly preferably determined under the following conditions according to Bouvier, Keller, d'Harlingue and Camara (Xanthophyll bio-synthesis: molecular and functional characterization of carotenoid hydroxylases from pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1391 ( 1998), 320-328):

The in vitro assay is carried out in a volume of 0.250 ml volume. The mixture contains 50 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.6), 0.025 mg ferredoxin from spinach, 0.5 units ferredoxin-NADP + oxidoreductase from spinach, 0.25 mM NADPH, 0.010 mg beta-carotene (emulsified in 0.1 mg Tween 80), 0.05 mM a mixture of mono - and Digalactosylglyceriden (1: 1), 1 unit catalysis, 0.2 mg bovine serum albumin and organism extract in different volumes. The reaction mixture is incubated at 30 ° C for 2 hours. The reaction products are extracted with organic solvent such as acetone or chloroform / methanol (2: 1) and determined by means of HPLC. The determination of the β-cyclase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wiid-type or reference organisms is preferably carried out under the following conditions:

The activity of the β-cyclase is determined according to Fräser and Sandmann (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 185 (1) (1992) 9-15) / n vitro. Potassium phosphate is used as a buffer for a certain amount of organism extract (pH 7.6) , Lycopene as substrate, Stro- maprotein from paprika, NADP +, NADPH and ATP added.

The β-cyclase activity is particularly preferably determined under the following conditions according to Bouvier, d'Hariingue and Camara (Molecular Analysis of carotenoid cyclae inhibition; Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 346 (1) (1997) 53-64):

The in vitro assay is carried out in a volume of 250 μl volume. The batch contains 50 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.6), different amounts of plant extract, 20 nM lycopene, 250 μg of chromoplastidic stromal protein from paprika, 0.2 mM NADP +, 0.2 mM NADPH and 1 mM ATP. NADP / NADPH and ATP are dissolved in 10 μl ethanol with 1 mg Tween 80 immediately before the addition to the incubation medium. After a reaction time of 60 minutes at 30C, the reaction is ended by adding chloroform / methanol (2: 1). The reaction products extracted in chloroform are analyzed by HPLC.

An alternative assay with a radioactive substrate is described in Fräser and Sandmann (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 185 (1) (1992) 9-15).

The hydroxylase activity and / or β-cyclase activity can be increased in various ways, for example by switching off inhibitory regulatory mechanisms at the expression and protein level or by increasing the gene expression of nucleic acids encoding a hydroxylase and / or of nucleic acids encoding one β-cyclase compared to the wild type.

The increase in the gene expression of the nucleic acids encoding a hydroxylase and / or the increase in the gene expression of the nucleic acid encoding a β-cyclase, as compared to the wild type, can also be achieved in various ways, for example by inducing the hydroxylase gene and / or β-cyclase gene by activators or by introducing one or more hydroxylase gene copies and / or β-cyclase gene copies, ie by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a hydroxylase and / or at least one nucleic acid, encoding a ß-cyclase, in the organism.

Increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid, encoding a hydroxylase and / or β-cyclase, also means, according to the invention, the manipulation of the expression of the organisms' own endogenous hydroxylase and / or β-cyclase.

This can be achieved, for example, by changing the promoter DNA sequence for genes encoding hydroxylases and / or β-cyclases. Such a change, which results in an increased expression rate of the gene, can take place, for example, by deleting or inserting DNA sequences.

As described above, it is possible to change the expression of the endogenous hydroxylase and / or β-cyclase by applying exogenous stimuli. This can take place through special physiological conditions, ie through the application of foreign substances.

Furthermore, an altered or increased expression of an endogenous hydroxylase and / or β-cyclase gene can be achieved in that a regulator protein which does not occur in the non-transformed organism interacts with the promoter of this gene.

In a preferred embodiment, the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a hydroxylase is increased and / or the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a β-cyclase is increased by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a hydroxylase and / or by introducing at least one a nucleic acid encoding a β-cyclase in the organism.

In principle, any hydroxylase gene or each β-cyclase gene, that is to say any nucleic acid which codes for a hydroxylase and any nucleic acid which codes for a β-cyclase, can be used for this purpose.

With genomic hydroxylase or. β-cyclase nucleic acid sequences from eukaryotic sources which contain introns are for the case that the host organism is unable or cannot be able to express the corresponding hydroxylase or β-cyclase , preferably already processed nucleotides To use acid sequences like the corresponding cDNAs.

Examples of hydroxylase genes are nucleic acids encoding a hydroxylase from Haematococcus pluvialis, accession AX038729, WO 0061764); (Nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 15, protein: SEQ ID NO: 16), and coding hydroxylases of the following accession numbers:

| emb | CAB55626.1, CAA70427.1, CAA70888.1, CAB55625.1, AF499108, AF315289, AF296158_1, AAC49443.1, NP_194300.1, NP_200070.1, AAG10430.1, CAC06712.1, AAM88619.1, CAC951 .1, AAL80006.1, AF162276, AAO53295.1, AAN85601.1, CRTZ_ERWHE, CRTZ_PANAN, BAB79605.1, CRTZ_ALCSP, CRTZ_AGRAU, CAB56060.1, ZP_00094836.1, AAC44852.1, NPAC77745325.1 .1, NP_849490.1, ZP_00087019.1, NP_503072.1, NP_852012.1, NP_115929.1, ZP_00013255.1

Another particularly preferred hydroxylase is the hydroxylase from tomato (nucleic acid: SEQ. ID. No. 47; protein: SEQ. ID. No. 48).

Examples of β-cyclase genes are nucleic acids encoding a β-cyclase from tomato (Accession X86452). (Nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 17, protein: SEQ ID NO: 18), and β-cyclases of the following access numbers:

S66350 lycopene beta-cyclase (EC 5.5.1.-) - tomato

CAA60119 lycopene synthase [Capsicum annuum] S66349 lycopene beta-cyclase (EC 5.5.1.-) - common tobacco

CAA57386 lycopene cyclase [Nicotiana tabacum]

AAM21152 lycopene beta-cyclase [Citrus sinensis]

AAD38049 lycopene cyclase [Citrus x paradisi]

AAN86060 _. lycopene cyclase [Citrus unshiu] AAF44700 lycopene beta-cyclase [Citrus sinensis]

AAK07430 lycopene beta-cyclase [Adonis palaestina]

AAG 10429 beta cyclase [Tagetes erecta]

AAA81880 lycopene cyclase

AAB53337 Lycopene beta cyclase AAL92175 beta-lycopene cyclase [Sandersonia aurantiaca]

CAA67331 lycopene cyclase [Narcissus pseudonarcissus]

AAM45381 beta cyclase [Tagetes erecta]

AAO18661 lycopene beta cyclase [Zea mays]

AAG21133 chromoplast-specific lycopene beta-cyclase [Lycopersicon esculentum] AAF18989 lycopene beta-cyclase [Daucus carota] ZP_001140 hypothetical protein [Prochlorococcus marinus str. MIT9313] ZP_001050 hypothetical protein [Prochlorococcus marinus subsp. pastoris str. CCMP1378]

ZP_001046 hypothetical protein [Prochlorococcus marinus subsp. pastoris str. CCMP1378]

ZP_001134 hypothetical protein [Prochlorococcus marinus str. MIT9313] ZP_001150 hypothetical protein [Synechococcus sp. WH 8102] AAF10377 lycopene cyclase [Deinococcus radiodurans] BAA29250 393aa long hypothetical protein [Pyrococcus horikoshii] BAC77673 lycopene beta-monocyclase [marine bacterium P99-3] AAL01999 lycopene cyclase [Xanthobacter sp. Py2] ZP_000190 hypothetical protein [Chloroflexus aurantiacus] ZP_000941 hypothetical protein [Novosphingobium aromaticivorans] AAF78200 lycopene cyclase [Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS278] BAB79602 crtY [Pantoea agglomerans pv. Milletiae] CAA64855 lycopene cyclase [Streptomyces griseus] AAA21262 dycopene cyclase [Pantoea agglomerans] C37802 crtY protein - Erwinia uredovora BAB7960v cryAcopene] Pantoneea cyclone80 [PantoeaAme450] BAA09593 Lycopene cyclase [Paracoccus sp. MBIC1143] ZP_000941 hypothetical protein [Novosphingobium aromaticivorans] CAB56061 _. lycopene beta-cyclase [Paracoccus marcusii] BAA20275 lycopene cyclase [Erythrobacter longus] ZP_000570 hypothetical protein [Thermobifida fusca] ZP_000190 hypothetical protein [Chloroflexus aurantiacus] AAK07430 lycopene beta-cyclase [Adonis palaestina] CAA67331 lycopene cyclase [Narcissus pseudonarcissus] AAB53337 Lycopene beta cyclase BAC77673 lycopene beta monocyclase. [marine bacterium P99-3]

A particularly preferred β-cyclase is also the chromoplast-specific β-cyclase from tomato (AAG21133) (nucleic acid: SEQ. ID. No. 49; protein: SEQ. ID. No. 50)

In this preferred embodiment, the preferred transgenic organisms according to the invention therefore have at least one further hydroxylase gene and / or β-cyclase gene compared to the wild type. In this preferred embodiment, the genetically modified organism has, for example, at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a hydroxylase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a hydroxylase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a β-cyclase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a β -Cyclase on.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the preferred hydroxylase genes used are nucleic acids which encode proteins, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 16 or 48 or a sequence derived from these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and which have an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequences SEQ. ID. NO: 16 or 48, and which have the enzymatic property of a hydroxylase.

Further examples of hydroxylases and hydroxylase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the sequences SEQ. ID. NO: Easily find 16 or 48.

Further examples of hydroxylases and hydroxylase genes can also be found, for example, starting from the sequences SEQ ID NO: 15 or 47 from different organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se Easy to find.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the hydroxylase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the hydroxylase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 16 or 48.

Suitable nucleic acid sequences can be obtained, for example, by back-translating the polypeptide sequence in accordance with the genetic code.

Those codons are preferably used for this which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage. The codon usage can be. easily determined using computer evaluations of other known genes of the organisms concerned. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ is brought. ID. NO: 15 or 47, in the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the β-cyclase genes used are preferably nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 18 or 50 or a sequence derived from these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and which have an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the respective sequences SEQ ID NO: 18 or 50, and which have the enzymatic property of a β-cyclase exhibit.

Further examples of β-cyclases and β-cyclase genes can easily be found, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with SEQ ID NO: 18 or 50 ,

Further examples of β-cyclases and β-cyclase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 17 or 49 from various organisms, the genomic sequence of which is not known, by hybridization and PCR techniques find oneself in a known manner.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the β-cyclase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the β-cyclase of the sequence SEQ. ID. NO: 18 or 50.

Those codons are preferably used for this which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage. The codon usage can easily be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other, known genes of the organisms concerned.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ is brought. ID. NO: 17 or 49 in the organism. All of the above-mentioned hydroxylase genes or β-cyclase genes can also be produced in a manner known per se by chemical synthesis from the nucleotide building blocks, for example by fragment condensation of individual overlapping, complementary nucleic acid building blocks of the double helix. The chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides can be carried out, for example, in a known manner using the phosphoamidite method (Voet, Voet, 2nd edition, Wiley Press New York, pages 896-897). The attachment of synthetic oligonucleotides and filling of gaps with the help of the fragment of DNA polymerase and ligation reactions as well as general cloning methods are described in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

In a further preferred embodiment, genetically modified, non-human organisms are cultivated which, in addition to the wild type, have an increased activity of at least one of the activities selected from the group HMG-CoA reductase activity, (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl 2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity, isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ-isomerase- Activity, geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, famesyl diphosphate synthase activity, geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, phytoene synthase activity, phytoene desaturase activity, zeta carotene desaturase activity, crtlSO- Have activity, FtsZ activity and MinD activity. ^•

HMG-CoA reductase activity is understood to mean the enzyme activity of an HMG-CoA reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase).

An HMG-CoA reductase means a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme-A to mevalonate.

Accordingly, HMG-CoA reductase activity is understood to mean the amount of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A converted or amount of mevalonate formed in a certain time by the protein HMG-CoA reductase.

If the HMG-CoA reductase activity is increased compared to the wild type, the amount of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme-A or the formed amount of mevalonate increased.

This increase in the HMG-CoA reductase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50% preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the HMG-CoA reductase activity of the wild type.

The determination of the HMG-CoA reductase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably carried out under the following conditions:

Frozen organism material is homogenized by intensive Mosern in liquid nitrogen and extracted with extraction buffer in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:20. The respective ratio depends on the enzyme activities in the available organism material, so that a determination and quantification of the enzyme activities within the linear measuring range is possible. Typically, the extraction buffer can consist of 50 mM HEPES-KOH (pH 7.4), 10 mM MgCI2, 10 mM KCI, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.1% (v / v) Triton X-100, 2 mM ε-aminocaproic acid, 10% glycerin, 5 mM KHCO3. Shortly before the extraction, 2 mM DTT and 0.5 mM PMSF are added.

The activity of the HMG-CoA reductase can be measured according to published descriptions (for example Schaller, Grausem, Benveniste, Chye, Tan, Song and Chua, Plant Physiol. 109 (1995), 761-770; Chappell, Wolf, Proulx, Cuellar and Saunders, Plant Physiol. 109 (1995) 1337-1343). Organism tissue can be homogenized and extracted in cold buffer (100 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.0), 4 mM MgCl ₂ , 5 mM DTT). The homogenate is centrifuged at 10,000 g at 4C for 15 minutes. The supernatant is then centrifuged again at 100,000 g for 45-60 minutes. The activity of the HMG-CoA reductase is determined in the supernatant and in the pellet of the microsomal fraction (after resuspending in 100 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.0) and 50 mM DTT). Aliquots of the solution and the suspension (the protein content of the suspension corresponds to approximately 1-10 μg) are in 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0 with 3 mM NADPH and 20 μM ( ¹⁴ C) HMG-CoA (58 μCi / μM) ideally incubated in a volume of 26 μl for 15-60 minutes at 30 C. The reaction is terminated by adding 5 μl mevalonate lactone (1 mg / ml) and 6 N HCl, after which the mixture is incubated at room temperature for 15 minutes ( ¹⁴ C) - Mevalonate formed in the reaction is quantified by adding 125 μl of a saturated potassium phosphate solution (pH 6.0) and 300 μl of ethyl acetate, the mixture is mixed well and centrifuged, and the radioactivity can be determined by scintillation measurement.

The (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity, also called lytB or IspH, describes the enzyme activity of a (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl- Diphosphate reductase understood.

An (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase means a protein which has the enzymatic activity, (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate in Convert isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyldiphosphate.

Accordingly, under (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity the protein (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate- Reductase converted amount (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate or amount formed isopentenyl diphosphate and / or dimethyl allyl diphosphate understood.

With an increased (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity compared to the wild type, the protein (EH-Hydröxy-S-methylbut ^ - enyl diphosphate reductase, the converted amount of (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate or the amount of isopentenyl diphosphate and / or dimethylallyldiphosphate formed.

This increase in the (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyldiphosphate reductase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, more preferably at least 500%, especially at least 600% of the (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity of the wild type.

The (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity is preferably determined in genetically modified, non-human organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms under the following conditions:

Frozen organism material is homogenized by intensive Mosern in liquid nitrogen and extracted with extraction buffer in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:20. The respective ratio depends on the enzyme activities in the available organism material, so that a determination and quantification of the enzyme activities within the linear measuring range is possible. Typically, the extraction buffer can consist of 50 mM HEPES-KOH (pH 7.4), 10 mM MgCI2, 10 mM KCI, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.1% (v / v) Triton X-100, 2 mM ε-aminocaproic acid, 10% glycerin, 5 mM KHCO3. Shortly before the extraction, 2 mM DTT and 0.5 mM PMSF are added. The (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity can be determined by immunological detection. The production of specific antibodies is by Rohdich and colleagues (Rohdich, Hecht, Gärtner, A-dam, Krieger, Amslinger, Arigoni, Bacher and Eisenreich: Studies on the nonmevalonat terpene biosynthetic pathway: metabolic role of IspH (LytB) protein, Natl Acad. Natl. USA 99 (2002), 1158-1163). To determine the catalytic activity, Altincicek and colleagues (Altincicek, Duin, Reichenberg, Hedderich, Kollas, Hintz, Wagner, Wiesner, Beck and Jomaa describe: LytB protein catalyzes the terminal step of the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis; FEBS Letters 532 (2002,) 437-440) an in vitro system which reduces the reduction of (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl diphosphate into the isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethyl allyl diphosphate.

1-Deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity means the enzyme activity of a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase.

A 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert hydroxyethyl-ThPP and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate into 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate.

Accordingly, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity means the amount of hydroxyethyl-ThPP and / or glyceraldehyde-3 converted by the protein 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase in a certain time Phosphate or the amount of 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate formed.

With an increased 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity compared to the wild type, the protein 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase thus converts the amount converted in a certain time compared to the wild type Hydroxyethyl-ThPP and / or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate or the amount -deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate formed increased.

This increase in 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600%, of the wild-type 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity.

Determination of 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms This is preferably done under the following conditions:

Frozen organism material is homogenized by intensive mortar in liquid nitrogen and extracted with extraction buffer in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:20. The respective ratio depends on the enzyme activities in the available organism material, so that a determination and quantification of the enzyme activities within the linear measuring range is possible. Typically, the extraction buffer can consist of 50 mM HEPES-KOH (pH 7.4), 10 mM MgCI2, 10 mM KCI, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.1% (v / v) Triton X-100, 2 mM ε- Aminocaproic acid, 10% glycerin, 5 mM KHCO3. Shortly before the extraction, 2 mM DTT and 0.5 mM PMSF are added.

The reaction solution (50-200 μl) for the determination of the D-1-deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate synthase activity (DXS) consists of 100 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 3 mM MgCl ₂ , 3 mM MnCl ₂ , 3 mM ATP, 1 mM thiamine diphosphate, 0.1% Tween-60, 1 mM Ka liumfluorid, 30 uM (2- ¹⁴ C) pyruvate (0.5 uCi), 0.6 mM DL-Glyerinaldehyd-3-phosphate. The organism extract is 1 to 2 hours in the reaction solution at 37C. incubated. Then the reaction is stopped by heating at 80C for 3 minutes. After centrifugation at 13,000 revolutions / minute for 5 minutes, the supernatant is evaporated, the rest is resuspended in 50 μl of methanol, applied to a TLC plate for thin-layer chromatography (silica gel 60, Merck, Darmstadt) and in N-propyl alcohol / ethyl acetate / water (6 : 1: 3; v / v / v) separated. In this case, radio-labeled D-1-deoxyxyIulose-5-phosphate separates (or D-1-deoxyxylulose) of (2- ¹⁴ C) - pyruvate. The quantification is carried out using a scintillation counter. The method was described in Harker and Bramley (FEBS Letters 448 (1999) 115-119). Alternatively, a fluorometric assay to determine the DXS synthase activity of Queol and colleagues has been described (Analytical Biochemistry 296 (2001) 101-105).

Under 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity, the enzyme activity of a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase, also 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase called, understood.

A 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase means a protein which has the enzymatic activity, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate in 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate convert.

Accordingly, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity becomes the amount of 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5 converted by the protein 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase in a certain time -Phosphate or formed Amount of 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate understood.

With an increased 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity compared to the wild type, the protein 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase thus converts the amount converted in a certain time compared to the wild type 1-Deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate or the amount formed 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate increased.

This increase in 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600%, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity of the wild type.

The determination of the 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably carried out under the following conditions:

Frozen organism material is homogenized by intensive mortar in liquid nitrogen and extracted with extraction buffer in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:20. The respective ratio depends on the enzyme activities in the available organism material, so that a determination and quantification of the enzyme activities within the linear measuring range is possible. Typically, the extraction buffer can consist of 50 mM HEPES-KOH (pH 7.4), 10 mM MgCl 2, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.1% (v / v) Triton X-100, 2 mM ε-aminocaproic acid, 10% glycerin, 5 mM KHCO3. Shortly before the extraction, 2 mM DTT and 0.5 mM PMSF are added.

The activity of D-1-deoxyxylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) is measured in a buffer of 100 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 1 mM MnCl ₂ , 0.3 mM NADPH and 0, 3 mM 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-4-phosphate, which can be synthesized, for example, enzymatically (Kuzuyama, Takahashi, Watanabe and Seto: Tetrahedon letters 39 (1998) 4509-4512). The reaction is started by adding the organism extract. The reaction volume can typically be 0.2 to 0.5 mL; incubation takes place at 37C for 30-60 minutes. During this time, the oxidation of NADPH is monitored photometrically at 340 nm.

Isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase activity is understood to mean the enzyme activity of an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase. An isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert isopentenyl diphosphate to dimethylallyl phosphate.

Accordingly, isopentenyl diphosphate Δ-isomerase activity is understood to mean the amount of isopentenyl diphosphate or dimethylallyl phosphate formed in a certain time by the protein isopentenyl diphosphate D-Δ isomerase.

With an increased isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase activity compared to

In comparison to the wild type, the type isopentenyl diphosphate-Δ-isomerase increases the amount of isopentenyl diphosphate converted or the amount of dimethylallyl phosphate formed in a certain time compared to the wild type.

This increase in isopentenyl diphosphate is preferably

Δ-isomerase activity at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase Wild type activity.

The determination of the isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably carried out under the following conditions:

Activity determinations of isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IPP isomerase) can be carried out using the method presented by Fräser and colleagues (Fräser, Römer, Shipton, Mills, Kiano, Misawa, Drake, Schuch and Bramley: Evaluation of transgenic tomato plants expressing an additional phytoene synthase in a fruit-specific manner; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99 (2002), 1092-1097, based on Fraser, Pinto, Holloway and Bramley, Plant Journal 24 (2000), 551-558). For enzyme measurements gene are incubations with 0.5 uCi (1- ¹⁴ C) IPP (isopentenyl pyrophosphate) (56 mCi / mmol, Amersham plc) as substrate in 0.4 M Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) containing 1 mM DTT, 4 mM MgCl ₂ , 6 mM Mn Cl ₂ , 3 mM ATP, 0.1% Tween 60, 1 mM potassium fluoride in a volume of about 150-500 ocl. Extracts are mixed with buffer (eg in a ratio of 1: 1) and incubated for at least 5 hours at 28 ° C. Then about 200 μl of methanol is added and acid hydrolysis is carried out for about 1 hour at 37 ° C. by adding concentrated hydrochloric acid (final concentration 25%). This is followed by a double extraction of 500 μl each with petroleum ether (mixed with 10% diethyl ether). The radioactivity in an aliquot of the hyperphase is determined using a scintillation counter. The specific enzyme activity can be determined with a short incubation of 5 minutes, since short reaction times suppress the formation of reaction by-products (see Lützow and Beyer: The isopentenyl-diphosphate Δ-isomerase and its relation to the phytoene synthase complex in daffodil chromoplasts; Biochim. Biophys. Acta 959 (1988) 118-126)

Geranyl diphosphate synthase activity means the enzyme activity of a geranyl diphosphate synthase.

A geranyl diphosphate synthase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity of converting isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl phosphate into geranyl diphosphate.

Accordingly, geranyl diphosphate synthase activity means the amount of isopentenyl diphosphate and / or dimethylallyl phosphate or amount of geranyl diphosphate formed in a certain time by the protein geranyl diphosphate synthase.

If the geranyl diphosphate synthase activity is higher than that of the wild type, the amount of isopentenyl diphosphate and / or dimethylallyl phosphate or the amount of geranyl Diphosphate increased.

This increase in geranyl diphosphate synthase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the Wild-type geranyl diphosphate synthase activity.

The geranyl diphosphate synthase activity is determined in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms preferably under the following conditions:

The activity of geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPP synthase) can be found in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 10 mM MgCl ₂ , 5 mM MnCl ₂ , 2 mM DTT, 1 mM ATP, 0.2% Tween-20.5 μM ( ^14C ) IPP and 50 μM DMAPP (dimethylallyl pyrophosphate) can be determined after adding organism extract (according to Bouvier, Suire, d'Harlingue, Backhaus and Camara: Meolcular cloning of geranyl diphosphate synthase and compartmentation of monoterpene synthesis in plant cells, plant Journal 24 (2000) 241-252). After incubation of, for example, 2 hours at 37 ° C., the reaction products are dephosphyrylated (according to Koyama, Fuji and Ogura: Enzymatic hydrolysis of polyprenyl pyrophosphates,

Methods Enzymol. 110 (1985), 153-155) and analyzed by means of thin layer chromatography and measurement of the incorporated radioactivity (Dogbo, Bardat, Quennemet and Camara: Metabolism of plastid terpenoids: In vitrp inhibition of phytoene synthesis by phenethyl pyrophosphate derivates, FEBS Letters 219 (1987) 211 -215).

Famesyl diphosphate synthase activity means the enzyme activity of a farnesyl diphosphate synthase.

A farnesyl diphosphate synthase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity of sequentially converting 2 molecular sopentenyl diphosphate with dimethyl allyl diphosphate and the resulting geranyl diphosphate into famesyl diphosphate.

Accordingly, farnesyl diphosphate synthase activity is understood to mean the amount of dimethylallyl diphosphate and / or isopentenyl diphosphate or amount of famesyl diphosphate formed in a certain time by the protein farnesyl diphosphate synthase.

With an increased farnesyl diphosphate synthase activity compared to the wild type, in comparison to the wild type, the protein ferns syl diphosphate synthase increases the amount of dimethylallyl diphosphate and / or isopentenyl diphosphate or the amount of farnesyl diphosphate formed.

This increase in the farnesyl diphosphate synthase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the Wild-type famesyl diphosphate synthase activity.

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably determined under the following conditions:

The activity of farnesyl pyrophosphate snthase (FPP synthase) can be determined according to a protocol by Joly and Edwards (Journal of Biological Chemistry 268 (1993), 26983-

26989) can be determined. Thereafter, the enzyme activity in a buffer of 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.2), 1 mM MgCl _2, 1 mM dithiothreitol, 20 uM and 40 uM will geranyl pyrophosphate (1- ¹⁴ C) isopentenyl pyrophosphate (4 Ci / mmol) measured. The reaction mixture is incubated at 37 ° C; the reaction is stopped by adding 2.5 N HCl (in 70% ethanol with 19 μg / ml farnesol). The reaction products are thus hydrolyzed within 30 minutes by acid hydrolysis at 37C. The mixture is neutralized by adding 10% NaOH and extracted with hexane. An aliquot of the hexane phase can be measured using a scintillation counter to determine the built-in radioactivity.

Alternatively, after incubation of organism extract and radioactively labeled IPP, the reaction products can be separated into benzene / methanol (9: 1) by means of thin layer chromatography (silica gel SE60, Merck). Products labeled with radioactivity are eluted and radioactivity determined (according to Gaffe, Bru, Causse, Vidal, Stamitti-Bert, Carde and Gallusci: LEFPS1, a tomato farnesyl pyrophosphate gene highly ex- pressed during early fruit development; Plant Physiology 123 (2000) 1351-1362).

Geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase activity is understood to mean the enzyme activity of a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase.

A geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase is understood to be a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert famesyl diphosphate and isopentenyl diphosphate into geranyl-geranyl diphosphate.

Accordingly, geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase activity is understood to mean the amount of farnesyl diphosphate and / or isopentenyl diphosphate or the amount of geranyl-geranyl diphosphate formed in a certain time by the protein geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase.

If the geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase activity is higher than that of the wild type, the amount of farnesyl diphosphate and / or isopentenyl diphosphate or the formed amount of geranyl-geranyl diphosphate increased.

This increase in geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600 % of wild-type geranyl-geranyl-piphosphate synthase activity.

The geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably determined under the following conditions:

Frozen organism material is homogenized by intensive mortar in liquid nitrogen and extracted with extraction buffer in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:20. The respective ratio depends on the enzyme activities in the available organism material, so that a determination and quantification of the enzyme activities within the linear measuring range is possible. Typically, the extraction buffer can consist of 50 mM HEPES-KOH (pH 7.4), 10 mM MgCl 2, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.1% (v / v) Triton X-100, 2 mM ε-aminocaproic acid, 10% glycerin, 5 mM KHCO3. Shortly before the extraction, 2 mM DTT and 0.5 mM PMSF are added. Activity measurements of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GGPP synthase) can be carried out by the method described by Dogbo and Camara (in Biochim. Biophys. Acta 920 (1987), 140-148: Purification of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase from Capsicochrome chromoplasts by affinity ) can be determined. For this purpose, a buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 2 mM MgCl _2, 1 mM MnCl _2, 2 mM dithiothreitol, (1- ¹⁴ C) IPP (0.1 uCi is, 10 uM), 15 uM DMAPP, GPP or FPP) with a total volume of about 200 ul organism extract. Incubation can be for 1-2 hours (or longer) at 30C. The reaction is carried out by adding 0.5 ml of ethanol and 0.1 ml of 6N HCl. After incubation at 37 ° C. for 10 minutes, the reaction mixture is neutralized with 6N NaOH, mixed with 1 ml of water and extracted with 4 ml of diethyl ether. The amount of radioactivity is determined in an aliquot (for example 0.2 ml) of the ether phase by means of scintillation counting. Alternatively, after acid hydrolysis, the radioactively labeled prenyl alcohols can be shaken out in ether and HPLC (25 cm column Spherisorb ODS-1, 5um; elution with methanol / water (90:10; v / v) at a flow rate of 1 ml / min) are separated and quantified using a radioactivity monitor (according to Wiedemann, Misawa and Sandmann: Purification and enzymatic characterization of the geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase from Erwinia uredovora after expression in Escherichia coli; Archives Biochemistry and Biophysics 306 (1993), 152-157 ). Phytoene synthase activity means the enzyme activity of a phytoene synthase.

In particular, a phytoene synthase is understood to be a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert geranyl-geranyl diphosphate into phytoene.

Accordingly, phytoene synthase activity is understood to mean the amount of geranyl-geranyl diphosphate or amount of phytoene formed in a certain time by the protein phytoene synthase.

With an increased phytoene synthase activity compared to the wild type, the amount of geranyl-geranyl diphosphate or the amount of phytoene formed is increased in a certain time by the protein phytoene synthase compared to the wild type.

This increase in phytoene synthase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the phytoene Wild-type synthase activity. The phytoene synthase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably determined under the following conditions:

Activity determinations of phytoene synthase (PSY) can be carried out using the method presented by Fräser and colleagues (Fräser, Romer, Shipton, Mills, Kiano, Misawa, Drake, Schuch and Bramley: Evaluation of transgenic tomato plants expressing an additional phytoene synthase in a fruit- specific manner; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99 (2002), 1092-1097, based on Fraser, Pinto, Holloway and Bramley, Plant Journal 24 (2000) 551-558). For enzyme measurements, incubations with ( ³ H) GeranyIgeranyl pyrophosphate (15 mCi / mM, American Radiolabeled Chemicals, St. Louis) as a substrate in 0.4 M Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) with 1 mM DTT, 4 mM MgCl ₂ , 6 mM Mn Cl ₂ , 3 mM ATP, 0.1% Tween 60, 1 mM potassium fluoride. Organism extracts are mixed with buffer, eg 295 ul buffer with extract in a total volume of 500 ul. Incubate for at least 5 hours at 28C. Then, phytoene is in each case extracted by shaking twice ^'500 ul) with chloroform. The radioactively labeled phytoene formed during the reaction is separated by thin layer chromatography on silica plates in methane / water (95: 5; v / v). Phytoenes can be identified on the silica plates in an iodine-enriched atmosphere (by heating fewer iodine crystals). A phytoene standard serves as a reference. The amount of radioactively labeled product is determined by measurement in a scintillation counter. Alternatively, phytoenes can also be quantified using HPLC, which is equipped with a radioactivity detector (Fräser, Albrecht and Sandmann: Development of high Performance liquid Chromatographie Systems for the Separation of radiolabeled carotenes and precursors formed in specific enzymatic reactions; J. Chromatogr. 645 ( 1993) 265-272).

Phytoene desaturase activity means the enzyme activity of a phytoene desaturase. A phytoene desaturase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert phytoene into phytofluene and / or phytofluene into ζ-carotene (zeta-carotene).

Accordingly, phytoene desaturase activity is understood to mean the amount of phytoene or phytofluene or amount of phytofluene or ζ-carotene formed in a certain time by the protein phytoene desaturase.

With an increased phytoene desaturase activity compared to the wild type, the amount of phytoene or phytofluene or the amount of phytofluen or bzw.-carotene formed is increased in a certain time by the protein phytoen desaturase compared to the wild type.

This increase in phytoene desaturase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the phytoene Wild-type desaturase activity.

Phytoene desaturase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably determined under the following conditions:

Frozen organism material is homogenized by intensive mortar in liquid nitrogen and extracted with extraction buffer in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:20. The respective ratio depends on the enzyme activities in the available organism material, so that a determination and quantification of the enzyme activities within the linear measuring range is possible. Typically, the extraction buffer can consist of 50 mM HEPES-KOH (pH 7.4), 10 mM MgCl 2, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.1% (v / v) Triton X-100, 2 mM ε-

Aminocaproic acid, 10% glycerin, 5 mM KHCO3. Shortly before the extraction, 2 mM DTT and 0.5 mM PMSF are added.

The activity of phytoene desaturase (PDS) can be measured by incorporating radioactively labeled ( ¹⁴ C) phytoene in unsaturated carotenes (according to Römer, Fraser, Kiano, Shipton, Misawa, Schuch and Bramley: Elevation of the provitamin A content of transgenic tomato plants; Nature Biotechnology 18 (2000) 666-669). Radioactively labeled phytoenes can be synthesized according to Fräser (Fräser, De la Rivas, Mackenzie, Bramley: Phycomyces blakesleanus CarB mutants: their use in assays of phytoene desaturase; Phytochemistry 30 (1991), 3971-3976). Membranes from plastic The target tissue can be mixed with 100 M MES buffer (pH 6.0) with 10 mM MgCl ₂ and

Incubate 1 mM dithiothreitol in a total volume of 1 mL. ( ¹⁴ C) -Pytoene dissolved in acetone (about 100,000 decays / minute for one incubation each) is added, the acetone concentration not exceeding 5% (v / v). This mixture is incubated at 28C for about 6 to 7 hours in the dark with shaking.

Then pigments are extracted three times with about 5 mL petroleum ether (mixed with 10% diethyl ether) and separated and quantified by HPLC.

Alternatively, the activity of phytoene desaturase according to Fräser et al. (Fräser, Misawa, Linden, Yamano, Kobayashi and Sandmann: Expression in Escherichia coli, purification, and reactivation of the recombinant Erwinia uredovora phytoene desaturase, Journal of Biological Chemistry 267 (1992), 19891-9895).

Zeta-carotene desaturase activity means the enzyme activity of a zeta-carotene desaturase.

A zeta-carotene desaturase is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert ot-carotene into neurosporin and / or neurosporin into lycopene.

Accordingly, zeta-carotene desaturase activity means the amount of ζ-carotene or neurosporin or the amount of neurosporin or lycopene formed in a certain time by the protein zeta-carotene desaturase.

With an increased zeta-carotene desaturase activity compared to the wild type, the amount of ζ-carotene or neurosporin or the amount of neurosporin or lycopene formed is increased in a certain time by the protein zeta-carotene desaturase compared to the wild type.

This increase in zeta-carotene desaturase activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the Zeta-carotene desaturase - wild-type activity.

The zeta-carotene desaturase activity in genetically modified organisms according to the invention and in wild-type or reference organisms is preferably determined under the following conditions: Frozen organism material is homogenized by intensive mortar in liquid nitrogen and extracted with extraction buffer in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1:20. The respective ratio depends on the enzyme activities in the available organism material, so that a determination and quantification of the enzyme activities within the linear measuring range is possible. Typically, the extraction buffer can consist of 50 mM HEPES-KOH (pH 7.4), 10 mM MgCl 2, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 0.1% (v / v) Triton X-100, 2 mM ε-aminocaproic acid, 10% glycerin, 5 mM KHCO3. Shortly before the extraction, 2 mM DTT and 0.5 mM PMSF are added.

Analyzes to determine the ξ-carotene desaturase (ZDS desaturase) can be carried out in 0.2 M potassium phosphate (pH 7.8, buffer volume of about 1 ml). The analysis method was developed by Breitenbach and colleagues (Breitenbach, Kuntz, Takaichi and Sandmann: Catalytic properties of an expressed and purified higher plant type ξ-carotene desaturase from Capsicum annuum; European Journal of Biochemistry. 265 (1): 376-383 , 1999 Oct). Each analysis batch contains 3 mg phosphytidylcholine suspended in 0.4 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), 5 ocg ξ-carotene or neurosporin, 0.02% butylated hydroxytoluene, 10 µl decyl plastoquinone (1 mM methanolic stock solution) and organism extract. The volume of the organism extract must be adjusted to the amount of ZDS desaturase activity present in order to enable quantifications in a linear measuring range. Incubations typically take place for about 17 hours with vigorous shaking (200 revolutions / minute) at about 28 ° C in the dark. Carotenoids are extracted by adding 4 ml acetone at 50 ° C for 10 minutes with shaking. The carotenoids are transferred from this mixture to a petroleum ether phase (with 10% diethyl ether). The ethyl ether / petroleum ether phase is evaporated under nitrogen, the carotenoids redissolved in 20 μl and separated and quantified by HPLC.

CrtlSO activity means the enzyme activity of a crtlSO protein.

A crtlSO protein is understood to mean a protein which has the enzymatic activity of converting 7,9,7 ', 9'-tetra-cis-lycopene into all-trans-lycopene.

Accordingly, crtlSO activity is understood to mean the amount of 7,9,7 ', 9'-tetra-cis-lycopene or amount of all-trans-lycopene formed in a certain time by the crtlSO protein.

With an increased crtlSO activity compared to the wild type, the amount converted by the crtlSO protein in a certain time compared to the wild type 7,9,7 ', 9'-tetra-cis-lycopene or the amount of all-trans-lycopene formed increased.

This increase in crtlSO activity is preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 50%, further preferably at least 100%, more preferably at least 300%, even more preferably at least 500%, in particular at least 600% of the crtlSO- Wild type activity.

FtsZ activity is understood to mean the physiological activity of an FtsZ protein.

An FtsZ protein is understood to be a protein which has a cell division and plastid division promoting effect and has homologies to tubulin proteins.

MinD activity is understood to mean the physiological activity of a MinD protein.

A MinD protein is understood to be a protein that has a multifunctional role in cell division. It is a membrane-associated ATPase and can show an oscillating movement from pole to pole within the cell.

Furthermore, increasing the activity of enzymes in the non-mevalonate pathway can lead to a further increase in the desired ketocarotenoid end product. Examples of this are the 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol synthase, the 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase and the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase 2,4-cyclodiphoshate synthase. The activity of the enzymes mentioned can be increased by changing the gene expression of the corresponding genes. The changed concentrations of the relevant proteins can be detected as standard by means of antibodies and corresponding blotting techniques.

The increase in HMG-CoA reductase activity and / or (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase -Activity and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity and / or isopentenyl diphosphate-Δ-isomerase activity and / or geranyl diphosphate synthase activity and / or farnesyl diphosphate synthase -Activity and / or geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase activity and / or phytoene synthase activity and / or phytoene desaturase activity and / or zeta-carotene desaturase activity and / or crtlSO activity and / or FtsZ Activity and / or MinD activity can take place in various ways, for example by switching off inhibitory regulatory mechanisms at the expression and protein level or by increasing the gene expression of nucleic acids encoding an HMG-CoA reductase and / or nucleic acids encoding an (E) -4 -Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase and / or nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase and / or nuc linseed acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase and / or nucleic acids encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase and / or nucleic acids encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate Synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a phytoene synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a phytoene desaturase and / or nucleic acids encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase and / or nucleic acids a crtlSO protein and / or nucleic acids encoding an FtsZ protein and / or nucleic acids encoding a MinD protein compared to the wild type.

The increase in the gene expression of the nucleic acids encoding an HMG-CoA reductase and / or nucleic acids encoding an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyldiphosphate reductase and / or nucleic acids encoding a 1 -deoxy-D- Xylose-5-phosphate synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase and / or nucleic acids encoding an isopentenyl

Diphosphate-Δ-isomerase and / or nucleic acids encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a phytoene synthase and / or nucleic acids encoding a phytoene desaturase and / or nucleic acids encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase and / or nucleic acids encoding a crtlSO protein and / or nucleic acids encoding an FtsZ protein and / or nucleic acids encoding a MinD protein compared to the wild type also take place in various ways, for example by inducing the HMG-CoA reductase gene and / or (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase gene and / or 1-deoxy-D- Xylose- 5-

Phosphate synthase gene and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase gene and / or isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase gene and / or geranyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or famesyl Diphosphate synthase gene and / or geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or phytoene synthase gene and / or phytoene desaturase gene and / or zeta-carotene desaturase gene and / or crtlSO gene and / or FtsZ gene and / or MinD gene by activators or by introducing one or more copies of the HMG-CoA reductase gene and / or (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate Reductase gene and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase gene and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase gene and / or isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ- isomerase gene and / or geranyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or phytoene synthase gene and / or phytoene desaturase Gene and / or zeta-carotene desaturase gene and d / or crtlSO gene and / or FtsZ gene and / or MinD gene, ie by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding an HMG-CoA reductase and / or encoding at least one nucleic acid

(E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase and / or at least one

Nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase

Reductoisomerase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ-isomerase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding one

Geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding one

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding a phytoene synthase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding a phytoene desaturase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding one Zeta-carotene desaturase and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding a crtlSO protein and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding an FtsZ protein and / or at least one nucleic acid encoding a MinD protein in the organism.

Increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HMG-CoA reductase and / or (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate Synthase and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase and / or isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase and / or geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or farnesyl diphosphate synthase and / or geranyl Geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or phytoene synthase and / or phytoene desaturase and / or zeta-carotene desaturase and / or a crtlSO protein and / or FtsZ protein and / or MinD protein is also the manipulation of the invention Expression of the organism's own endogenous HMG-CoA reductase and / or (E) - 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase and / or i-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase and / or isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase and / or geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or farnesyl diphosphate synthase and / or geranyl geran yl-diphosphate synthase and / or phytoene synthase and / or phytoene desaturase and / or zeta-carotene desaturase and / or the organism's own crtlSO protein and / or FtsZ protein and / or MinD protein understood.

This can be achieved, for example, by changing the corresponding promoter DNA sequence. Such a change, which results in an increased expression rate of the gene, can take place, for example, by deleting or inserting DNA sequences.

In a preferred embodiment, the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HMG-CoA reductase is increased and / or the gene expression is increased. expression of a nucleic acid encoding an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xyiosis-5-phosphate synthase and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid a geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or the increase in the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase and / or the increase in gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or the increase in the gene expression of a Nucleic acid encoding a phytoene synthase and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a phytoene desaturase and / or increasing the gene expression a nucleic acid encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a crtlSO protein and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding an FtsZ protein and / or increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a MinD- Protein by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding an HMG-CoA reductase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-

Xylose-5-phosphate synthase and / or a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisorherase encoding by introducing at least one nucleic acid and / or an isopentenyl diphosphate-Δ- coding by introducing at least one nucleic acid Isomerase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a geranyl geranyl diphosphate Synthase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a phytoene synthase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a phytoene desaturase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a crtlSO protein and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding an FtsZ protein and / or by introducing at least one nucleic acid encoding a MinD protein into the organism.

In principle, any HMG-CoA reductase gene or (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase gene or 1 -deoxy-D-xyiose-5-phosphate synthase- Gene or 1-Deόxy-D-xylose- 5-phosphate reductoisomerase gene or isopentenyl diphosphate

Δ isomerase gene or geranyl diphosphate synthase gene or famesyl diphosphate

Synthase gene or geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase gene or phytoene

Synthase gene or phytoene desaturase gene or zeta-carotene desaturase gene or crtlSO gene or FtsZ gene or MinD gene can be used.

With genomic HMG-CoA reductase sequences or (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase sequences or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase sequences or 1-Deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase sequences or isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase sequences or geranyl diphosphate synthase sequences or farnesyl diphosphate synthase sequences or geranyl geranyl -Diphosphate synthase sequences or phytoene synthase sequences or phytoene desaturase sequences or zeta-carotene desaturase sequences or crtlSO sequences or FtsZ sequences or MinD sequences from eukaryotic sources, the introns In the event that the host organism is unable or cannot be enabled to express the corresponding proteins, it is preferred to use already processed nucleic acid sequences, such as the corresponding cDNAs.

In this preferred embodiment, the preferred transgenic organisms according to the invention therefore have at least one further HMG-CoA reductase gene and / or (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase gene and compared to the wild type / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase gene and / or 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase gene and / or isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ-isomerase gene and / or Geranyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase gene and / or phytoene synthase gene and / or phytoene desaturase gene and / or zeta Carotene desaturase gene and / or crtlSO gene and / or FtsZ gene and / or MinD gene.

In this preferred embodiment, the genetically modified organism has, for example, at least one exogenous nucleic acid, coding for an HMG-CoA reductase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids, coding for an HMG-CoA reductase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid, coding for an (E) -4 - Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid, coding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xyiose-5-phosphate synthase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D -Xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ -Isomerase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid, encoding a phytoene synthase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids, encoding one Phytoene synthase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid, encoding a phytoene desaturase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids, encoding a phytoene desaturase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid, encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase or at least two endogenous nucleic acids, encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid, encoding a crtlSO protein or at least two endogenous nucleic acids, encoding a crtlSO protein and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid, encoding an FtsZ protein or at least two endogenous Nucleic acids encoding an FtsZ protein and / or at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a MinD protein or at least two endogenous nucleic acids encoding a MinD protein.

Examples of HMG-CoA reductase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding an Arabidopsis thaliana HMG-CoA reductase, Accession NM_106299; (Nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 19, protein: SEQ ID NO: 20),

as well as other HMG-CoA reductase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

P54961, P54870, P54868, P54869, O02734, P22791, P54873, P54871, P23228, P13704, P54872, Q01581, P17425, P54874, P54839, P14891, P34135, 064966, P29057, P420X66, P420X612, P420X612, P420X126, P420X126, P420X126, P420X126, P420X126, P420X126, P420X126, P420X126, P420X126, P420X6, P420X126, P420X6, P420X126, P420X126, P420X6, P420196 064967, P29058, P48022, Q41437, P12684, Q00583, Q9XHL5, Q41438, Q9YAS4, 076,819, O28538, Q9Y7D2, P54960, 051628, P48021, Q03163, P00347, P14773, Q12577, Q59468, P04035, 024594, P09610, Q58116, O26662, Q01237, Q01559, Q12649, O74164, 059469, P51639, Q10283, O08424, P20715, P13703, P13702, Q96UG4, Q8SQZ9, 015888, Q9TUM4, P935? Q84LS3, Q9Z9N4, Q9KLM0

Examples of (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-

2-enyl-diphosphate reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana (lytB / ISPH), ACCESSION AY168881, (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 21, protein: SEQ ID NO: 22),

as well as other (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

T04781, AF270978, NP_485028.1, NP_442089.1, NP_681832.1, ZP_00110421.1, ZP_00071594.1, ZP_00114706.1, ISPH_SYNY3, ZP_00114087.1, ZP_00104269.1, AF398145_71, AF3985156A5, AF39814567, AF398145_1, AF398145141A, AF3981456_1, AF398145A5. 1, NP_348471.1, NP_562001.1, NP_223698.1, NP_781941.1, ZP_00080042.1, NP_859669.1, NP_214191.1, ZP_00086191.1, ISPH_VIBCH, NP_230334.1, NP _^ 742768.1, NP_30230YC.1, ISPH_ NP_602581.1, ZP_00026966.1, NP_520563.1, NP_253247.1, NP_282047.1, ZP_00038210.1, ZP_00064913.1, CAA61555.1, ZP_00125365.1, ISPH_ACICA, EAA24703.1, ZP_00013029.1.1, ZP_00013067.1, ZAA NP_790656.1, NP_217899.1, NP_641592.1, NP_636532.1, NP_719076.1, NP_660497.1, NP_422155.1, NP_715446.1, ZP_00090692.1, NP_759496.1, ISPH_BURPS, ZP_00129657.1, NP NP_335584.1, ZP_00135016.1, NP_789585.1, NP_787770.1, NP_769647.1, ZP__00043336.1, NP_242248.1, ZP_00008555.1, NP_246603.1, ZP_00030951.1, NP_670994.1, NP_405206.1. 1, NP_733653.1, NP_697503.1, NP_840730.1, NP_274828.1,

NP_796916.1, ZP_00123390.1, NP_824386.1, NP_737689.1, ZP_00021222.1, NP_757521.1, NP_390395.1, ZP_00133322.1, CAD76178.1, NP_600249.1, NP_454660.1, NP_7126018.1. 1, NP_751989.1

Examples of 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase from Lycopersicon esculentum, ACCESSION # AF143812 (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 23, protein: SEQ ID NO: 24),

as well as further 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

AF143812_1, DXS_CAPAN, CAD22530.1, AF182286, NP 93291.1, T52289, AAC49368.1, AAP14353.1, D71420, DXSJDRYSA, AF443590, BAB02345.1, CAA09804.2, NP_850620.1, CAD225766.26, AAM6557668, AAM655768.2, AAM655768.2, AAM655768.2, AAM655756.26, AAM6555798, AAM655756.2, AAM655756.26, AAM655756.2, AAM145756.26, AAM145128.2, AAM145126.2, AAM225756.2, AAM145126.2, AAM145129.2, AAM145126.2, AAM145129.2, AAM145129.2, AAM145126.2, AAM145128.2, AAM145126.2, AAM2215798, AAM145126.2, AAM145129.2, AAM2215798.A .1, CAD22531.1, AAC33513.1, CAC08458.1, AAG10432.1, T081 0, AAP14354.1, AF428463_1,

ZP_00010537.1, NP_769291.1, AAK59424.1, NP_107784.1, NP_697464.1,

NP_540415.1, NP_196699.1, NP_384986.1, ZP_00096461.1, ZP_00013656.1,

NP_353769.1, BAA83576.1, ZP_00005919.1, ZP_00006273.1, NP_420871.1, AAM48660.1, DXS_RHOCA, ZP_00045608.1, ZP_00031686.1, NP_841218.1,

ZP_00022174.1, ZP_00086851.1, NP_742690.1, NP_520342.1, ZPJD0082120.1,

NP_790545.1, ZP_00125266.1, CAC17468.1, NP_252733.1, ZP_00092466.1,

NP_439591.1, NP_414954.1, NP_752465.1, NP_622918.1, NP_286162.1,

NP_836085.1, NP_706308.1, ZP_00081148.1, NP_797065.1, NP_213598.1, NP_245469.1, ZP_00075029.1, NP_455016.1, NP_230536.1, NP_459417.1, NP_274863.1, NP_283402.1, NP_7593. 1, NP_406652.1, DXS_SYNLE, DXS_SYNP7, NP_440409.1, ZP_00067331.1, ZP_00122853.1, NP_717142.1, ZP_00104889.1, NP_243645.1, NP_681412.1, DXS_SYNEL, NP_63778CH12, DX_63778CH12, DX NP_661241.1, DXS_XANCP, NP_470738.1, NP_484643.1, ZP_00108360.1, NP_833890.1, NP_846629.1, NP_658213.1,

NP_642879.1, ZP_00039479.1, ZP_00060584.1, ZP_00041364.1, ZP_00117779.1,

NP_299528.1

Examples of 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase from Arabidopsis thaliana, ACCESSION # AF148852, (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 25, protein: SEQ ID NO: 26),

as well as further 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

AF148852, AY084775, AY054682, AY050802, AY045634, AY081453, AY091405, AY098952, AJ242588, AB009053, AY202991, NP_201085.1, T52570, AF331705_1, AFAB1671551_1, BAB367155151_1, BAB367155151_1, BAB36718535_1, BAB367185.150 ZP_00071219.1, NP_488391.1, ZP_00111307.1, DXR_SYNLE, AAP56260.1, NP_681831.1, NP_442113.1, ZP_00115071.1, ZP_00105106.1, ZP_00113484.1, NP_833540.1, NP_657789.1 DXR_BACHD, NP_833080.1, NP_845693.1, NP_562610.1, NP_623020.1, NP_810915.1, NP_243287.1, ZP_00118743.1, NP_464842.1, NP_470690.1, ZP_00082201.1, NP_781898.1, ZP_00123667 NP_348420.1, NP_604221.1, ZP_00053349.1, ZP_00064941.1, NP_246927.1, NP_389537.1, ZP_00102576.1, NP_519531.1, AF124757_19, DXR_ZYMMO, NP_713472.1, NP_45924827.1, NP_45924827.1. 1, NP_743754.1, DXR_PSEPK, ZP_00130352.1, NP_702530.1, NP_841744.1, NP_438967.1, AF514841J, NP_706118.1, ZP_00125845.1, NP_404661.1, NP_285867.1, NP_24006415.1, NP_414147 ZP_00094058.1, NP_791365.1, ZP_00012448.1, ZPJD0015132.1, ZP_00091545.1, NP_629822.1,

NP_771495.1, NP_798691.1, NP_231885.1, NP_252340.1, ZP_00022353.1,

NP_355549.1, NP_420724.1, ZP_00085169.1, EAA17616.1, NP_273242.1,

NP_219574.1, NP_387094.1, NP_296721.1, ZP_00004209.1, NP_823739.1, NP_282934.1, BAA77848.1, NP_660577.1, NP_760741.1, NP_641750.1,

NP_636741.1, NP_829309.1, NP_298338.1, NP_444964.1, NP_717246.1,

NP_224545.1, ZP_00038451.1, DXR_KITGR, NP_778563.1.

Examples of isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase from Adonis palaestina clone AplPI28, (ipiAal), ACCESSION # AF188060, published by Cunningham, F.X. Jr. and Gantt.E .: Identification of multi-gene families encoding isopentyl diphosphate isomerase in plants by heterologous complementation in Escherichia coli, Plant Cell Physiol. 41 (1), 119-123 (2000) (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 27, protein: SEQ ID NO: 28),

as well as other isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

Q38929, 048964, Q39472, Q13907, 035586, P58044, 042641, O35760, Q10132, P15496, Q9YB30, Q8YNH4, Q42553, O27997, P50740, 051627, 048965, Q8KFR5, Q39471F926, Q39471F926 Q9CIF5, Q88WB6, Q92BX2, Q8Y7A5, Q8TT35 Q9KK75, Q8NN99, Q8XD58, Q8FE75, Q46822, Q9HP40, P72002, P26173, Q9Z5D3, Q8Z3X9, Q8ZM82, Q9X7Q6, O13504, Q9HFW8, Q8NJL9, Q9UUQ1, Q9NH02, Q9M6K9, Q9M6K5, Q9FXR6, O81691 , Q9S7C4, Q8S3L8, Q9M592, Q9M6K3, Q9M6K7, Q9FV48, Q9LLB6, Q9AVJ1, Q9AVG8, Q9M6K6, Q9AVJ5, Q9M6K2, Q9AYS5, Q9M6K8, Q9AVG7, Q8S3L7, Q8W250, Q94IE1, Q9AVI8, Q9AYS6, Q9SAY0, Q9M6K4, Q8GVZ0, Q84RZ8, Q8KZ12 , Q8KZ66, Q8FND7, Q88QC9, Q8BFZ6, BAC26382, CAD94476.

Examples of geranyl diphosphate synthase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase from Arabidopsis thaliana, ACCESSION # Y17376, Bouvier.F., Suire.C, d'HarlingueΛ, Backhaus.RA and Camara.B .; Molecular cloning of geranyl diphosphate synthase and compartmenfation of monoterpene synthesis in plant cells, Plant J. 24 (2), 241-252 (2000) (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 29, protein: SEQ ID NO: 30), as well as other geranyl diphosphate synthase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

Q9FT89, Q8LKJ2, Q9FSW8, Q8LKJ3, Q9SBR3, Q9SBR4, Q9FET8, Q8LKJ1, Q84LG1. Q9JK86

Examples of farnesyl diphosphate synthase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase from Arabidopsis thaliana (FPS1), ACCESSION # U80605, published by Cunillera.N., Arro.M., DeLourme.D., Karst.F., Boronat.A. and Ferrer.A .: Arabidopsis thaliana contains two differentially expressed famesyl-diphosphate synthase genes, J. Biol. Chem. 271 (13), 7774-7780 (1996), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 31, protein: SEQ ID NO: 32),

as well as other famesyl diphosphate synthase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

P53799, P37268, Q02769, Q09152, P49351, 024241, Q43315, P49352, 024242, P49350, P08836, P14324, P49349, P08524, 066952, Q08291, P54383, Q45220, P539A550, Q59A5506, Q59A5506, Q5395256, Q5395256, Q5395256, Q5395256, Q5395256, Q5395, Q5 Q9AVI7, Q9FRX2, Q9AYS7, Q94IE8, Q9FXR9, Q9ZWF6, Q9FXR8, Q9AR37, O50009, Q94IE9, Q8RVK7, Q8RVQ7, O04882, Q93RA8, Q93RB0, Q93RB5, Q93R3, Q93RB5, Q93R3, Q93R3

Examples of geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase from Sinaps alba, ACCESSION # X98795, published by Bonk.M., Hoffmann.B., Von Lintig.J., Schledz.M., AI-Babili, S., Hobeika.E., Kleinig, H. and Beyer.P .: Chloroplast import of four carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes in vitro reveals differential fates prior to membrane binding and oligomeric assembly, Eur. J. Biochem. 247 (3), 942-950 (1997), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 33, protein: SEQ ID NO: 34),

as well as other geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

P22873, P34802, P56966, P80042, Q42698, Q92236, 095749, Q9WTN0, Q50727, P24322, P39464, Q9FXR3, Q9AYN2, Q9FXR2, Q9AVG6, Q9FRW4, Q9SXZ5, QAV9J7 Q9SSU0, Q9SXZ6, Q9SST9, Q9AVJ0, Q9AVI9, Q9FRW3, Q9FXR5, Q94IF0, Q9FRX1, Q9K567, Q93RA9, Q93QX8, CAD95619, EAA31459

Examples of phytoene synthase genes are: a nucleic acid encoding a phytoene synthase from Erwinia uredovora, ACCESSION # D90087; published by Misawa.N., Nakagawa, M., Kobayashi.K., Yamama, S., lzawa, Y., Nakamura, K. and Harashima.K .: Elucidation of the Erwinia uredovora carotenoid biosynthetic pathway by functional analysis of gene products expressed in Escherichia coli; J. Bacteriol. 172 (12), 6704-6712 (1990), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 35, protein: SEQ ID NO: 36), and further phytoene synthase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers: CAB39693, BAC69364, AAF10440, CAA45350, BAA20384, AAM72615, BAC09112, CAA48922, P_001091, CAB84588, AAF41518, CAA48155, AAD38051, AAF33237, AAG10427, AAA34187, BAB73532, CAC19567, AAM62787, CAA55391, AAB65697, AAM45379, CAC27383, AAA32836, AAK07735, BAA84763, P_000205, AAB60314, P_001163, P_000718, AAB71428, AAA34153, AAK07734, CAA42969, CAD76176, CAA68575, PJD00130, P_001142, CAA47625, CAA85775, BAC14416, CAA79957, BAC76563, P47150000, P0007, P4700, P0007, P0007, P0007, P0007, P0007

Examples of phytoene desaturase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a phytoene desaturase from Erwinia uredovora, ACCESSION # D90087; published by Misawa.N., Nakagawa.M., Kobayashi, K., Yamano.S., lzawa, Y., Nakamura, K. and Harashima.K .: Elucidation of the Erwinia uredovora carotenoid biosynthetic pathway by functional analysis of gene products expressed in Escherichia coli; J. Bacteriol. 172 (12), 6704-6712 (1990), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 37, protein: SEQ ID NO: 38),

^" and other phytoene desaturase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

AAL15300, A39597, CAA42573, AAK51545, BAB08179, CAA48195, BAB82461, AAK92625, CAA55392, AAG10426, AAD02489, AAO24235, AAC12846, AAA99519, AAL38046, CAA60479, CAA75094, ZP_001041, ZP_001163, CAA39004, CAA44452, ZP_001142, ZP_000718, BAB82462, AAM45380, CAB56040, ZP_001091, BAC09113, AAP79175, AAL80005, AAM72642, AAM72043, ZP_000745, ZP_001141, BAC07889, CAD55814, ZP_001041, CAD27442, CAE00192, ZP_001163, ZP_000197, BAA18400, AAG10425, ZP_001119, AAF13698, 2121278A, AAB35386, AAD02462, BAB68552, CAC85667, AAK51557, CAA12062, AAG51402, AAM63349, AAF85796, BAB74081, AAA91161, CAB56041, AAC48983, AAG14399, CAB65434, BAB73487, ZP_001117, ZP_000448, CAB39695, CAD76175, BAC69363, BAA17934, ZP_000171, AAF65586, ZP_000748, BAC07074, ZP_001133, CAA64853, BAB74484, ZP_001156, AAF23289, AAG28703, AAP09348, AAM71569, BAB69140, ZP_000130, AAF41516, AAG18866, CAD95940, NP_656310, AAG10645, ZP_000276, ZP_000192, ZP_000 86, AAM94364, EAA31371, ZP_000612, BAC75676, AAF65582

Examples of zeta-carotene desaturase genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a Narcissus pseudonarcissus zeta-carotene desaturase, ACCESSION # AJ224683, published by AI-Babili, S., Oelschlegel.J. and Beyer.P .: A cDNA encoding for beta carotene desaturase (Accession No.AJ224683) from Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. (PGR98-103), Plant Physiol. 117, 719-719 (1998), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 39, protein: SEQ ID NO: 40),

as well as other zeta-carotene desaturase genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

Q9R6X4, Q38893, Q9SMJ3, Q9SE20, Q9ZTP4, O49901, P74306, Q9FV46, Q9RCT2, ZDS_NARPS, BAB68552.1, CAC85667.1, AF372617, ZDS_TARER, CAD55814.1_ CAD2744AES2, ZD2778A2ZDS2, ZD2778A2ZDS2, ZD2778A2ZD2, ZD2778A2ZDS2, ZD2778A2ZD2, ZD2778A2ZD2, ZD2778A2ZD2, ZD2D2D2DZ, ZD2D4DZ2 AAM63349.1, ZDS_ARATH, AAA91161.1, ZDS_MAIZE, AAG14399.1, NP_441720.1, NP_486422.1, ZP_00111920.1, CAB56041.1, ZP D0074512.1, ZP_00116357.1, NP_681127.100, ZP.1411004 .1, CAB65434.1, NP_662300.1

Examples of crtlSO genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a crtlSO from Lycopersicon esculentum; ACCESSION # AF416727, published by IsaacsonT., Ronen, G., Zamir.D. and Hirschberg, J .: Cloning of tangerine from tomato reveals a carotenoid isomerase essential for the production of beta-carotene and xanthophylls in plants; Plant Cell 14 (2), 333-342 (2002), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 41, protein: SEQ ID NO: 42),

as well as other crtlSO genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers: AAM53952

Examples of FtsZ genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding an FtsZ from Tagetes erecta, ACCESSION # AF251346, published by Moehs.C.P., Tian.L, Osteryoung, K.W. and Dellapenna.D .: Analysis of carotenoid biosynthetic gene expression during marigold petal development Plant Mol. Biol. 45 (3), 281-293 (2001), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 43, protein: SEQ ID NO: 44) .

as well as other FtsZ genes from other organisms with the following accession numbers:

CAB89286.1, AF205858, NP_200339.1, CAB89287.1, CAB41987.1, AAA82068.1, T06774, AF383876_1, BAC57986.1, CAD22047.1, BAB91150.1, ZP_00072546.1, NP_440816.1, T517922, NP68. 1, BAA85116.1, NP_487898.1, JC4289, BAA82871.1, NP_781763.1, BAC57987.1, ZP_00111461.1, T51088, NP 90843.1, ZP_00060035.1, NP_846285.1, AAL07180.1, NP_243424.1, NP_833626 .1, AAN04561.1, AAN04557.1, CAD22048.1, T51089, NP_692394.1, NP_623237.1, NP_565839.1, T51090, CAA07676.1, NP 13397.1, T51087, CAC44257.1, E84778, ZP_00105267.1, BAA82091.1, ZP_00112790.1, BAA96782.1, NP_348319.1, NP_471472.1, ZP_00115870.1, NP_465556.1, NP_389412.1, BAA82090.1, NP_562681.1, AAM22891.1, NP_371710.1, NP_764416. 1, CAB95028.1, FTSZ__STRGR, AF120117_1, NP_827300.1, JE0282, NP_626341.1, AAC45639.1, NP_785689.1, NP_336679.1, NP_738660.1, ZP_00057764.1, AAC32265.1, NP_CTSZ7M.1 NP_216666.1, CAA75616.1, NP_301700.1, NP_601357.1, ZP_00046269.1, CAA70158.1, ZP_00037834.1, NP_268026.1, FTSZ_ENTHR, NP_787643.1, NP_346105.1, AA C32264.1, JC5548, AAC95440.1, NP_710793.1, NP_687509.1, NP_269594.1, AAC32266.1, NP_720988.1, NP_657875.1, ZP_00094865.1, ZP_00080499.1, ZP_00043589.1, JC70879. 1, AAC46069.1, AF179611 4, AAC44223.1, NP_404201.1.

Examples of MinD genes are:

A nucleic acid encoding a MinD from Tagetes erecta, ACCESSION

# AF251019, published by Moehs.CP, Tian.L., Osteryoung, KW and Dellapena, D .: Analysis of carotenoid biosynthetic gene expression during marigold petal development; Plant Mol. Biol. 45 (3), 281-293 (2001), (nucleic acid: SEQ ID NO: 45, protein: SEQ ID NO: 46), as well as other MinD genes with the following accession numbers:

NP 97790.1, BAA90628.1, NP_038435.1, NP_045875.1, AAN33031.1, NP_050910.1, CAB53105.1, NP_050687.1, NP_682807.1, NP_487496.1, ZP_00111708.1, ZP_000711092.1, NP_4425 , NP_603083.1, NP_782631.1, ZP_00097367.1, ZP_00104319.1, NP_294476.1, NP_622555.1, NP_563054.1, NP_347881.1, ZP_001 3908.1, NP_834154.1, NP_658480.1, ZP_0005985815, NP_4304.1 1, NP_243893.1, NP_465069.1, ZP_00116155.1, NP_390677.1, NP_692970.1, NP_298610.1, NP_207129.1, ZP_00038874.1, NP_778791.1, NP_223033.1, NP_641561.1, NP__636499.1, ZP_0008871 .1, NP_213595.1, NP_743889.1, NP_231594.1, ZP_00085067.1, NP_797252.1, ZP_00136593.1, NP_251934.1, NP_405629.1, NP_759144.1, ZP_00102939.1, NP_793645.1, NP_993645.1. 1, NP_460771.1, NP_860754.1, NP_456322.1, NP_718163.1, NP_229666.1, NP_357356 _; 1, NP_541904.1, NP_287414.1, NP_660660.1, ZP_00128273.1, NPJ03411.1, NP_785789.1, NP_715361.1, AF149810, NP_841854.1, NP_437893.1, ZP_00022726.1, EAA2482944.1, ZP_00022726. 1, NP_521484.1, NP_240148.1, NP_770852.1, AF345908_2, NP_777923.1, ZP_00048879.1, NP_579340.1, NP_143455.1, NP_126254.1, NP_142573.1, NP_613505.1, NP 27112786, NP_77 , NP_578214.1, NP_069530.1, NP_247526.1, AAA85593.1, NP_212403.1, NP_782258.1, ZP_00058694.1, NP_247137.1, NP_219149.1, NP_276946.1, NP_614522.1, ZP_000330288.1, CAD .1

In the preferred embodiment described above, nucleic acids encoding proteins are preferably used as HMG-CoA reductase genes, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 20 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which have an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 20, and which have the enzymatic property of an HMG-CoA reductase ,

Further examples of HMG-CoA reductases and HMG-CoA reductase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 20 easy to find.

Further examples of HMG-CoA reductases and HMG-CoA reductase genes can also be found, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 19 from various organisms, the genomic sequence of which is not known, as described above, can easily be found by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the HMG-CoA reductase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the HMG-CoA reductase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 20.

Those codons which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage are preferably used for this. The codon usage can easily be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other known genes of the organisms in question.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 19 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, nucleic acids encoding proteins are preferably used as (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase genes, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 22 or one of these sequences Substitution, insertion or deletion of a sequence derived from amino acids, which has an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 22, and which have the enzymatic property of an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase.

Further examples of (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductases and (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase genes can be obtained, for example, from different organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, can easily be found by comparing homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with SeQ ID NO: 22.

Further examples of (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductases and (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase genes can also be obtained, for example, from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 21 from different orga- nisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, can easily be found by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the (E) - 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which code for proteins containing the amino acid sequence of (E) - 4- Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase of sequence SEQ ID NO: 22.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 21 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, use is preferably made of (1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase genes) nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 24 or one of these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion sequence derived from amino acids, which has an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 24, and which has the enzymatic property a (1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase.

Further examples of (1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase and (1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above , easy to find by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 24.

Further examples of (1-qeoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthases and (1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase genes can also be obtained from different organisms, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 23 whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and Easily find PCR techniques in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, in order to increase the (1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which code for proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the (1-deoxy-D-xylose-5 Phosphate synthase of sequence SEQ ID NO: 24.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 23 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 26 or one of these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion of are used as 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase genes Amino acid-derived sequence which has an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 26, and which is the enzymatic Have property of a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase.

Further examples of 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase and 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms, the genomic sequence of which is known, as described above Easily find homology comparisons of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with SeQ ID NO: 26.

Further examples of 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerases and 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase genes can also be found, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 25 from different organisms and their genomic Sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization tion and PCR techniques can be easily found in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, in order to increase the 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which code for proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate Reductoisomerase of sequence SEQ ID NO: 26.

Suitable nucleic acid sequences can be obtained, for example, by back-translating the polypeptide sequence in accordance with the genetic code. , -

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 25 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, nucleic acids which encode proteins are preferably used as isopentenyl-D-isomerase genes, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 28 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and having an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 28, and which have the enzymatic property of an isopentenyl-D-isornerase ,

Further examples of isopentenyl-D-isomerases and isopentenyl-D-isomerase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 28 easy to find.

Further examples of isopentenyl-D-isomerases and isopentenyl-D-isomerase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 27 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques easy to find in a manner known per se. In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the isopentenyl-D-isomerase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which code for proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the isopentenyl-D-isomerase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 28.

Those codons are preferably used for this which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage. The codon usage can easily be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other known genes of the organisms in question.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 27 is introduced into the organism.

Preferably, in the preferred embodiment described above, the geranyl diphosphate synthase genes used are nucleic acids which encode proteins, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 30 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and which have an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 30 and which have the enzymatic property of a geranyl diphosphate synthase.

Further examples of geranyl diphosphate synthases and geranyl diphosphate synthase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 30 easy to find.

Further examples of geranyl diphosphate synthases and geranyl diphosphate synthase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 29 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR -Easily find techniques in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, in order to increase the geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the geranyl diphosphate Synthase of sequence SEQ ID NO: 30.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 29 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the famesyl diphosphate synthase genes used are preferably nucleic acids which encode proteins, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 32 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and which have an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 32, and which have the enzymatic property of a farnesyl diphosphate synthase.

Further examples of famesyl diphosphate synthases and farnesyl diphosphate synthase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 32 easy to find.

Further examples of famesyl diphosphate synthases and famesyl diphosphate synthase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 31 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques easy to find in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the

Famesyl diphosphate synthase activity Nucleic acids introduced into organisms which encode proteins, containing the amino acid sequence of the farnesyl diphosphate synthase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 32. Suitable nucleic acid sequences can be obtained, for example, by back-translating the polypeptide sequence in accordance with the genetic code.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 31 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase genes used are preferably nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 34 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which is a Identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 34, and which the enzymatic property of a geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate Have synthase.

Further examples of geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthases and geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases easy to find with SeQ ID NO: 22.

Further examples of geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthases and geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 33 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques can be easily found in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, in order to increase the geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 34.

Suitable nucleic acid sequences can be obtained, for example, by back-translating the polypeptide sequence in accordance with the genetic code. Those codons which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage are preferably used for this. The codon usage can easily be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other, known genes of the organisms in question.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 33 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the phytoene synthase genes used are preferably nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 36 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and having an identity of at least 30 %, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 36, and which have the enzymatic property of a phytoene synthase.

Further examples of phytoene synthases and phytoene synthase genes can easily be found, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 36.

Further examples of phytoene synthases and phytoene synthase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 35 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se Easy to find.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, in order to increase the phytoene synthase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which code for proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the phytoene synthase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 36.

Those codons which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage are preferably used for this. The codon usage can be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other known genes of the relevant organ easily identify nisms.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 35 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the phytoene desaturase genes used are preferably nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 38 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and having an identity of at least 30 %, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 38, and which have the enzymatic property of a phytoene desaturase.

Further examples of phytoene desaturases and phytoene desaturase genes can easily be found, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 38.

Further examples of phytoene desaturases and phytoene desaturase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 37 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se Easy to find.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the phytoene desaturase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 38 are introduced into organisms to increase the phytoene desaturase activity.

Those codons which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage are preferably used for this. The codon usage can easily be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other, known genes of the organisms in question. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 37 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the zeta-carotene desaturase genes used are preferably nucleic acids which encode proteins, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 40 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and which have an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 40, and which have the enzymatic property of a zeta-carotene desaturase ,

Further examples of zeta-carotene desaturases and zeta-carotene desaturase genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SEQ ID NO: 40 easy to find.

Further examples of zeta-carotene desaturases and zeta-carotene desaturase genes can also be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 39 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques easy to find in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the zeta-carotene desaturase activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which code for proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the zeta-carotene desaturase of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 40.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 39 is introduced into the organism. DO

In a preferred embodiment described above, nucleic acids encoding proteins are preferably used as CrtlSO genes, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 42 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and having an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 42, and which have the enzymatic property of a Crtlso.

Further examples of CrtlSO and CrtlSO genes can easily be found, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 42.

Further examples of CrtlSO and CrtlSO genes can also be easily found, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 41 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, in order to increase the CrtlSO activity, nucleic acids are introduced into organisms which code for proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the CrtlSO of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 42.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 41 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the FtsZ genes used are preferably nucleic acids which encode proteins, comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 44 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and which have an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferred at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 44 and which have the enzymatic property of an FtsZ.

Further examples of FtsZn and FtsZ genes can easily be found, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the homology of the amino acid sequences or the corresponding back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with the SeQ ID NO: 44.

Further examples of FtsZn and FtsZ genes can also be easily found, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 43 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, to increase the

FtsZ activity Nucleic acids introduced into organisms which encode proteins, containing the amino acid sequence of the FtsZ of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 44

Those codons which are frequently used in accordance with the organism-specific codon usage are preferably used for this. The codon usage can easily be determined on the basis of computer evaluations of other, known genes of the organisms concerned.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 43 is introduced into the organism.

In the preferred embodiment described above, nucleic acids which encode proteins are preferably used as MinD genes, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 46 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and having an identity of at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70%, even more preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 46, and which have the enzymatic property of a MinD.

Further examples of MinDn and MinD genes can be obtained, for example, from various organisms whose genomic sequence is known, as described above, by comparing the amino acid sequences or the corresponding ones with homology Easily locate DO back-translated nucleic acid sequences from databases with SeQ ID NO: 46.

Further examples of MinDn and MinD genes can also easily be obtained, for example, starting from the sequence SEQ ID NO: 45 from various organisms whose genomic sequence is not known, as described above, by hybridization and PCR techniques in a manner known per se find.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, nucleic acids which encode proteins containing the amino acid sequence of the MinD of the sequence SEQ ID NO: 46 are introduced into organisms to increase the MinD activity.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 45 is introduced into the organism.

All of the above-mentioned HMG-CoA reductase genes, (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase genes, 1 -deoxy-D-xylose-

5-phosphate synthase genes, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase genes, isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase genes, geranyl diphosphate synthase genes, fernesyl diphosphate synthase genes Genes, geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase genes, phytoene synthase genes, phytoene desaturase genes, zeta-carotene desaturase genes, crtl-SO genes, FtsZ genes or MinD genes are still in themselves can be prepared in a known manner by chemical synthesis from the nucleotide building blocks, for example by fragment condensation of individual overlapping, complementary nucleic acid building blocks of the double helix. The chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides can be carried out, for example, in a known manner using the phosphoamidite method (Voet, Voet, 2nd edition, Wiley Press New York, pages 896-897). The attachment of synthetic oligonucleotides and the filling of gaps using the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase and ligation reactions as well as general cloning methods are described in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. The nucleic acids encoding a ketolase selected from the group

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has, and

Nucleic acids encoding a β-hydroxylase, nucleic acids encoding a β-cyclase, nucleic acids encoding an HMG-CoA reductase, nucleic acids encoding an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase, encoding nucleic acids a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase, coding for nucleic acids a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase, coding for nucleic acids, an isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ-isomerase, coding for nucleic acids, a geranyl-diphosphate Synthase, nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a phytoene synthase, nucleic acids encoding a phytoene desaturase, nucleic acids encoding a zeta-carotene desodase protein, nucleic acids In the following, nucleic acids encoding an FtsZ protein and / or nucleic acids encoding a MinD protein are also called "effect genes".

The genetically modified, non-human organisms can be produced as described below, for example by introducing individual nucleic acid constructs (expression cassettes) containing an effect gene, or by introducing multiple constructs which contain up to two or three or more of the effect genes included.

According to the invention, organisms are preferably understood to mean organisms which, as wild-type or starting organisms, naturally or by genetic complementation and / or reorganization of the metabolic pathways, are capable of producing carotenoids, in particular β-carotene and / or zeaxanthin and / or neoxanthine and / or violaxanthin and / or to produce lutein.

Further preferred organisms already have hydroxylase activity as wild-type or starting organisms and are therefore capable of producing zeaxanthin as wild-type or starting organisms.

Preferred organisms are plants or microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts, algae or fungi.

Both bacteria can be used as bacteria that are able to synthesize xanthophylls due to the introduction of genes of the carotenoid biosynthesis of a carotenoid-producing organism, such as bacteria of the genus Escherichia, which contain, for example, crt genes from Erwinia, as well as bacteria. teries that are capable of synthesizing xanthophylls such as bacteria of the genus Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Paracoccus, Nostoc or cyanobacteria of the genus Synechocystis.

Preferred bacteria are Escherichia coli, Erwinia herbicola, Erwinia uredovora, Agrobacterium aurantiacum, Alcaligenes sp. PC-1, Flavobacterium sp. strain R1534, the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, Paracoccus marcusii or Paracoccus carotinifaciens.

Preferred yeasts are Candida, Saccharomyces, Hansenula, Pichia or Phaffia. Particularly preferred yeasts are Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous or Phaffia rhodozyma.

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

Preferred algae are green algae, such as algae of the genus Haematococcus, Phaedactylum tricornatum, Volvox or Dunaliella. Particularly preferred algae are Haematococcus puvialis or Dunaliella bardawil. Further useful microorganisms and their preparation for carrying out the method according to the invention are known, for example, from DE-A-199 16 140, to which reference is hereby made.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, plants are used as non-human organisms.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, genetically modified plants are used which have the highest expression rate of a ketolase according to the invention in flowers.

This is preferably achieved in that the gene expression of the ketolase according to the invention takes place under the control of a flower-specific promoter. For example, the nucleic acids described above, as described in detail below, are introduced into the plant in a nucleic acid construct, functionally linked with a flower-specific promoter.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method using plants, the genetically modified plants additionally have a reduced ε-cyclase activity compared to the wild type.

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.

An ε-cyclase is therefore understood to mean in particular a protein which has the enzymatic activity to convert lycopene to δ-carotene.

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

With a reduced ε-cyclase activity 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 compared to the wild type.

Under a reduced ε-cyclase activity, the partially or essentially complete, based on different cell biological mechanisms is preferably de Understanding or blocking the functionality of an ε-cyclase in a plant cell, plant or a part, tissue, organ, cells or seeds derived therefrom.

The ε-cyclase activity in plants can be reduced compared to the wild type, for example by reducing the amount of ε-cyclase protein or the amount of ε-cyclase mRNA in the plant. Accordingly, ε-cyclase activity which is reduced compared to the wild type can be determined directly or by determining the amount of ε-cyclase protein or the amount of ε-cyclase mRNA of the plant according to the invention in comparison to the wild type.

A reduction in ε-cyclase activity includes a quantitative reduction in ε-cyclase up to an essentially complete absence of ε-cyclase (i.e. lack of detectability of ε-cyclase activity or lack of immunological detectability of ε-cyclase). The ε-cyclase activity (or the ε-cyclase protein amount or the ε-cyclase mRNA amount) in the plant, particularly preferably in flowers compared to the wild type, is preferably increased by at least 5%, more preferably by at least 20% , more preferably reduced by at least 50%, more preferably by 100%. In particular, "reduction" also means the complete absence of the ε-cyclase activity (or the ε-cyclase protein or the ε-cyclase mRNA).

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

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, Darlingue and Camara (Molecular Analysis of carotenoid cyclase inhibition; Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 346 (1) (1997) 53-64):

The in vitro assay is carried out in a volume of 0.25 ml. The mixture contains 50 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.6), different amounts of plant extract, 20 nM lycopene, 0.25 mg of chromoplastid stromal protein from paprika, 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. To After a reaction time of 60 minutes at 30C, the reaction is ended by adding chloroform / methanol (2: 1). The reaction products extracted in chloroform are analyzed by HPLC.

An alternative assay with a radioactive substrate is described in Fräser and Sandmann (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 185 (1) (1992) 9-15). Another analytical method is described in Beyer, Kröncke and Nievelstein (On the mechanism of the lycopene isomerase / cyclase reaction in Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. chromopast ,; J. Biol. Chem. 266 (26) (1991) 17072-17078).

The ε-cyclase activity in plants is preferably reduced by at least one of the following methods:

a) Introduction of at least one double-stranded ε-cyclase ribonucleic acid sequence, hereinafter also referred to as ε-cyclase dsRNA, or an expression cassette or cassettes ensuring expression thereof. These include methods in which the ε-cyclase-ds.RNA is directed against an ε-cyclase gene (that is to say genomic DNA sequences such as the promoter sequence) or an ε-cyclase transcript (that is to say mRNA sequences),

b) introduction of at least one ε-cyclase antisense ribonucleic acid sequence, hereinafter also called ε-cyclase antisenseRNA, or an expression cassette ensuring its expression. These include those methods in which the ε-cyclase antisenseRNA is directed against an ε-cyclase gene (ie genomic DNA sequences) or an ε-cyclase gene transcript (ie RNA sequences). Also included are α-anomeric nucleic acid sequences

c) Introduction of at least one ε-cyclase antisenseRNA combined with a ribozyme or an expression cassette ensuring its expression

d) introduction of at least one ε-cyclase sense ribonucleic acid sequence, hereinafter also referred to as ε-cyclase senseRNA, for inducing a co-suppression or an expression cassette ensuring its expression

e) introduction of at least one DNA or protein binding factor against an ε-cyclase gene, RNA or protein or an expression cassette ensuring its expression f) introducing at least one viral nucleic acid sequence which effects ε-cyclase RNA degradation or an expression cassette which ensures its expression

g) Introduction of at least one construct for generating a loss of function, such as the generation of stop codons or a shift in the reading frame, on an ε-cyclase gene, for example by generating an insertion, deletion, inversion or mutation in an ε-cyclase gene , Knockout mutants can preferably be generated by means of targeted insertion into said ε-cyclase gene by homologous recombination or introduction of sequence-specific nucleases against ε-cyclase gene sequences.

It is known to the person skilled in the art that further methods for reducing an ε-cyclase or its activity or function can also be used within the scope of the present invention. For example, the introduction of a dominant-negative variant of an ε-cyclase or an expression cassette ensuring its expression can also be advantageous. Each of these methods can reduce the amount of protein, amount of mRNA and / or activity of an ε-cyclase. A combined application is also conceivable. Other methods are known to the person skilled in the art and can hinder or prevent the processing of ε-cyclase, the transport of ε-cyclase or its mRNA, inhibition of ribosome attachment, inhibition of RNA splicing, induction of an ε-cyclase-RNA-degrading enzyme and / or inhibit translation elongation or termination.

The individual preferred methods are described as a result of exemplary embodiments:

a) Introduction of a double-stranded ε-cyclase-ribonucleic acid sequence (ε-cyclase-dsRNA)

The method of gene regulation using double-stranded RNA (“double-stranded RNA interference”; dsRNAi) is known and is described, for example, in 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 or WO 00/63364. We hereby expressly refer to the methods and methods described in the quotations given.

According to the invention, “double-stranded ribonucleic acid sequence” means one or more ribonucleic acid sequences which are theoretically based on complementary sequences, for example in accordance with the base pair rules of Waston and Crick and / or factually, for example based on hybridization experiments, in vitro and / or in vivo 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.

A double-stranded ε-cyclase-ribonucleic acid sequence or ε-cyclase-dsRNA is preferably understood to mean an RNA molecule which has a region with a double-strand structure and which contains a nucleic acid sequence in this region which

a) is identical to at least part of the plant's own ε-cyclase transcript and / or

b) is identical to at least part of the plant's own ε-cyclase promoter sequence.

In the method according to the invention, an RNA which has a region with a double-strand structure and which contains a nucleic acid sequence in this region is therefore preferably introduced into the plant in order to reduce the ε-cyclase activity

The term "ε-cyclase transcript" is understood to mean the transcribed part of an ε-cyclase gene which, in addition to the ε-cyclase coding sequence, also contains, for example, non-coding sequences, such as UTRs.

An RNA "which is identical to at least part of the plant's own ε-cyclase promoter sequence" means preferably that the RNA sequence with at least part of the theoretical transcript of the ε-cyclase promoter sequence, ie the corresponding RNA sequence is identical. "A part" of the plant's own ε-cyclase transcript or the plant's own ε-cyclase promoter sequence is understood to mean partial sequences which can range from a few base pairs to complete sequences of the transcript or the promoter sequence. The person skilled in the art can easily determine the optimal length of the partial sequences by routine experiments.

As a rule, the length of the partial sequences is at least 10 bases and at most 2 kb, preferably at least 25 bases and at most 1.5 kb, particularly preferably at least 50 bases and at most 600 bases, very particularly preferably at least 100 bases and at most 500 am most preferably at least 200 bases or at least 300 bases and at most 400 bases.

The partial sequences are preferably selected in such a way that the highest possible specificity is achieved and activities of other enzymes, the reduction of which is not desired, are not reduced. It is therefore advantageous to select parts of the ε-cyclase transcript and / or partial sequences of the ε-cyclase promoter sequences for the partial sequences of the ε-cyclase dsRNA that do not occur in other activities.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the ε-cyclase dsRNA therefore contains a sequence which is identical to a part of the plant's own ε-cyclase transcripts and the 5 'end or the 3' end of the plant's own nucleic acid, coding for an ε -Cyclase contains. In particular, non-translated regions in the 5 'or 3' of the transcript are suitable for producing selective double-strand structures.

Another object of the invention 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 ε-cyclase.

A 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 “sense” RNA ε-Cy ase transcript, and

b) an “antisense” RNA strand which is essentially, preferably completely, complementary to the RNA “sense” strand under a). To transform the plant with an ε-cyclase dsRNA, a nucleic acid construct is preferably used which is introduced into the plant and which is transcribed into the ε-cyclase dsRNA in the plant.

The present invention therefore also relates to a nucleic acid construct that can be transcribed into

a) a “sense” RNA strand comprising at least one ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially identical to at least part of the “sense” RNA ε-cyclase transcript, and

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

These nucleic acid constructs are also called expression cassettes or expression vectors below.

With regard to the dsRNA molecules, ε-cyclase nucleic acid sequence, or the corresponding transcript, is preferably understood to be the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 38 or a Tel thereof.

“Essentially identical” means that the dsRNA sequence can also have insertions, deletions and individual point mutations in comparison to the ε-cyclase target sequence and nevertheless brings about an efficient reduction in expression. The homology 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 “sense” RNA transcript of an ε -Cyclase Geπs, or between the "antisense" strand the complementary strand of an ε-cyclase gene.

A 100% sequence identity between dsRNA and an ε-cyclase gene transcript 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 may result from genetic mutations, polymorphisms or evolutionary divergences. For example, it is possible to suppress ε-cyclase expression in another organism using the dsRNA that was generated on the basis of the ε-cyclase sequence of one organism. For this purpose, the dsRNA preferably comprises sequence regions of ε-cyclase gene transcripts which correspond to conserved regions. said conserved areas can easily be derived from sequence comparisons.

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 transcript (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 inserts, 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.

In a further embodiment, the ε-cyclase dsRNA comprises

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

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

The corresponding, preferably to be used for transforming the plants, nucleic acid construct comprises

a) a “sense” DNA strand which is essentially identical to at least part of the promoter region of an ε-cyclase gene, and

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

The promoter region of an ε-cyclase is preferably understood to mean a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 51 or a part thereof.

The following partial sequences are particularly preferably used to produce the ε-cyclase dsRNA sequences for reducing the ε-cyclase activity, in particular for Tagetes erecta: SEQ ID NO: 52: Sense fragment of the 5'-terminal region of the ε-cyclase

SEQ ID NO: 53: Antisense fragment of the 5'-terminal region of the ε-cyclase

SEQ ID NO: 54: Sense fragment of the 3'-terminal region of the ε-cyclase

SEQ ID NO: 55: Antisense fragment of the 3'-terminal region of the ε-cyclase

SEQ ID NO: 56: Sense fragment of the ε-cyclase promoter

SEQ ID NO: 57: Antisense fragment of the ε-cyclase promoter

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 also 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, the “sense” RNA strand and the “antisense” RNA strand are preferably covalently linked to one another in the form of an inverted “repeat”.

Such as. described in WO 99/53050, the dsRNA can also comprise a hairpin structure, in that the “sense” and “antisense” strand are connected by 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 the complementary RNA strands always comprise an equimolar ratio. Preferably the connecting sequence is an intron (e.g. an intron of the ST-LS1 gene from potato; Vancänneyt GF et al. (1990) Mol Gen Genet 220 (2): 245-250).

The nucleic acid sequence coding for a dsRNA can contain further elements. such as transcription termination signals or polyadenylation signals.

However, if the dsRNA is directed against the promoter sequence of an ε-cyclase, it preferably does not include any transcription termination signals or polyadenylation signals. This enables a retention of the dsRNA in the nucleus of the cell and prevents a distribution of the dsRNA in the whole plant "Spreadinng"). 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 MP-dsRNA is preferably contained on the transformation construct or the transformation vector.

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 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 using the methods described below brought in. 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. b) introduction of an antisense ribonucleic acid sequence of an ε-cyclase (ε-cyclase-antisenseRNA)

Methods for the reduction of a certain protein by the "antisense" technology have been described in many cases, including in plants (Sheehy et al. (1988) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 85: 8805-8809; US 4,801,340; Mol JN et al. (1990) FEBS Lett 268 (2): 427-430). The antisense nucleic acid molecule hybridizes or binds with the cellular mRNA and / or genomic DNA coding for the ε-cyclase to be reduced. As a result, the transcription and / or translation of the ε-cyclase is suppressed. Hybridization can occur in a conventional manner via the formation of a stable duplex or - in the case of genomic DNA - by binding of the antisense nucleic acid molecule with the duplex of the genomic DNA through specific interaction in the major groove of the DNA helix.

An ε-cyclase antisenseRNA can be derived using the nucleic acid sequence coding for this ε-cyclase, for example the nucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 58, according to the base pair rules of Watson and Crick. The ε-cyclase antiseπseRNA can be complementary to the entire transcribed mRNA of the ε-cyclase, limited to the coding region or consist only of an oligonucleotide which is complementary to part of the coding or non-coding sequence of the mRNA. For example, the oligonucleotide can be complementary to the region that comprises the translation start for the ε-cyclase. The ε-cyclase antisenseRNA can have a length of, for example, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 nucleotides, but can also be longer and at least 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 or comprise 5000 nucleotides. ε-Cyclase antisenseRNAs are preferably recombinantly expressed in the target cell in the context of the method according to the invention.

Another object of the invention relates to transgenic expression cassettes containing a nucleic acid sequence coding for at least part of an ε-cyclase, said nucleic acid sequence being functionally linked to a promoter which is functional in plant organisms in an antisense orientation. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the expression of the antisenseRNA takes place starting from an expression construct under the functional control of a flower-specific promoter.

Said expression cassettes can be part of a transformation construct or transformation vector, or can also be introduced as part of a co-transformation. In a further preferred embodiment, the expression of an ε-cyclase can be inhibited by nucleotide sequences which are complementary to the regulatory one

Region of an ε-cyclase gene (e.g. an ε-cyclase promoter and / or enhancer) and form triple-helical structures with the DNA double helix there, so that the transcription of the ε-cyclase gene is reduced. Appropriate methods have been described (Helene C (1991) Anticancer Drug Res 6 (6): 569-84; Helene C et al.

(1992) Ann NY Acad Sei 660: 27-36; Mower LJ (1992) Bioassays 14 (12): 807-815).

In a further embodiment, the ε-cyclase antisenseRNA can be an α-anomeric nucleic acid. Such α-anomeric nucleic acid molecules form specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, in contrast to the conventional β-nucleic acids, the two strands run parallel to one another (Gautier C et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res 15: 6625-6641).

c) Introduction of an ε-cyclase antisenseRNA combined with a ribozyme

The antisense strategy described above can advantageously be coupled with a ribozyme method. Catalytic RNA molecules or ribozymes can be adapted to any target RNA and cleave the phosphodiester framework at specific positions, whereby the target RNA is functionally deactivated (Tanner NK (1999) FEMS Microbiol Rev 23 (3): 257-275 ). This does not modify the ribozyme itself, but is able to cleave further target RNA molecules analogously, which gives it the properties of an enzyme. The incorporation of ribozyme sequences in "antisense" RNAs gives these "antisense" RNAs this enzyme-like, RNA-cleaving property and thus increases their efficiency in inactivating the target RNA. The preparation and use of corresponding ribozyme "antisense" RNA molecules is described (inter alia in Haseloff et al. (1988) Nature 334: 585-591); Haselhoff and Gerlach (1988) Nature 334: 585-591; Steinecke P et al. (1992) EMBO J 11 (4): 1525-1530; de Feyter R et al. (1996) Mol Gen Genet. 250 (3): 329-338).

In this way, ribozymes (for example "Hammerhead"ribozymes; Haselhoff and Gerlach (1988) Nature 334: 585-591) can be used to catalytically cleave the mRNA of an ε-cyclase to be reduced and thus to prevent translation. Ribozyme technology can increase the efficiency of an antisense strategy. Methods for the expression of ribozymes for the reduction of certain proteins are described in (EP 0 291 533, EP 0 321 201, EP 0 360 257). Ribozyme expression is also described in plant cells (Steinecke P et al. (1992) EMBO J 11 (4): 1525-1530; de Feyter R et al. (1996) Mol Gen Genet. 250 (3): 329- 338). Suitable target sequences and ribozymes can be described, for example, as in "Steinecke P, Ribozymes, Methods in Cell Biology 50, Galbraith et al. Eds, Academic Press, Inc. (1995), pp. 449-460". were determined by secondary structure calculations of ribozyme and target RNA and by their interaction (Bayley CC et al. (1992) Plant Mol Biol. 18 (2): 353-361; Lloyd AM and Davis RW et al. (1994) Mol Gen Genet. 242 (6): 653-657). For example, derivatives of Tetrahymena L-19 IVS RNA can be constructed which have regions complementary to the mRNA of the ε-cyclase to be suppressed (see also US 4,987,071 and US 5,116,742). Alternatively, such ribozymes can also be identified via a selection process from a library of diverse ribozymes (Bartel D and Szostak JW (1993) Science 261: 1411-1418).

d) introduction of a sense ribonucleic acid sequence of an ε-cyclase (ε-cyclase-senseRNA) to induce co-suppression

The expression of an ε-cyclase ribonucleic acid sequence (or a part thereof) in sense orientation can lead to a co-suppression of the corresponding ε-cyclase gene. The expression of sense RNA with homology to an endogenous ε-cyclase gene can reduce or switch off the expression of the same, similarly as has been described for antisense approaches (Jorgensen et al. (1996) Plant Mol Biol 31 (5): 957-973; Goring et al. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 88: 1770-1774; Smith et al. (1990) Mol Gen Genet 224: 447-481; Napoli et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2: 279-289; Van Krol et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2: 291-99). The construct introduced can represent the homologous gene to be reduced in whole or in part. The possibility of translation is not necessary. The application of this technology to plants is described (e.g. Napoli et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2: 279-289; in US 5,034,323.

The cosuppression is preferably implemented using a sequence which is essentially identical to at least part of the nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase, for example the nucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 38. The ε-cyclase-senseRNA is preferably selected such that translation of the ε-cyclase or a part thereof cannot occur. For this purpose, for example, the δ'-untranslated or 3'-untranslated region can be selected or the ATG start codon deleted or mutated.

e) Introduction of DNA or protein binding factors against ε-cyclase genes, RNAs or proteins

A reduction in ε-cyclase expression is also possible with specific DNA-binding factors, for example with factors of the type of zinc finger transcription factors. These factors attach to the genomic sequence of the endogenous target gene, preferably in the regulatory areas, and cause a reduction in expression. Appropriate processes for the production of such factors are described (Dreier B et al. (2001) J Biol Chem 276 (31): 29466-78; Dreier B et al. (2000) J Mol Biol 303 (4): 489-502; Beerli RR et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 97 (4): 1495-1500; Beerli RR et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275 (42): 32617-32627; Segal DJ and Barbas CF 3rd. (2000 ) Curr Opin Chem Biol 4 (1): 34-39; Kang JS and Kim JS (2000) J Biol Chem 275 (12): 8742-8748; Beerli RR et al. (1998) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 95 (25 ): 14628-14633; Kim JS et al. (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 94 (8): 3616 -3620; Klug A (1999) J Mol Biol 293 (2): 215-218; Tsai SY et al. (1998) Adv Drug Deliv Rev 30 (1-3): 23-31; Mapp AK et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 97 (8): 3930-3935; Sharrocks AD et al. (1997) Int J Biochem Cell Biol 29 (12): 1371-1387; Zhang L et al. (2000) J Biol Chem 275 (43): 33850-33860).

These factors can be selected using any piece of an ε-cyciase gene. This section is preferably in the region of the promoter region. For gene suppression, however, it can also lie in the area of the coding exons or introns.

In addition, factors can be introduced into a cell that inhibit the ε-cyclase itself. These protein binding factors can e.g. Aptamers (Famulok M and Mayer G (1999) Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 243: 123-36) or antibodies or antibody fragments or single-chain antibodies. The extraction of these factors has been described (Owen M et al. (1992) Biotechnology (NY) 10 (7): 790-794; Franken E et al. (1997) Curr Opin Biotechnol 8 (4): 411-416; Whitelam ( 1996) Trend Plant Be 1: 286-272).

f) introduction of the ε-cyclase RNA degradation causing viral nucleic acid sequences and expression constructs

The ε-cyclase expression can also be effectively achieved by induction of the specific ε-cyclase RNA degradation by the plant using a viral expression system (Amplikon; Angell SM et al. (1999) Plant J 20 (3): 357-362) , These systems - also referred to as "VIGS" (viral induced gene silencing) - introduce nucleic acid sequences into the plant with homology to the transcript of an ε-cyclase to be reduced by means of viral vectors. The transcription is then switched off - presumably mediated by plant defense mechanisms against viruses. Appropriate techniques and processes are described (Ratcliff F et al. (2001) Plant J 25 (2): 237-45; Fagard M and Vaucheret H (2000) Plant Mol Biol 43 (2-3): 285-93; Anan- dalakshmi R et al. (1998) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 95 (22): 13079-84; Ruiz MT (1998) Plant Cell 10 (6): 937-46). The VIGS-mediated reduction is preferably implemented using a sequence which is essentially identical to at least part of the nucleic acid sequence coding for an ε-cyclase, for example the nucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1.

g) Introduction of constructs for generating a loss of function or a loss of function on ε-cyclase genes

Numerous methods are known to the person skilled in the art as to how genomic sequences can be modified in a targeted manner. These include in particular methods such as the generation of knockout mutants by means of targeted homologous recombination e.g. by generating stop codons, shifts in the reading frame etc. (Hohn B and Puchta H (1999) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 96: 8321-8323) or the targeted deletion or inversion of sequences using e.g. sequence-specific recombinases or nucleases (see below)

The reduction in the amount, function and / or ε-cyclase

-Activity can also be realized by a targeted insertion of nucleic acid sequences (for example the nucleic acid sequence to be inserted in the process according to the invention) into the sequence coding for an ε-cyclase (for example by means of intermolecular homologous recombination). In the context of this embodiment, a DNA construct is preferably used which comprises at least a part of the sequence of an ε-cyclase gene or neighboring sequences and can thus be recombined in a targeted manner in the target cell, so that at least by deletion, addition or substitution of a nucleotide the ε-cyclase gene is changed in such a way that the functionality of the ε-cyclase gene is reduced or completely eliminated. The change can also affect the regulatory elements (eg the promoter) of the ε-cyclase gene, so that the coding sequence remains unchanged, but expression (transcription and / or translation) is omitted and reduced. In conventional homologous recombination, the sequence to be inserted is flanked at its 5 'and / or 3' end by further nucleic acid sequences (A ¹ or B ') which are of sufficient length and homology to corresponding sequences of the ε-cyclase - Show genes (A or B) to enable homologous recombination. The length is usually in the range from several hundred bases to several kilobases (Thomas KR and Capecchi MR (1987) Cell 51: 503; Strepp et al. (1998) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 95 (8): 4368-4373). For homologous recombination, the plant cell with the recombination construct is transformed using the methods described below and successfully recombined clones are selected based on the ε-cyclase which is inactivated as a result. In a further preferred embodiment, the efficiency of the recombination is increased by combination with methods which promote homologous recombination. Such methods are described and include, for example, the expression of proteins such as RecA or the treatment with PARP inhibitors. It could be shown that the intrachromosomal homologous recombination in tobacco plants can be increased by using PARP inhibitors (Puchta H et al. (1995) Plant J 7: 203-210). By using these inhibitors, the rate of homologous recombination in the recombination constructs after induction of the sequence-specific DNA double-strand break and thus the efficiency of the deletion of the transgene sequences can be further increased. Various PARP inhibitors can be used. Inhibitors such as 3-aminobenzamide, 8-hydroxy-2-methyiquinazolin-4-one (NU1025), 1.11 b-dihydro- [2H] benzopyrano- [4,3,2-de] isoquinolin-3-one are preferably included (GPI 6150), 5-aminoisoquinolinone, 3,4-dihydro-5- [4- (1-piperidinyl) butoxy] -1 (2H) -isoquinolinone or those described in WO 00/26192, WO 00/29384, WO 00 / 32579, WO 00/64878, WO 00/68206, WO 00/67734, WO 01/23386 and WO 01/23390.

Other suitable methods are the introduction of nonsense mutations into endogenous marker protein genes, for example by introducing RNA / DNA oligonucleotides into the plant (Zhu et al. (2000) Nat Biotechnol 18 (5): 555-558) or the generation of Knockout mutants with the help of e.g. T-DNA mutagenesis (Koncz et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 1992, 20 (5): 963-976). Point mutations can also be generated using DNA-RNA hybrids, also known as "chimeraplasty" (Cole-Strauss et al. (1999) Nucl Acids Res 27 (5): 1323-1330; Kmiec (1999) Gene therapy American Scientist 87 (3): 240-247).

The methods of dsRNAi, cosuppression using sense RNA and "VIGS" ("virus induced gene silencing") are also referred to as "post-transcriptional gene silencing" (PTGS) or transcriptional gene silencing "(TGS). PTGS / TGS methods are particularly advantageous because the requirements placed on the homology between the marker protein gene to be reduced and the transgenically expressed sense or dsRNA nucleic acid sequence are lower than, for example, in the case of a classic antisense approach. Nucleic acid sequences from one species also effectively reduce the expression of homologous marker protein proteins in other species, without the isolation and

Structure elucidation of the marker protein homologs occurring there would be absolutely necessary. This considerably simplifies the workload. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the ε-cyclase activity is reduced compared to the wild type by:

a) introducing at least one double-stranded ε-cyclase ribonucleic acid sequence or an expression cassette or expression cassettes ensuring its expression into plants and / or

b) introducing at least one ε-cyclase antisense ribonucleic acid sequences or an expression cassette ensuring their expression into plants.

In a very particularly preferred embodiment, the ε-cyclase activity is reduced compared to the wild type by introducing at least one double-stranded ε-cyclase ribonucleic acid sequence or an expression cassette or expression cassettes ensuring its expression in plants.

In a preferred embodiment, genetically modified plants are used which have the lowest expression rate of an ε-cyclase in flowers.

This is preferably achieved in that the reduction of the ε-cyclase activity is flower-specific, particularly preferably flower-leaf-specific.

In the particularly preferred embodiment described above, this is achieved in that the transcription of the ε-cyclase dsRNA sequences takes place under the control of a flower-specific promoter or, even more preferably, under the control of a flower-leaf-specific promoter.

Particularly preferred plants are plants selected from the families Amaranthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Balsaminaceae, Begonia- ceae, Berberidaceae, Brassicaceae, Cannabaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compitaceae, Compositaceae, Compositaceae, Compositeaeae, Compositeae, Compositeae , Graminae, llliaceae, Labiatae, Lamiaceae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Linaceae, Lobeliaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae, Orchidaceae, Papaveraceae, Plumbaginaceae, Poaceae, Polemoniaceae, Primulacaceae, Roseaaceae, Rosunceae , Vitaceae and Violaceae.

Very particularly preferred plants are selected from the group of the plant genera Marigold, Tagetes erreeta, Tagetes patula, Acacia, Aconitum, Adonis, Arnica, Aquilegia, Aster, Astragalus, Bignonia, Calendula, Caltha, Campanula, Canna, Centaurea, Cheiranthus, Chrysanthemum , Citrus, Crepis, Crocus, Curcurbita, Cytisus, Delonia, Delphinium, Dianthus, Dimorphotheca, Doronicum, Eschscholtzia, Forsythia, Fremontia, Gazania, Gelsemium, Genista, Gentiana, Geranium, Gerbera, Geum, Grevillea, Helenium, Helianthus, Hepatica, Heracleum, Hisbiscus, Heliopsis, Hypericum, Hypochoeris Impatiens, Iris, Jacaranda, Kenya, Laburnum, Lathyrus, Leontodon, Lilium, Linum, Lotus, Lycopersicon, Lysimachia, Maratia, Medicago, Mimulus, Narcissus, Oenothera, Osmanthus, Petunia, Photinia, Physalis, Phyteuma, Potentilla, Pyracantha, Ranunculus, Rhododendron, Rosa, Rudbeckia, Senecio, Silene, Silphium, Sinapsis, Sorbus, Spartium, Tecoma, Torenia, Tragopogon, Trollius, Tropaeolum, Tulipa, Tussilago, Ulex, Viola or Zinnia, particularly preferably selected from the group of the plant genera Marigold, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, Lycopersicon, Rosa,

Calendula, Physalis, Medicago, Helianthus, Chrysanthemum, Aster, Tulipa, Narcissus, Petunia, Geranium, Tropaeolum or Adonis.

In the method according to the invention for the production of ketocarotenoids, the cultivation step of the genetically modified organisms is preferably followed by harvesting the organisms and more preferably additionally isolating ketocarotenoids from the organisms.

The organisms are harvested in a manner known per se in accordance with the respective organism. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeast, algae or fungi or plant cells, which are cultivated by fermentation in liquid nutrient media, can be separated off, for example, by centrifuging, decanting or filtering. Plants are grown on nutrient media in a manner known per se and harvested accordingly.

The cultivation of the genetically modified microorganisms is preferably carried out in the presence of oxygen at a cultivation temperature of at least about 20 ° C, e.g. 20 ° C to 40 ° C, and a pH of about 6 to 9. In the case of genetically modified microorganisms, the microorganisms are preferably first cultivated in the presence of oxygen and in a complex medium, such as e.g. TB or LB medium at a cultivation temperature of about 20 ° C or more, and a pH of about 6 to 9 until a sufficient cell density is reached. In order to better control the oxidation reaction, the use of an inducible promoter is preferred. Cultivation is carried out after induction of ketolase expression in the presence of oxygen, e.g. 12 hours to 3 days continued.

The ketocarotenoids are isolated from the harvested biomass in a manner known per se, for example by extraction and, if appropriate, further chemical or physical purification processes, such as, for example, precipitation methods, crystallography, thermal separation processes, such as rectification processes or physical see separation methods such as chromatography.

As mentioned below, the ketocarotenoids in the genetically modified plants according to the invention can preferably be produced specifically in various plant tissues, such as, for example, seeds, leaves, fruits, flowers, in particular in petals.

Ketocarotenoids are isolated from the harvested petals in a manner known per se, for example by drying and subsequent extraction and, if appropriate, further chemical or physical purification processes, such as, for example, precipitation methods, crystallography, thermal separation processes, such as rectification processes or physical separation processes, such as chromatography. Ketocarotenoids are isolated from the petals, for example, preferably using organic solvents such as acetone, hexane, ether or tert-methylbutyl ether.

Further isolation processes for ketocarotenoids, in particular from petals, are described, for example, in Egger and Kleinig (Phytochemistry (1967) 6, 437-440) and Egger (Phytochemistry (1965) 4, 609-618).

The ketocarotenoids are preferably selected from the group of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, echinenone, 3-hydroxyechinenone, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, adonirubin and adonixanthin.

A particularly preferred ketocarotenoid is astaxanthin.

Depending on the organism used, the ketocarotenoids are obtained in free form or as fatty acid esters or as diglucosides.

In the petals of plants, the ketocarofinlides are obtained in the process according to the invention in the form of their mono- or diesters with fatty acids. Some proven fatty acids are e.g. Myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, and lauric acid (Kamata and Simpson (1987) Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol. 86B (3), 587-591).

The ketocarotenoids can be produced in the whole plant or, in a preferred embodiment, specifically in plant tissues which contain chromoplasts. Preferred plant tissues are, for example, roots, seeds, leaves, fruits, flowers and in particular nectaries and petals, which also have petals. be drawn.

In a further, particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, genetically modified plants are used which have the highest expression rate of a ketolase in fruits.

This is preferably achieved in that the gene expression of the ketolase takes place under the control of a fruit-specific promoter. For example, the nucleic acids described above, as described in detail below, are introduced into the plant in a nucleic acid construct functionally linked with a fruit-specific promoter.

In a further, particularly preferred, embodiment of the method according to the invention, genetically modified plants are used which have the highest expression rate of a ketolase in seeds.

This is preferably achieved in that the gene expression of the ketolase takes place under the control of a seed-specific promoter. For example, the nucleic acids described above, as described in detail below, are introduced into the plant in a nucleic acid construct functionally linked with a seed-specific promoter.

The targeting in the chrome peaks is carried out by a functionally linked plastid transit peptide.

The production of genetically modified plants with increased or caused ketolase activity is described below by way of example, the modified ketolase activity being caused by a ketolase selected from group A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2, B ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 has. C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or

Increasing other activities such as ß-cyclase activity, hydroxylase activity, HMG-CoA reductase activity, (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase activity, 1- Deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity, 1 - deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity, isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ-isomerase activity, geranyl-diphosphate synthase activity, farnesyl diphosphate

Synthase activity, geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, phytoene synthase activity, phytoene desaturase activity, zeta-carotene desaturase activity, crtlSO activity, FtsZ activity and / or MinD activity can be analogous The corresponding effect genes are used.

In the combination of genetic changes, the transformation can take place individually or through multiple constructs.

The transgenic plants are preferably produced by transforming the starting plants, using a nucleic acid construct which contains at least one of the effect genes described above and which are functionally linked to one or more regulation signals which ensure transcription and translation in plants.

These nucleic acid constructs, in which the effect genes are functionally linked to one or more regulation signals which ensure transcription and translation in plants, are also called expression cassettes below.

The regulation signals preferably contain one or more promoters which ensure transcription and translation in plants.

The expression cassettes contain regulatory signals, that is to say regulative nucleic acid sequences which control the expression of the effect genes in the host cell. According to a preferred embodiment, an expression cassette comprises a promoter upstream, ie at the 5 'end of the coding sequence, and downstream, ie at 3'-end, a polyadenylation signal and optionally further regulatory elements which are operatively linked to the intermediate coding sequence of the effect gene for at least one of the genes described above. An operative link is understood to mean the sequential arrangement of promoter, coding sequence, terminator and, if appropriate, further regulatory elements in such a way that each of the regulatory elements can fulfill its function as intended when expressing the coding sequence.

The preferred nucleic acid constructs, expression cassettes and vectors for plants and methods for producing transgenic plants, and the transgenic plants themselves are described below by way of example.

The sequences which are preferred, but not limited to, for operative linking, are targeting sequences for ensuring subcellular localization in the apoplast, in the vacuole, in plastids, in the mitochondrion, in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), in the cell nucleus, in oil bodies or other compartments and Translation enhancers such as the 5 'leader sequence from the tobacco mosaic virus (Gallie et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 15 (1987), 8693-8711).

In principle, any promoter which can control the expression of foreign genes in plants is suitable as the promoter of the expression cassette.

“Constitutive” promoter means those promoters which ensure expression in numerous, preferably all, tissues over a relatively long period of plant development, preferably at all times during plant development.

A plant promoter or a promoter derived from a plant virus is preferably used in particular. Particularly preferred is the promoter of the 35S transcript of the CaMV cauliflower mosaic virus (Franck et al. (1980) Cell 21: 285-294; Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313: 810-812; Shewmaker et al. (1985) Virology 140: 281-288; Gardner et al. (1986) Plant Mol Biol 6: 221-228), the 19S CaMV promoter (US 5,352,605; WO 84/02913; Benfey et al. (1989) EMBO J 8: 2195- 2202), the triose-phosphate translocator (TPT) promoter from Arabidopsis thaliana Acc.-No. AB006698, base pair 53242 to 55281; the gene starting from bp 55282 is annotated with "phosphate / triose-phosphate translocator", or the 34S promoter from Figwort mosaic virus Acc.-No. X16673, base pair 1 to 554.

Another suitable constitutive promoter is the pds promoter (Pecker et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Be USA 89: 4962-4966) or the "Rubisco small subunit (SSU)" promoter (US 4,962,028), the LeguminB Promoter (GenBank Acc.No. X03677), the promoter of nopaline synthase from Agrobacterium, the TR double promoter, the OCS (octopine synthase) promoter from Agrobacterium, the ubiquitin promoter (Holtorf S et al. (1995) Plant Mol Biol 29: 637-649), the Ubiquitin 1 promoter (Christensen et al. (1992) Plant Mol Biol 18: 675-689; Bruce et al. (1989) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 86: 9692-9696), the Smas promoter, the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase promoter ( No. 5,683,439), the promoters of the vacuolar ATPase subunits or the promoter of a proline-rich protein from wheat (WO 91/13991), the Pnit promoter (Y07648.L, Hillebrand et al. (1998), Plant. Mol. Biol. 36, 89-99, Hille-brand et al. (1996), Gene, 170, 197-200) and further promoters of genes whose constitutive expression in plants is known to the person skilled in the art.

The expression cassettes can also contain a chemically inducible promoter (review article: Gatz et al. (1997) Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 48: 89-108), by means of which the expression of the effect genes in the plant can be controlled at a specific point in time can. Such promoters, e.g. the PRP1 promoter (Ward et al. (1993) Plant Mol Biol 22: 361-366), a salicylic acid-inducible promoter (WO 95/19443), a benzenesulfonamide-inducible promoter (EP 0 388 186), a tetracycline inducible promoter (Gatz et al. (1992) Plant J 2: 397-404), an abscisic acid inducible promoter (EP 0 335 528) or an ethanol or cyclohexanone inducible promoter (WO 93/21334) can also be used become.

Also preferred are promoters that are induced by biotic or abiotic stress, such as the pathogen-inducible promoter of the PRP1 gene (Ward et al. (1993) Plant Mol Biol 22: 361-366), the heat-inducible hsp70 or hsp80 promoter from tomato (US 5,187,267), the cold-inducible alpha-amylase promoter from the potato (WO 96/12814), the light-inducible PPDK promoter or the wound-induced pinII promoter (EP375091).

Pathogen-inducible promoters include those of genes that are induced as a result of a pathogen attack, such as, for example, genes from PR proteins, SAR proteins, b-1, 3-glucanase, chitinase etc. (for example Redolfi et al. (1983) Neth J Plant Pathol 89: 245-254; Uknes, et al. (1992) The Plant Cell 4: 645-656; Van Loon

(1985) Plant Mol Viral 4: 111-116; Marineau et al. (1987) Plant Mol Biol 9: 335-342; Matton et al. (1987) Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 2: 325-342; Somssich et al.

(1986) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 83: 2427-2430; Somssich et al. (1988) Mol Gen Genetics 2: 93-98; Chen et al. (1996) Plant J 10: 955-966; Zhang and Sing (1994) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 91: 2507-2511; Warner, et al. (1993) Plant J 3: 191-201; Siebertz et al. (1989) Plant Cell 1: 961-968 (1989). Also included are wound inducible promoters such as that of the pinll gene (Ryan (1990) Ann Rev Phytopath 28: 425-449; Duan et al. (1996) Nat Biotech 14: 494-498), the wunl and wun2 gene (US 5,428,148 ), the winl and win2 genes (Stanford et al. (1989) Mol Gen Genet 215: 200-208), the systemin gene (McGurl et al. (1992) Science 225: 1570-1573), the WIP1 - Gens (Rohmeier et al. (1993) Plant Mol Biol

22: 783-792; Ekelkamp et al. (1993) FEBS Letters 323: 73-76), the MPI gene (Corderok et al. (1994) The Plant J 6 (2): 141-150) and the like.

Further suitable promoters are, for example, fruit ripening-specific promoters, such as the fruit ripening-specific promoter from tomato (WO

94/21794, EP 409 625). Development-dependent promoters partly include the tissue-specific promoters, since the formation of individual tissues is naturally development-dependent.

Furthermore, promoters are particularly preferred which ensure expression in tissues or parts of plants in which, for example, the biosynthesis of ketocarotenoids or their precursors takes place. For example, promoters with specificities for the anthers, ovaries, petals, sepals, flowers, leaves, stems, seeds and roots and combinations thereof are preferred.

Tuber, storage root or root-specific promoters are, for example, the patatin class I (B33) promoter or the potato cathepsin D inhibitor promoter.

Leaf-specific promoters are, for example, the cytosolic promoter

FBPase from potato (WO 97/05900), the SSU promoter (small subunit) of Rubisco (ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase) or the ST-LSI promoter from potato (Stockhaus et al. (1989) EMBO J 8: 2445- 2451).

Flower-specific promoters are, for example, the phytoene synthase promoter (WO 92/16635) or the promoter of the P-rr gene (WO 98/22593), the AP3 promoter from Arabidopsis thaliana (see Example 5), the CHRC promoter (chromoplast-specific carotenoid-associated protein (CHRC) gene promoter from Cucumis sativus Acc.-No. AF099501, base pair 1 to 1532), the EPSP_Synthase promoter (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene promoter from Petunia hybrida, Acc.- No. M37029, Base pair 1 to 1788), the PDS promoter (Phytoene desaturase gene promoter from Solanum lycopersicum, Acc.-No. U46919, base pair 1 to 2078), the DFR-A promoter (dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene A promoter from Petunia hybrida, Acc. -No.X79723, base pair 32 to 1902) or the FBP1 promoter (Floral Binding Protein 1 gene promoter from Petunia hybrida, Acc.-No. L10115, base pair 52 to 1069).

Anther-specific promoters are, for example, the 5126 promoter (US Pat. No. 5,689,049, US Pat. No. 5,689,051), the glob-1 promoter or the g-zein promoter.

Seed-specific promoters are, for example, the ACP05 promoter (acyl carrier protein gene, WO9218634), the promoters AtS1 and AtS3 from Arabidopsis (WO 9920775), the LeB4 promoter from Vicia faba (WO 9729200 and US 06403371), the napin Promoter from Brassica napus (US 5608152; EP 255378; US 5420034), the

SBP promoter from Vicia faba (DE 9903432) or the maize promoters End1 and End2 (WO 0011177).

Further promoters suitable for expression in plants are described in Rogers et al. (1987) Meth in Enzymol 153: 253-277; Schardl et al. (1987) Gene 61: 1-11 and Berger et al. (1989) Proc Natl Acad Sei USA 86: 8402-8406).

In the method according to the invention, particular preference is given to constitutive, seed-specific, fruit-specific, flower-specific and in particular flower-leaf-specific promoters.

An expression cassette is preferably produced by fusing a suitable promoter with at least one of the effect genes described above, and preferably a nucleic acid inserted between promoter and nucleic acid sequence, which codes for a plastid-specific transit peptide, and a polyadenylation signal according to common recombination and cloning techniques, such as those for example in T. Maniatis, EF Fritsch and J. Sambrook, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989) and in T.J. Silhavy, M.L. Berman and L.W. Enquist, Experiments with Gene Fusions, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1984) and in Ausubel, F.M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley-Interscience (1987).

The preferably inserted nucleic acids encoding a plastid transit peptide ensure localization in plastids and in particular in chromoplasts.

Expression cassettes, the nucleic acid sequence of which codes for an effect gene-product fusion protein, can also be used, part of the fusion protein being a transit peptide which controls the translocation of the polypeptide. Preferred transit peptides are preferred for the chromoplasts, which after translocation the effect genes are split off enzymatically from the effect gene product part into the chromoplasts.

The transit peptide which is derived from the plastid Nicotiana tabacum transketolase or another transit peptide (for example the transit peptide of the small subunit of the Rubisco (rbcS) or the ferredoxin NADP oxidoreductase as well as the isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase-2) or its functional equivalent is particularly preferred ,

Nucleic acid sequences of three cassettes of the plastid transit peptide of plastid transketolase from tobacco in three reading frames are particularly preferred as Kpnl / BamHI fragments with an ATG codon in the Ncol interface:

pTP09

Kpnl_GGTACCATGGCGTCTTCTTCTTCTCTCACTCTCTCTCAAGCTATCCTCTCTC GTTCTGTCCCTCGCCATGGCTCTGCCTCTTCTTCTCAACTTTCCCCTTCTTCTCT- CAC I I I I I CCGGCCTTAAATCCAATCCCAATATCACCACCTCCCGCCGCCG- TACTCCTTCCTCCGCCGCCGCCGCCGCCGTCGTAAGGTCACCGGC- GATTCGTGCCTCAGCTGCAACCGAAACCATAGAGAAAACTGAGACTGCGG- GATCC_BamHI

PTP10

Kpnl_GGTACCATGGCGTCTTCTTCTTCTCTCACTCTCTCTCAAGCTATCCTCTCTC GTTCTGTCCCTCGCCATGGCTCTGCCTCTTCTTCTCAACTTTCCCCTTCTTCTCT- CAC I I I I I CCGGCCTTAAATCCAATCCCAATATCACCACCTCCCGCCGCCG- TACTCCTTCCTCCGCCGCCGCCGCCGCCGTCGTAAGGTCACCGGC- GATTCGTGCCTCAGCTGCAACCGAAACCATAGAGAAAACTGAGACTGCGCTG- GATCC_BamHI

pTP11

Kpnl_GGTACCATGGCGTCTTCTTCTTCTCTCACTCTCTCTCAAGCTATCCTCTCTC GTTCTGTCCCTCGCCATGGCTCTGCCTCTTCTTCTCAACTTTCCCCTTCTTCTCT- CAC IIIII CCGGCCTTAAATCCAATCCCAATATCACCACCTCCCGCCGCCG- TACTCCTTCCTCCGCCGCCGCCGCCGCCGTCGTAAGGTCACCGGC- GATTCGTGCCTCAGCTGCAACCGAAACCATAGAGAAAACTGAGACTGCGGG- GATCC_BamHI Further examples of a plastid transit peptide are the transit peptide of the plastid isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase-2 (IPP-2) from Arabisopsis thaliana and the transit peptide of the small subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcS) from pea (Guerineau, F, Woolston, S, Brook L, Mullineaux, P (1988) An expression casette fortargeting foreign proteins into the chloroplasts. Nucl. Acids Res. 16: 11380).

The nucleic acids according to the invention can be produced synthetically or obtained naturally or contain a mixture of synthetic and natural nucleic acid constituents, and can consist of different heterologous gene segments from different organisms.

As described above, preference is given to synthetic nucleotide sequences with codons which are preferred by plants. These plant-preferred codons can be determined from the highest protein frequency codons expressed in most interesting plant species.

When preparing an expression cassette, various DNA fragments can be manipulated in order to obtain a nucleotide sequence which expediently reads in the correct direction and which is equipped with a correct reading frame. To connect the DNA fragments to one another, adapters or linkers can be attached to the fragments.

The promoter and terminator regions can expediently be provided in the transcription direction with a linker or polylinker which contains one or more restriction sites for the insertion of this sequence. As a rule, the linker has 1 to 10, usually 1 to 8, preferably 2 to 6, restriction sites. In general, the linker has a size of less than 100 bp, often less than 60 bp, but at least 5 bp within the regulatory ranges. The promoter can be native or homologous as well as foreign or heterologous to the host plant. The expression cassette preferably contains, in the 5'-3 'transcription direction, the promoter, a coding nucleic acid sequence or a nucleic acid construct and a region for the transcriptional termination. Different termination areas are interchangeable.

Examples of a terminator are the 35S terminator (Guerineau et al. (1988) Nucl Acids Res. 16: 11380), the nos terminator (Depicker A, Stachel S, Dhaese P, Zambryski P, Goodman HM. Nopaline synthase: transcript mapping and DNA sequence. J Mol Appl Genet. 1982; 1 (6): 561-73) or the ocs terminator (Gielen, J, de Beuckeleer, M, Seurinck, J, Debroek, H, de Greve, H, Lemmers , M, van Montagu, M, Schell, J (1984) The complete sequence of the TL-DNA of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens plasmid pTiAchδ. EMBO J. 3: 20 35-846).

Manipulations which provide suitable restriction sites or which remove unnecessary DNA or restriction sites can also be used. Where insertions, deletions or substitutions such as Transitions and transversions can be used in wϊro mutagenesis, "primer repair", restriction or ligation.

With suitable manipulations, e.g. Restriction, "chewing-back" or filling of overhangs for "bluntends", complementary ends of the fragments can be made available for the ligation.

Preferred polyadenylation signals are plant polyadenylation signals, preferably those which essentially correspond to T-DNA polyadenylation signals from Agrobacterium tumefaciens, in particular gene 3 of T-DNA (octopine synthase) of the ti plasmid pTiACH5 (Gielen et al., EMBO J. 3 (1984), 835 ff) or functional equivalents.

The transfer of foreign genes into the genome of a plant is called transformation.

Methods known per se for the transformation and regeneration of plants from plant tissues or plant cells for transient or stable transformation can be used for this purpose.

Suitable methods for the transformation of plants are the protoplast transformation by polyethylene glycol-induced DNA uptake, the biolistic method with the gene cannon - the so-called "particle bombardment" method, the electroporation, the incubation of dry embryos in DNA-containing solution, the Microinjection and the Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer described above. The methods mentioned are described, for example, in B. Jenes et al., Techniques for Gene Transfer, in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, published by S.D. Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press (1993), 128-143 and in Potrykus, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Molec. Biol. 42 (1991), 205-225).

The construct to be expressed is preferably cloned into a vector which is suitable for transforming Agrobacterium tumefaciens, for example pBin19 (Bevan et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 12 (1984), 8711) or particularly preferably pSUN2, pSUN3, pSUN4 or pSUN5 (WO 02/00900). Agrobacteria transformed with an expression plasmid can be used in a known manner to transform plants, for example by bathing wounded leaves or leaf pieces in an agrobacterial solution and then cultivating them in suitable media.

For the preferred production of genetically modified plants, hereinafter also referred to as transgenic plants, the fused expression cassette is cloned into a vector, for example pBin19 or in particular pSUN5 and pSUN3, which is suitable for being transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Agrobacteria transformed with such a vector can then be used in a known manner to transform plants, in particular crop plants, 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 known, among other things, from F.F. White, Vectors for Gene Transfer in Higher Plants; in Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, edited by S.D. Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press, 1993, pp. 15-38. Transgenic plants which contain one or more genes integrated into the expression cassette can be regenerated in a known manner from the transformed cells of the wounded leaves or leaf pieces.

To transform a host plant with one or more effect genes according to the invention, an expression cassette is inserted as an insertion into a recombinant vector, the vector DNA of which contains additional functional regulatory signals, for example sequences for replication or integration. Suitable vectors are inter alia in "Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology" (CRC Press), Chap. 6/7, pp. 71-119 (1993).

Using the recombination and cloning techniques cited above, the expression cassettes can be cloned into suitable vectors which enable their multiplication, for example in E. coli. Suitable cloning vectors include pJIT117 (Guerineau et al. (1988) Nucl. Acids Res. 16: 11380), pBR332, pUC series, M13mp series and pACYC184. Binary vectors which can replicate both in E. coli and in agrobacteria are particularly suitable.

In the following, the production of genetically modified microorganisms according to the invention with increased or caused ketolase activity is described by way of example, the changed ketolase activity being caused by a ketolase selected from the group A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14. or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has.

Increasing other activities such as ß-cyclase activity, hydroxylase activity, HMG-CoA reductase activity, (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase activity, 1- Deoxy-D-xyose-5-phosphate synthase activity, 1 - deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity, isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ-isomerase activity, geranyl-diphosphate synthase activity, farnesyl diphosphate

The nucleic acids described above, encoding a ketolase, β-hydroxylase or β-cyclase, and the nucleic acids encoding an HMG-CoA reductase, nucleic acids encoding an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase , Nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase, nucleic acids encoding an isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ-isomerase, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl -Diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a phytoene synthase, nucleic acids encoding a phytoene desaturase, nucleic acids encoding a zeta-carotene desotase a crtlSO protein, encoding nucleic acids an FtsZ protein encoding a crtlSO protein, encoding nucleic acids an FtsZ protein and / or nucleic acids encoding a MinD protein are preferably incorporated into expression constructs containing, under the genetic control of regulatory nucleic acid sequences, a nucleic acid sequence coding for an enzyme according to the invention; and vectors comprising at least one of these expression constructs.

Such constructs according to the invention preferably comprise a promoter 5 'upstream of the respective coding sequence and a terminator sequence 3' downstream and, if appropriate, further customary regulatory elements, in each case operatively linked to the effect gene. An “operative linkage” is understood to mean the sequential arrangement of promoter, coding sequence (effect gene), terminator and, if appropriate, further regulatory elements in such a way that each of the regulatory elements can perform its function as intended in the expression of the coding sequence.

Examples of sequences which can be linked operatively are targeting sequences as well. Translation enhancers, enhancers, polyadenylation signals and the like. Further regulatory elements include selectable markers, amplification signals, origins of replication and the like.

In addition to the artificial regulation sequences, the natural regulation sequence can still be present before the actual effect gene. This natural regulation can possibly be switched off by genetic modification and the expression of the genes increased or decreased. However, the gene construct can also have a simpler structure, ie no additional regulation signals are inserted in front of the structural gene and the natural promoter with its regulation is not removed. Instead, the natural regulatory sequence is mutated so that regulation no longer takes place and gene expression is increased or decreased. The nucleic acid sequences can be contained in one or more copies in the gene construct.

Examples of useful promoters in microorganisms are: cos-, tac-, trp-, tet-, trp-tet-, Ipp-, lac-, Ipp-lac-, laclq-, T7-, T5-, T3-, gal- , trc, ara, SP6, lambda PR or in the lambda PL promoter, which are advantageously used in gram-negative bacteria; as well as the gram-positive promoters amy and SPO2 or the yeast promoters ADC1, MFa, AC, P-60, CYC1, GAPDH. The use of inducible promoters, such as, for example, light and in particular temperature-inducible promoters, such as the P _r P _r promoter, is particularly preferred. In principle, all natural promoters with their regulatory sequences can be used. In addition, synthetic promoters can also be used advantageously.

The regulatory sequences mentioned are intended to enable the targeted expression of the nucleic acid sequences and the protein expression. Depending on the host organism, this can mean, for example, that the gene is only expressed or overexpressed after induction, or that it is expressed and / or overexpressed immediately.

The regulatory sequences or factors can preferably have a positive influence on the expression and thereby increase or decrease it. Thus, the regulatory elements can advantageously be strengthened at the transcription level by using strong transcription signals such as promoters and / or "enhancers". In addition, an increase in translation is also possible, for example, by improving the stability of the mRNA.

An expression cassette is produced by fusing a suitable promoter with the nucleic acid sequences described above, encoding a ketolase, β-hydroxylase, β-cyclase, HMG-CoA reductase, (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl- Diphosphate reductase, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase, isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ-isomerase, geranyl-diphosphate-synthase, farnesyl-diphosphate- Synthase, geranyl-geranyl-diphosphate synthase, phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase, zeta-carotene desaturase, crtlSO protein, FtsZ protein and / or a MinD protein and a terminator or polyadenylation signal. Common recombination and cloning techniques, such as those described in T. Maniatis, E.F. Fritsch and J. Sambrook, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1989) and in T.J. Silhavy, M.L. Berman and L.W. Enquist, Experiments with Gene Fusions, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1984) and in Ausubel, F.M. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Interscience (1987).

For expression in a suitable host organism, the recombinant nucleic acid construct or gene construct is advantageously inserted into a host-specific vector which enables optimal expression of the genes in the host. Vectors are well known to those skilled in the art and can be found, for example, in "Cloning Vectors" (Pouwels PH et al., Ed., Elsevier, Amsterdam-New York-Oxford, 1985). In addition to plasmids, vectors also include all other vectors known to the person skilled in the art, such as, for example, phages, viruses such as SV40, CMV, baculovirus and adeovirus, transposons, IS elements, phasmids, cosmids, and linear or circular Understand DNA. These vectors can be replicated autonomously in the host organism or replicated chromosomally.

The following may be mentioned as examples of suitable expression vectors:

Common fusion expression vectors such as pGEX (Pharmacia Biotech Ine; Smith, DB and Johnson, KS (1988) Gene 67: 31-40), pMAL (New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA) and pRIT 5 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, NJ) which glutathione-S-transferase (GST), maltose E-binding protein or protein A is fused to the recombinant target protein.

Non-fusion protein expression vectors such as pTrc (Amann et al., (1988) Gene 69: 301-315) and pET 11d (Studier et al. Gene Expression Technology: Methods in Enzymology 185, Academic Press, San Diego, California (1990) 60-89) or pBluescript and pUC vectors.

Yeast expression vector for expression in the yeast S. cerevisiae, such as pYepSed (Baldari et al., (1987) Embo J. 6: 229-234), pMFa (Kurjan and Herskowitz (1982) Cell 30: 933-943) , pJRY88 (Schultz et al. (1987) Gene 54: 113-123) and pYES2 (Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, CA).

Vectors and methods of constructing vectors suitable for use in other fungi such as filamentous fungi include those described in detail in: van den Hondel, C.A.M.J.J. & Punt, P.J. (1991) "Gene transfer Systems and vector development for filamentous fungi, in: Applied Molecular Genetics of Fungi, J.F. Peberdy et al., Eds., Pp. 1-28, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.

Baculovirus vectors available for expression of proteins in cultured insect cells (e.g. Sf9 cells) include the pAc series (Smith et al., (1983) Mol. Cell Biol .. 3: 2156-2165) and pVL series (Lucklow and Summers (1989) Virology 170: 31-39).

Further suitable expression systems for prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are described in chapters 16 and 17 by Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E.F. and Maniatis, T, Molecular cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 1989.

With the help of the expression constructs or vectors according to the invention, genetically modified microorganisms can be produced, for example with at least one vector according to the invention are transformed.

The recombinant constructs according to the invention described above are advantageously introduced and expressed in a suitable host system. Common cloning and transfection methods known to the person skilled in the art, such as, for example, co-precipitation, protoplast fusion, electroporation, retroviral transfection and the like, are preferably used to bring the nucleic acids mentioned into expression in the respective expression system. Suitable systems are described, for example, in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. Ausubel et al., Ed., Wiley Interscience, New York 1997.

Successfully transformed organisms can be selected using marker genes, which are also contained in the vector or in the expression cassette. Examples of such marker genes are genes for antibiotic resistance and for enzymes which catalyze a coloring reaction which stains the transformed cell. These can then be selected using automatic cell sorting.

Microorganisms which have been successfully transformed with a vector and carry an appropriate antibiotic resistance gene (e.g. G418 or hygromycin) can be selected using appropriate antibiotic-containing media or nutrient media. Marker proteins that are presented on the cell surface can be used for selection by means of affinity chromatography.

The combination of the host organisms and the vectors which match the organisms, such as plasmids, viruses or phages, such as, for example, plasmids with the RNA polymerase / promoter system, which forms phages 8 or other temperate phages or transposons and / or further advantageous regulatory sequences an expression system.

The invention further relates to the genetically modified, non-human organisms, the genetic modification being the activity of a ketolase

E in the event that the wild-type organism already has ketolase activity, increased compared to the wild-type and

F in the event that the wild-type organism has no ketolase activity against the wild-type and the ketolase activity increased after E or caused after F is caused by a ketolase selected from the group

As stated above, the increase (according to E) or causation (according to F) of the ketolase activity compared to the wild type is preferably carried out by the

Increasing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase selected from the group

B ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or one of this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids derived sequence that is at least 90% identical at the amino acid level to the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 has

In a further preferred embodiment, the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase is increased by introducing into the organism nucleic acids encoding ketolases selected from the group

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% on amino acids. level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has.

In this embodiment, the transgenic organisms according to the invention therefore have at least one further ketolase gene according to the invention compared to the wild type. In this embodiment, the genetically modified organism according to the invention preferably has at least one exogenous (= heterologous) nucleic acid according to the invention, coding for a ketolase, or at least two endogenous nucleic acids according to the invention, coding for a ketolase:

Preferred embodiments of the organisms and nucleic acids encoding a ketolase have been described above in the method according to the invention.

As mentioned above, particularly preferred, genetically modified organisms additionally have an increased or induced hydroxlase activity and / or β-cyclase activity compared to the wild type. Further preferred embodiments are described above in the method according to the invention.

As mentioned above, further, particularly preferred, genetically modified non-human organisms additionally have at least one further increased activity compared to the wild type, selected from the group HMG-CoA reductase activity, (E) - 4-hydroxy-3 -Methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase activity, 1 -deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity, isopentenyl-diphosphate-Δ -Isomerase activity, geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, farnesyl diphosphate synthase activity, geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, phytoene synthase activity, phytoene desaturase activity, zeta-carotene desaturase activity , crtlSO activity, FtsZ activity and MinD activity. Further preferred embodiments are described above in the method according to the invention.

Further preferred, genetically modified plants, as mentioned above, additionally have a reduced ε-cyclase activity compared to a Wiid type plant. Further preferred embodiments are described above in the method according to the invention.

According to the invention, organisms are preferably understood to mean organisms which, as wild-type or starting organisms, naturally or by genetic complementation and / or reorganization of the metabolic pathways, are capable of producing carotenoids, in particular β-carotene and / or zeaxanthin and / or neoxanthine and / or violaxanthin and / or to produce lutein. Further preferred organisms already have hydroxylase activity as wild-type or starting organisms and are therefore able to produce zeaxanthin as wild-type or starting organisms.

Both bacteria can be used as bacteria that are able to synthesize xanthophylls due to the introduction of genes of the carotenoid biosynthesis of a carotenoid-producing organism, such as bacteria of the genus Escherichia, which contain, for example, crt genes from Erwinia, as well Bacteria that are able to synthesize xanthophylls, such as, for example, bacteria of the genus Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Paracoccus, Nostoc or cyanobacteria of the genus Synechocystis.

Preferred algae are green algae, such as algae of the genus Haematococcus, Phaedactylum tricornatum, Volvox or Dunaliella. Particularly preferred algae are Haematococcus puvialis or Dunaliella bardawil.

Further useful microorganisms and their preparation for carrying out the method according to the invention are known, for example, from DE-A-199 16 140, to which reference is hereby made.

Particularly preferred plants are selected from the Amaranthaceae.Amaryllidaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Balsaminaceae, Begoniaceae, Berberidaceae, Brassicaceae, Cannabaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopaceae, Compateaceae Gentianaceae, Geraniaceae, Graminae, llliaceae, Labiatae, Lamiaceae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Linaceae, Lobeliaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae, Orchidaceae, Papaveraceae, Plumbaginaceae, Poaceae, Polemoniaceae Verbana- ceae, Vitaceae and Violaceae.

Very particularly preferred plants are selected from the group of the plant genera Marigold, Tagetes errecta, Tagetes patula, Acacia, Aconitum, Adonis, Arnica, Aquilegia, Aster, Astragalus, Bignonia, Calendula, Caltha, Campanula, Canna, Centaurea, Cheiranthus, Chrysanthemum , Citrus, Crepis, Crocus, Curcurbita, Cytisus, Delonia, Delphinium, Dianthus, Dimorphotheca, Doronicum, Eschscholtzia, Forsythia, Fremontia, Gazania, Gelsemium, Genista, Gentiana, Geranium, Gerbera, Geum, Grevillaea, Helenium, Helianthus, Hepatica , Heracleum, Hisbiscus, Heliopsis, Hypericum, Hypochoeris, Impatiens, Iris, Jacaranda, Kenya, Laburnum, Lathyrus, Leontodon, Lilium, Linum, Lotus, Lycopersicon, ^' Lysimachia, Maratia, Medicago, Mimulus, Narcissus, Oenothera, Osmanth Petunia, Photinia, Physalis, Phyteuma, Potentilla, Pyracantha, Ranunculus, Rhododendron, Rosa, Rudbeckia, Senecio, Silene, Silphium, Sinapsis, Sorbus, Spartium, Tecoma, Torenia, Tragopogon, Trollius, Tropaeolum, Tulipa, Tussilago, Ulex, viola or zinnia, particularly preferably selected from the group of the plant genera Marigold, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, Lycopersicon, Rosa,

Very particularly preferred genetically modified plants are selected from the plant genera Marigold, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, Adonis, Lycopersicon, Rosa, Calendula, Physalis, Medicago, Helianthus, Chrysanthemum, Aster, Tulipa, Narcissus, Petunia, Geranium or Tropaeolum, the genetic modified plant contains at least one transgenic nucleic acid encoding a ketolase.

The present invention further relates to the transgenic plants, their reproductive material and their plant cells, tissue or parts, in particular their fruits, seeds, flowers and petals.

As described above, the genetically modified plants can be used to produce ketocarotenoids, in particular astaxanthin.

Genetically modified organisms according to the invention, in particular plants or parts of plants, such as in particular petals with an increased content of ketocarotenoids, in particular astaxanthin, which can be consumed by humans and animals can also be used, for example, directly or after processing known per se as food or Feed or used as feed and food supplements.

Furthermore, the genetically modified organisms can be used for the production of ketocarotenoid-containing extracts of the organisms and / or for the production of feed and food supplements.

The genetically modified organisms have an increased ketocarotenoid content compared to the wild type.

An increased ketocarotenoid content is generally understood to mean an increased total ketocarotenoid content.

An increased content of ketocarotenoids is also understood to mean, in particular, an altered content of the preferred ketocarotenoids without the total carotenoid content necessarily having to be increased.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the genetically modified plants according to the invention have an increased astaxanthin content compared to the wild type.

In this case, an increased content is also understood to mean a caused content of ketocarotenoids or astaxanthin.

The invention further relates to a ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids and having an identity of at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 97%, particularly preferably at least 99% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has.

Preferred ketolases contain the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2, 4, 6 or 8. Particularly preferred ketolases are ketolases with the sequences SEQ. ID. NO. 2, 4, 6 or 8.

The invention further relates to nucleic acids encoding ketolases described above.

Preferred nucleic acids contain the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 1, 3, 5 or 7. Particularly preferred nucleic acids are nucleic acids with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 1, 3, 5 or 7. The invention further relates to a ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90%, preferably at least 92%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 97%, more preferably at least 98%, particularly preferably at least 99% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 has.

Preferred ketolases contain the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10. Particularly preferred ketolases are ketolases of the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10th

The invention further relates to nucleic acids encoding a ketolase described above.

Preferred nucleic acids contain the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 9. Particularly preferred nucleic acids are nucleic acids of the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 9th

The invention further relates to ketolases containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90%, preferably at least 92%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 97%, more preferably at least 98%, particularly preferably at least 99% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 has.

Preferred ketolases contain the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12. Particularly preferred ketolases are ketolases of the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12th

Preferred nucleic acids contain the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 11. Particularly preferred nucleic acids are nucleic acids of the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 11th

The invention is illustrated by the following examples, but is not limited to these:

General experimental conditions: Sequence analysis of recombinant DNA The sequencing of recombinant DNA molecules was carried out with a laser fluorescence DNA sequencer from Licor (sales by MWG Biotech, Ebersbach) according to the method of Sanger (Sanger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74 (1977), 5463-5467).

Example 1 :

Amplification of a DNA encoding the entire primary sequence of ketolase NP60.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79

The DNA coding for the ketolase NP60.79: BKT was amplified by means of PCR from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79 (SAG: Collection of algal cultures in Göttingen).

For the preparation of genomic DNA from a suspension culture of Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79, 1 week with continuous light and constant shaking (150 rpm) at 25 ° C in BG 7 - / - medium (1.5 g / l NaNO3, 0.04 g / l K2PO4x3H2O , 0.075 g / l MgSO4xH2O, 0.036 g / l CaCI2x2H2O, 0.006 g / l citric acid, 0.006 g / l Ferric ammonium citrate, 0.001 g / l EDTA disodium magnesium, 0.04 g / l Na2CO3, 1ml trace metal mix A5 + Co ( 2.86 g / l H3BO3, 1.81 g / l MnCI2x4H2o, 0.222 g / l ZnSO4x7H2o, 0.39 g / l Na- MoO4X2H2o, 0.079 g / l CuSO4x5H2O, 0.0494 g / l Co (NO3) 2x6H2O)) the cells were grown through Centrifugation harvested, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar.

Protocol for DNA isolation from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79:

The bacterial cells were pelleted from a 10 ml liquid culture by centrifugation at 8,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The bacterial cells were then crushed and ground in liquid nitrogen using a mortar. The cell material was resuspended in 1 ml of 10 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.5) and transferred to an Eppendorf reaction vessel (2 ml volume). After adding 100 μl Proteinase K (concentration: 20 mg / ml), the cell suspension was incubated for 3 hours at 37 ° C. The suspension was then extracted with 500 μl of phenol. After centrifugation at 13,000 rpm for δ minutes, the upper, aqueous phase was transferred to a new 2 ml Eppendorf reaction vessel. The extraction with phenol was repeated 3 times. The DNA was precipitated by adding 1/10 volume of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and 0.6 volume of isopropanol and then washed with 70% ethanol. The DNA pellet was dried at room temperature, taken up in 25 μl of water and dissolved with heating to 65 ° C.

The nucleic acid coding for the ketolase NP60.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79 was determined by means of a "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79 using a sense-specific primer (NP196-1, SEQ ID No. 59) and an antisense-specific primer (NP196-2 SEQ ID No. 60).

The PCR conditions were as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the DNA, which codes for a ketolase protein consisting of the entire primary sequence, was carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture which contained:

- 1 µl of a Nostoc punctiform SAG 60.79 DNA (prepared as described above)

- 0.25 mM dNTPs

- 0.2 mM NP196-1 (SEQ ID No. 59)

- 0.2 mM NP196-2 (SEQ ID No. 60)

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

- 25.8 ul Aq. Least.

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

1X94 ° C 2 minutes 35X94 ° C 1 minute 55 ° C 1 minute 72 ° C 3 minutes 1X72 ° C 10 minutes

PCR amplification with SEQ ID No. 59 and SEQ ID No. 60 resulted in a 792 bp fragment coding for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence (SEQ ID No. 61). Using standard methods, the amplificate was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR 2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) and the clone pNP60.79 was obtained.

Example 2:

Production of expression vectors for the constitutive expression of ketolase NP60.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79 in Lycopersicon esculentum and Tagetes erecta

The expression of the ketolase from Nostoc punctiform SAG 60.79 in Lycopersicon esculentum and in Tagetes erecta was carried out under the control of the constitutive promoter FNR (ferredoxin NADPH oxidoreduetase) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression was carried out using the pea transit peptide rbcS (Anderson et al. 1986, Biochem J. 240: 709-715). The DNA fragment which contains the FNR promoter region -635 to -1 from Arabidopsis thaliana (SEQ ID No. 65) was PCR-analyzed using genomic DNA (isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana according to standard methods) and the primer FNR-1 (SEQ ID No .63) and FNR-2 (SEQ ID No. 64).

The PCR conditions were as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the DNA, which contains the FNR promoter fragment (-635 to -1), was carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture which contained:

- 100ng of A. thaliana genomic DNA

- 0.25 mM dNTPs

- 0.2 mM FNR-1 (SEQ ID No. 63) - 0.2 mM FNR-2 (SEQ ID No. 64)

- 5 ul 10X PCR buffer (Stratagene)

- 0.25 ul Pfu polymerase (Stratagene)

- 28.8 ul Aq. Least.

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

1X 94 ° C 2 minutes 35X94 ° C 1 minute 50 ° C 1 minute 72 ° C 1 minute

1X 72 ° C 10 minutes

The 653 bp amplificate (SEQ ID No. 65) was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR 2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) using standard methods and the plasmid pFNR was obtained.

Sequencing of the clone pFNR confirmed a sequence which corresponds to a sequence section on chromosome 5 of Arabidopsis thaliana (database entry AB011474) from position 70127 to 69493. The gene begins at base pair 69492 and is annotated with "ferredoxin-NADP + reductase".

The clone pFNR was therefore used for the cloning into the expression vector pJIT117 (Guerineau et al. 1988, Nucl. Acids Res. 16: 11380). The cloning was carried out by isolating the 637 bp Kpnl-Hindlll fragment from pFNR and ligating into the Kpnl-Hindlll cut vector pJIT117. The clone that uses the FNR promoter instead of the original d35S promoter is called pJFNR.

The clone pNP60.79 was used for the cloning into the expression vector pJFNR (example 2). The cloning was carried out by isolating the 790 bp Sphl fragment from pNP60.79 and ligating into the Sphl cut vector pJFNR. The clone that contains the Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79 ketolase in the correct orientation as an N-terminal translational fusion with the rbcS transit peptide is called pJFNRNP60.79.

An expression cassette for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the ketolase NP60.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79 in Lycopersicon esculentum was produced using the binary vector pSUN3 (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS3FNRNP60.79, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment from pJFNRNP60.79 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN3. This clone is called MSP1.

The production of an expression cassette for the Transformation of the expression vector with the ketolase NP60.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 60.79 in Tagetes erecta was carried out using the binary vector pSUN5 (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS5FNRNP60.69, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment from pJFNRNP60.79 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN5. This clone is called MSP2.

Example 3:

Amplification of a DNA encoding the entire primary sequence of ketolase NP60.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79

The DNA which codes for the ketolase NP71.79: BKT was amplified by means of PCR from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79 (SAG: Collection of algal cultures in Göttingen).

For the preparation of genomic DNA from a suspension culture of Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79, which is continuous for 1 week with constant shaking (150 rpm) at 25 ° C in BG 77 medium (1.5 g / l NaNO3, 0.04 g / l K2PO4x3H2O, 0.075 g / l MgSO4xH2O, 0.036 g / l CäCI2x2H2O, 0.006 g / l citric acid, 0.006 g / l ferric ammonium citrate, 0.001 g / l EDTA disodium magnesium, 0.04 g / l Na2CO3, 1 mi trace metal mix A5 + Co (2.86 g / l H3BO3, 1.81 g / l MnCI2x4H2o, 0.222 g / l ZnSO4x7H2o, 0.39 g / l Na- MoO4X2H2o , 0.079 g / l CuSO4x5H2O, 0.0494 g / l Co (NO3) 2x6H2O)), the cells were harvested by centrifugation, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar.

Protocol for DNA isolation from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79:

The nucleic acid coding for the ketolase NP71.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79 was determined by means of a "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79 using a sense-specific primer (NP196-1, SEQ ID No. 59 ) and an antisense-specific primer (NP196-2 SEQ ID No. 60).

The PCR conditions were as follows:

1 µl of a Nostoc punctiform SAG 71.79 DNA (prepared as described above)

- 0.25 mM dNTPs

- 0.2 mM NP196-1 (SEQ ID Nό. 59)

- 0.2 mM NP196-2 (SEQ ID No. 60)

- 5 ul 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA) - 0.25 ul R Taq polymerase (TAKARA) - 25.8 ul Aq. Least.

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

PCR amplification with SEQ ID No. 59 and SEQ ID No. 60 resulted in a 792 bp fragment which codes for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence (SEQ ID No. 66). Using standard methods, the amplificate was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR 2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) and the clone pNP71, 79 was obtained.

Example 4:

Production of expression vectors for the constitutive expression of ketolase NP71.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79 in Lycopersicon esculentum and Tagetes erecta

The expression of the ketolase from Nostoc punctiform SAG 71.79 in Lycopersicon esculentum and in Tagetes erecta was carried out under the control of the constitutive promoter FNR (ferredoxin NADPH oxidoreduetase) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression was carried out using the pea transit peptide rbcS (Anderson et al. 1986, Biochem J. 240: 709-715).

The clone pNP71.79 was used for the cloning into the expression vector pJFNR (example 2). The cloning was carried out by isolating the 790 bp Sphl fragment. vector pJFNR cut from pNP71.79 and ligation into the coil. The clone that contains the Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79 ketolase in the correct orientation as an N-terminal translational fusion with the rbcS transit peptide is called pJFNRNP71.79.

An expression cassette for the Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of the ketolase NP71.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79 in Lycopersicon esculentum was produced using the binary vector pSUN3 (WO02 / 00900). To produce the expression vector pS3FNRNP71.79, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment from pJFNRNP71.79 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN3. This clone is called MSP3.

The production of an expression cassette for the Transformation of the expression vector with the ketolase NP71.79: BKT from Nostoc punctiforme SAG 71.79 in Tagetes erecta was carried out using the binary vector pSUN5 (WO02 / 00900).

The 2.4 Kb Kpnl. Was used to produce the expression vector pS5FNRNP71.69

Fragment from pJFNRNP71.79 ligated with the Kpnl cut vector pSUN5. This clone is called MSP4.

Example 5: Amplification of a DNA encoding the entire primary sequence of the ketolase NS037: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037

The DNA coding for the ketolase NS037: BKT was amplified by PCR from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 (CCAlN.Culture Collection ofAlgae at the University of Vienna).

For the preparation of genomic DNA from a suspension culture of Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037, which is 1 week with continuous light and constant shaking (150 rpm) at 25 ° C in BG 1 - / - medium (1.5 g / l NaNO3, 0.04 g / l K2PO4x3H2O, 0.075 g / l MgSO4xH2O, 0.036 g / l CaCI2x2H2O, 0.006 g / l citric acid, 0.006 g / l Ferric ammonium citrate, 0.001 g / l EDTA disodium magnesium, 0.04 g / l Na2CO3, 1ml trace metal mix A5 + Co (2.86 g / l H3BO3, 1.81 g / l MnCI2x4H2o, 0.222 g / l ZnSO4x7H2o, 0.39 g / l Na- MoO4X2H2o, 0.079 g / l CuSO4x5H2O, 0.0494 g / l Co (NO3) 2x6H2O)), they were grown Cells harvested by centrifugation, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar.

Protocol for DNA isolation from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037:

The bacterial cells were pelleted from a 10 ml liquid culture by centrifugation at 8,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The bacterial cells were then crushed and ground in liquid nitrogen using a mortar. The cell material was resuspended in 1 ml of 10 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.5) and transferred to an Eppendorf reaction vessel (2 ml volume). After adding 100 μl Proteinase K (concentration: 20 mg / ml), the cell suspension was incubated for 3 hours at 37 ° C. The suspension was then extracted with 500 μl of phenol. After δminute centrifugation at 13,000 rpm, the upper, aqueous phase was transferred to a new 2 ml Eppendorf reaction vessel. The extraction with phenol was repeated 3 times. The DNA was precipitated by adding 1/10 volume of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and 0.6 volume of isopropanol and then washed with 70% ethanol. The DNA pellet was dried at room temperature, taken up in 25 μl of water and dissolved with heating to 65 ° C.

The nucleic acid coding for the ketolase NS037: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 was synthesized by means of a "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 using a sense-specific primer (NP196-1, SEQ ID No. 59) and an antisense-specific primer (NSK-2 SEQ ID No. 68).

The PCR conditions were as follows:

- 1 ul of a Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 DNA (prepared as described above)

- 0.25 mM dNTPs

- 0.2 M NP196-1 (SEQ ID No. 59)

- 0.2 mM NSK-2 (SEQ ID No. 68) - 5 ul 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

- 0.25 ul R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

- 25.8 ul Aq. Least.

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

1X 94 ° C 2 minutes 35X94 ° C 1 minute 55 ° C 1 minute 72 ° C 3 minutes 1X 72 ° C 10 minutes

PCR amplification with SEQ ID No. 59 and SEQ ID No. 68 resulted in an 807 bp fragment that codes for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence (SEQ ID No. 69). Using standard methods, the amplificate in the PCR cloning vector pCR 2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) was cloned and the clone pNS037 obtained.

Example 6: Production of expression vectors for the constitutive expression of ketolase

NS037: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 in Lycopersicon esculentum and Tagetes erecta

The expression of the ketolase from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 in Lycopersicon esculentum and in Tagetes erecta was carried out under the control of the constitutive promoter FNR (ferredoxin NADPH oxidoreduetase) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression was carried out using the pea transit peptide rbcS (Anderson et al. 1986, Biochem J. 240: 709-715).

The clone pNS037 was used for the cloning into the expression vector pJFNR (example 2). The cloning was carried out by isolating the 797 bp Sphl fragment from pNS037 and ligation into the Sphl cut vector pJFNR. The clone which contains the ketolase from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 in the correct orientation as an N-terminal translational fusion with the rbcS transit peptide is called pJFNRNS037.

An expression cassette for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the ketolase NS037: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 in Lycopersicon esculentum was produced using the binary vector pSUN3 (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS3FNRNS037, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment from pJFNRNS037 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN3. This clone is called MSP5.

The making of a. Expression cassette for the Λgroόacteräm-mediated transformation of the expression vector with the ketolase NS037: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-037 in Tagetes erecta was carried out using the binary vector pSUN5 (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS5FNRNS037, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment from pJFNRNS037 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN5. This clone is called MSP6.

Example 7: _{J njt} 121

Amplification of a DNA that contains the entire primary sequence of ketolase NS053: BKT

Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 coded

The DNA coding for the ketolase NS053: BKT was amplified by means of PCR from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 (CCAUV: Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Vienna).

For the preparation of genomic DNA from a suspension culture of Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053, which is 1 week with continuous light and constant shaking (150 rpm) at 25 ° C in BG 17 medium (1.5 g / l NaNO3, 0.04 g / l K2PO4x3H2O , 0.075 g / l MgSO4xH2O, 0.036 g / l CaCI2x2H2O, 0.006 g / l citric acid, 0.006 g / l Ferric ammonium citrate, 0.001 g / I EDTA disodium magnesium, 0.04 g / l Na2CO3, 1ml trace metal mix A5 + Co ( 2.86 g / l H3BO3, 1.81 g / l MnCI2x4H2o, 0.222 g / l ZnSO4x7H2o, 0.39 g / l Na- MoO4X2H2o, 0.079 g / l CuSO4x5H2O, 0.0494 g / l Co (NO3) 2x6H2O)) the cells were grown through Centrifugation harvested, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar.

Protocol for DNA isolation from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053:

The bacterial cells were pelleted from a 10 ml liquid culture by centrifugation at 8,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The bacterial cells were then crushed and ground in liquid nitrogen using a mortar. The cell material was resuspended in 1 ml of 10 mM Tris HCl (pH 7.5) and transferred to an Eppendorf reaction vessel (2 ml volume). After adding 100 μl Proteinase K (concentration: 20 mg / ml), the cell suspension was incubated for 3 hours at 37 ° C. The suspension was then extracted with 500 μl of phenol. After centrifugation at 13,000 rpm for δ minutes, the upper, aqueous phase was transferred to a new 2 ml Eppendorf reaction vessel. The phenol extraction was repeated 3 times. The DNA was precipitated by adding 1/10 volume of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and 0.6 volume of isopropanol and then washed with 70% ethanol. The DNA pellet was dried at room temperature, taken up in 25 μl of water and dissolved with heating to 65 ° C.

The nucleic acid coding for the ketolase NS053: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 was synthesized by means of a "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 using a sense-specific primer (NP196-1, SEQ ID No . 59) and an antisense-specific primer (NSK-2 SEQ ID No. 68). The PCR conditions were as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the DNA, which codes for a ketolase protein consisting of the entire primary sequence, was carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, which contained:

- 1 ul of a Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 DNA (prepared as described above)

- 0.25 mM dNTPs - 0.2 mM NP196-1 (SEQ ID No. 59)

- 0.2 mM NSK-2 (SEQ ID No. 68)

- 5 ul 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

- 0.25 ul R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

- 25.8 ul Aq. Least.

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

PCR amplification with SEQ ID No. 59 and SEQ ID No. 68 resulted in an 807 bp fragment coding for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence (SEQ ID No. 71). Using standard methods, the amplificate was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR 2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) and the clone pNS053 was obtained.

Example 8:

Production of expression vectors for the constitutive expression of ketolase NS053: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 in Lycopersicon esculentum and Tagetes erecta

The expression of the ketolase from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 in Lycopersicon esculentum and in Tagetes erecta was carried out under the control of the constitutive promoter FNR (ferredoxin NADPH oxidoreduetase) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression was carried out using the pea transit peptide rbcS (Anderson et al. 1986, Biochem J. 240: 709-715). The clone pNS053 was used for the cloning into the expression vector pJFNR (example

2) used. The cloning was carried out by isolating the 797 bp Sphl fragment from pNS053 and ligating into the SphI cut vector pJFNR. The clone that the

Contains ketolase from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 in the correct orientation as an N-terminal translational fusion with the rbcS transit peptide, is called pJFNRNS053.

An expression cassette for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the ketolase NS053: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 in Lycopericon esculentum was produced using the binary vector pSUN3 (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS3FNRNS053, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment from pJFNRNS053 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN3. This clone is called MSP7.

An expression cassette for the Agro) acteΛ / ^' um -mediated transformation of the expression vector with the ketolase NS053: BKT from Nodularia spumigena CCAUV 01-053 in Tagetes erecta was carried out using the binary vector pSUN5 (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS5FNRNS053, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment from pJFNRNS053 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN5. This clone is called MSP8.

Example 9:

Amplification of a DNA encoding the entire primary sequence of ketolase GV35.87: BKT from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87

The DNA coding for the ketolase GV35.87.BKT was amplified by means of PCR from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 (SAG: Collection of algal cultures in Göttingen).

For the preparation of genomic DNA from a suspension culture of Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87, which was used for 1 week with continuous light and constant shaking (150 rpm) at 25 ° C in BG 17 medium (1.5 g / l NaNO3, 0.04 g / l K2PO4x3H2O, 0.075 g / l

MgSO4xH2O, 0.036 g / l CaCI2x2H2O, 0.006 g / l citric acid, 0.006 g / l Ferric ammonium citrate, 0.001 g / l EDTA disodium magnesium, 0.04 g / l Na2CO3, 1ml trace metal mix A5 + Co (2.86 g / l H3BO3 , 1.81 g / l MnCI2x4H2o, 0.222 g / l ZnSO4x7H2o, 0.39 g / l Na- MoO4X2H2o, 0.079 g / l CuSO4x5H2O, 0.0494 g / l Co (NO3) 2x6H2O)), the cells were harvested by centrifugation, frozen in liquid nitrogen and pulverized in a mortar.

Protocol for DNA isolation from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87:

The bacterial cells were pelleted from a 10 ml liquid culture by centrifugation at 8,000 rpm for 10 minutes. The bacterial cells were then washed in liquid nitrogen with a. Crush and ground the mortar. The cell material was resuspended in 1 ml 10mM Tris HCl (pH 7.5) and transferred to an Eppendorf reaction vessel (2ml volume). After adding 100 μl Proteinase K (concentration: 20 mg / ml), the cell suspension was incubated for 3 hours at 37 ° C. The suspension was then extracted with 500 μl of phenol. After centrifugation at 13,000 rpm for δ minutes, the upper, aqueous phase was transferred to a new 2 ml Eppendorf reaction vessel. The extraction with phenol was repeated 3 times. The DNA was precipitated by adding 1/10 volume of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and 0.6 volume of isopropanol and then washed with 70% ethanol. The DNA pellet was dried at room temperature, taken up in 25 μl of water and dissolved with heating to 65 ° C.

The nucleic acid coding for the ketolase GV35.87.BKT from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 was determined by means of "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 using a sense-specific primer (GVK-F1, SEQ ID No. 73 ) and an antisense-specific primer (GVK-R1 SEQ ID No. 74).

The PCR conditions were as follows:

1 µl of a Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 DNA (prepared as described above)

- 0.25 mM dNTPs

- 0.2 mM GVK-F1 (SEQ ID No. 73) - 0.2 mM GVK-R1 (SEQ ID No. 74)

- 5 ul 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

- 0.25 ul R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

- 25.8 ul Aq. Least. The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

PCR amplification with SEQ ID No. 73 and SEQ ID No. 74 resulted in a 785 bp fragment which codes for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence (SEQ ID No. 75). Using standard methods, the amplificate was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR 2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen) and the clone pGV35.87 was obtained.

Example 10:

Production of expression vectors for the constitutive expression of ketolase GV35.87: BKT from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 in Lycopersicon esculentum and Tagetes erecta

The expression of the ketolase from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 m Lycopersicon esculentum and in Tagetes erecta was carried out under the control of the constitutive promoter FNR (ferredoxin NADPH oxidoreduetase) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression was carried out using the pea transit peptide rbcS (Anderson et al. 1986, Biochem J. 240: 709-715).

The clone pGV35.87 was used for the cloning into the expression vector pJFNR (example 2). The cloning was carried out by isolating the 797 bp Sphl fragment from pGV35.87 and ligation into the SphI-cut vector pJFNR. The clone which contains the ketolase from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 in the correct orientation as an N-terminal translational fusion with the rbcS transit peptide is called pJFNRGV35.87.

An expression cassette for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the ketolase GV35.87: BKT from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 in Lycopericon esculentum was produced using the binary vector pSUN3 (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS3FNRGV35.87, the 2.4 Kb Kpnl fragment (partial Kpnl hydrolysis) from pJFNRGV35.87 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUN3. This clone is called MSP9. An expression cassette for the> 4groώacter / - / m -mediated transformation of the expression vector with the ketolase GV35.87; ßKT from Gloeobacter violaceus SAG 35.87 in Tagetes erecta was carried out using the binary vector pSUNδ (WO02 / 00900).

To produce the expression vector pS5FNRGV35.87, the 22.4 Kb Kpnl fragment (partial Kpnl hydrolysis) from pJFNRGV35.87 was ligated with the Kpnl-cut vector pSUNδ. This clone is called MSP10.

Example 11

Construction of the plasmid pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi / gps for the synthesis of zeaxanthin in

£. coli

PMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi / gps was constructed in three steps using the intermediate stages pMCL-CrtYlBZ and pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi. The plasmid pMCL200 compatible with high-copy-number vectors was used as the vector (Nakano, Y., Yoshida, Y., Yamashita, Y. and Koga, T .; Construction of a series of pACYC-derived plasmid vectors; Gene 162 ( 1995), 157-168).

Example 11.1 .: Construction of pMCL-CrtYlBZ

The biosynthetic genes crtY, crtB, crtl and crtZ come from the bacterium Erwinia uredovora and were amplified by PCR. Genomic DNA from Erwinia uredovora (DSM 30080), prepared by the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Culture (DSMZ, Braunschweig) as part of a service. The PCR

The reaction was carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions (Röche, Long Template PCR: Procedure for amplification of 5-20 kb targets with the expand long template PCR System). The PCR conditions for the amplification of the Erwinia uredovora biosynthesis cluster were as follows:

Master Mix 1:

- 1.75 ul dNTPs (final concentration 3δ0 μM)

- 0.3 μM Primer Crt1 (SEQ ID No. 77) - 0.3 μM Primer Crt2 (SEQ ID No. 78)

- 260 - 500 ng of genomic DNA from DSM 30080 Aq. Dest. Up to a total volume of 50 μl

Master Mix 2:

- 5 ul 10x PCR buffer 1 (final concentration 1x, with 1.75 mM Mg2 +) - 10x PCR buffer 2 (final concentration 1x, with 2.25 mM Mg2 +) - 10x PCR buffer 3 (final concentration 1x, with 2.25 mM Mg2 +) - 0.75 ul Expand Long Template Enzyme Mix (final concentration 2.6 units) Aq. Dest. Up to a total volume of 60 μl δ

The two approaches "Master Mix 1" and "Master Mix 2" were pipetted together. The PCR was carried out in a total volume of δO ul under the following cycle conditions: 0 1X 94 ° C 2 minutes 30X94 ° C 30 seconds 58 ° C 1 minute 68 ° C 4 minutes 5 1X 72 ° C 10 minutes

PCR amplification with SEQ ID No. 77 and SEQ ID No. 78 resulted in a fragment (SEQ ID NO. 79) which is responsible for the genes CrtY (protein: SEQ ID NO. 80), Crtl (protein: SEQ ID NO. 81), crtB (protein: SEQ ID NO. 82) and CrtZ (iDNA) encoded. Using standard methods, the amplificate was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen) and the clone pCR2.1-CrtYIBZ was obtained.

The plasmid pCR2.1-CrtYIBZ was cut Sall and Hindlll, the resulting Sall / Hindlll fragment isolated and transferred by ligation into the Sall / Hindlll cut δ vector pMCL200. The Sall / Hindlll fragment from pCR2.1-CrtYIBZ cloned in pMCL 200 is 4624 bp long, codes for the genes CrtY, Crtl, crtB and CrtZ and corresponds to the sequence from positions 229δ to 6918 in D90087 (SEQ ID No. 79). The gene CrtZ is transcribed against the reading direction of the genes CrtY, Crtl and CrtB by means of its endogenous promoter. The resulting clone is called pMCL-CrtYlBZ.0

Example 11.2 .: Construction of pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi The gene idi (isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase; IPP isomerase) was amplified from E. coli by means of PCR. The nucleic acid, encoding the entire idi gene with idi-5 promoter and ribosome binding site, was extracted from E coli by means of "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) using a sense-specific primer (5'-idi SEQ ID No. 81) and an antisense-specific primer (3'-idi SEQ ID No. 82) was amplified.

The PCR conditions were as follows: 0 The PCR for the amplification of the DNA was carried out in a 50 μl reaction mixture, which contained:

- 1 µl of an E coli TOP10 suspension - 0.25 mM dNTPs

- 0.2 mM 5 -idi (SEQ ID No. 81)

- 0.2 mM 3'-idi (SEQ ID No. 82)

- 5 ul 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

- 0.25 ul R Taq polymerase (TAKARA) - 28.8 ul Aq. Least.

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

1X 94 ° C 2 minutes 20X94 ° C 1 minute 62 ° C 1 minute 72 ° C 1 minute 1X 72 ° C 10 minutes

PCR amplification with SEQ ID No. 81 and SEQ ID No. 82 resulted in a 679 bp fragment coding for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence (SEQ ID No. 83). Using standard methods, the amplificate was cloned into the PCR cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen) and the clone pCR2.1-idi was obtained.

Sequencing of the clone pCR2.1-idi confirmed a sequence that does not differ from the published sequence AE000372 in position 8774 to position 9440. This region includes the promoter region, the potential ribosome binding site and the entire "open reading frame" for the IPP isomerase. The fragment cloned in pCR2.1-idi has a total length of 679 bp by inserting an Xhol site at the 5 'end and a SalI site at the 3' end of the / ^' oY gene.

This clone was therefore used for the cloning of the / / gene into the vector pMCL-CrtYIBZ. The cloning was carried out by isolating the Xhol / Sall fragment from pCR2.1-idi and ligation into the Xhol / Sall cut vector pMCL-CrtYIBZ. The resulting clone is called pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi.

Example 11.3 .: Construction of pMCL-CrtYlBZ idi / gps

The gene gps (geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase; GGPP synthase) was amplified from Archaeoglobus fulgidus by means of PCR. The nucleic acid encoding gps Archaeoglobus fulgidus, was determined by means of "polymerase chain reaction" (PCR) using a sense-specific primer (5'-gps SEQ ID No. 85) and an anti-sense-specific primer (3'-gps SEQ ID No. 86) amplified.

The DNA of Archaeoglobus fulgidus was prepared by the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ, Braunschweig) as part of a service. The PCR conditions were as follows:

The PCR for the amplification of the DNA, which codes for a GGPP synthase protein consisting of the entire primary sequence, was carried out in a δO μl reaction mixture which contained:

- 1 ul of an Archaeoglobus fulgidus-D A

- 0.2δ mM dNTPs - 0.2 mM δ'-gps (SEQ ID No. 85)

- 0.2 mM 3'-gps (SEQ ID No. 86)

- 5 ul 10X PCR buffer (TAKARA)

- 0.2δ ul R Taq polymerase (TAKARA)

- 28.8 ul Aq. Least.

The PCR was carried out under the following cycle conditions:

1X 94 ° C 2 minutes 20X94 ° C 1 minute δ6 ° C 1 minute 72 ° C 1 minute 1X 72 ° C 10 minutes

Using PCR and the primers SEQ ID No. 86 and SEQ ID No. 86 amplified DNA fragments were eluted from the agarose gel using methods known per se and cut with the restriction enzymes Ncol and HindIII. This results in a 962 bp fragment which codes for a protein consisting of the entire primary sequence (SEQ ID No. 87). Using standard methods, the Ncol / HindIII cut amplificate was cloned into the vector pCB97-30 and the clone pCB-gps was obtained.

Sequencing of the clone pCB-gps confirmed a sequence for the GGPP synthase from A. fulgidus, which differs from the published sequence AF120272 in one nucleotide. The second codon of the GGPP synthase was changed by inserting an Ncol site in the gps gene. In the published sequence AF120272, CTG (position 4-6) codes for leucine. By amplification with the two primers SEQ ID No. 85 and SEQ ID No. In 86 this second codon was changed to GTG, which codes for valine.

The clone pCB-gps was therefore used for the cloning of the g / ps gene into the vector pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi. The cloning was carried out by isolating the Kpnl / Xhol

Fragment from pCB-gps and ligation in the Kpnl and Xhol cut vector pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi. The cloned Kpnl / Xhol fragment carries the Prm16 promoter along with a minimal 5 'UTR sequence from rbcL, the first 6 codons from rbcL that extend the GGPP synthase N-terminally, and 3' from the gps gene psbA sequence. The N-terminus of the GGPP synthase thus has the changed amino acid sequence Met-Thr-Pro-Gln-Thr-Ala-Met instead of the natural amino acid sequence with Met-Leu-Lys-Glu (amino acid 1 to 4 from AF120272) -Val-Lys-Glu. As a result, the recombinant GGPP synthase, starting with Lys in position 3 (in AF120272), is identical and has no further changes in the amino acid sequence. The rbcL and psbA sequences were based on a reference according to EibI et al. (Plant J. 19. (1999), 1-13). The resulting clone is called pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi / gps.

Example 12: Biotransformation of zeaxanthin in recombinant E. coli strains

For zeaxanthin biotransformation, recombinant E. co // strains were produced which are capable of producing zeaxanthin by heterologous complementation. Strains of E. coli TOP10 were used as host cells for the complementation experiments with the plasmids i) pNP60.79: BKT, or ii) pNP71.79: BKT or iii) pNS037: BKT and pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi / gps as the second plasmid used.

The plasmid pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi / gps was constructed in order to produce E. co / strains which enable the synthesis of zeaxanthin in high concentration. The plasmid carries the genes crtY, crtB, crtl and crtY from Erwinia uredovora, the gene gps (for geranylgeranyl pyrophoshate synthastase) from Archaeoglobus fulgidus and the gene idi (isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase) from E. coli. Limiting steps for a high accumulation of carotenoids and their biosynthetic precursors were eliminated with this construct. This was previously reported by Wang et al. similarly described with several plasmids (Wang, C.-W., Oh, M.-K. and Liao, JC; engineered isoprenoid pathway enhancements astaxanthin production in Escherichia coli, Biotechnology and Bioengineering 62 (1999), 235- 241).

Cultures of E.coli TOP10 were transformed in a manner known per se with the plasmids pMCL-CrtYlBZ / idi / gps and i) pNP60.79: BKT, or ii) pNP71.79: BKT or iii) pNS037: BKT and in LB- Medium cultured at 30 ° C or 37 ° C overnight. Ampicilün (50 μg / ml), chloramphenicol (50 μg / ml) and isopropyl-β-thiogalactoside (1 mmol) were also added overnight in a conventional manner. The E. coli cultures thus each carried a low copy number and a high copy number plasmid.

To isolate the carotenoids from the recombinant strains, the cells were extracted with acetone, the organic solvent was evaporated to dryness and the carotenoids were separated by means of HPLC on a C30 column. The following process conditions were set.

Separation column: Prontosil C30 column, 2δ0 x 4.6 mm, (Bischoff, Leonberg) Flow rate: 1.0 ml / min Eluents: mobile solvent A - 100% methanol mobile solvent B - 80% methanol, 0.2% ammonium acetate mobile solvent C - 100% t- butyl methyl ether

gradient profile:

Detection: 300 - 500 nm

The spectra were determined directly from the elution peaks using a photodiode array detector. The isolated substances were identified by their absorption spectra and their retention times in comparison to standard samples.

The expression of the ketolase from Nostoc punctiforme 71.79 was carried out with plasmid pNP71.79: BKT, the expression of the ketolase from Nostoc punctiforme 60.79 was carried out with plasmid pNP60.79: BKT and the expression of the ketolase from Nodularia spumigena was carried out with pNS037: BKT. Before extraction of the carotenoids, the total cell number was 6.1 x 10 ⁹ for E. coli / pNP71.79: BKT, the total cell number was 6.3 x 10 ⁹ for E. coli / pNP60.79: BKT and for E. coli / pNS037: BKT determined the total cell number with 6.2 x 10 ⁹ at the wavelength of 600 nm. Table 1 shows a comparison of the bacterially produced amounts of carotenoids:

Table 1: Concentration of carotenoids extracted from E.coli in ng / ml culture, abbreviations: Cantha for canthaxanthin, Adonir for adonirubin, Adonix for adonixanthin, asta for astaxanthin, Zea for zeaxanthin, crypto for beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-C for beta Carotene, total for total carotenoid content, total ketocaro: total of all ketocarotenoids The concentration of total carotenoids was approximately 1/3 higher after about 18 hours of incubation in E. coli / pNP60.79: BKT than in E. coli / pNP71.79: BKT. The amount of ketocarotenoids (canthaxanthin, adonirubin, adonixanthin and astaxanthin) was significantly higher in E. coli / pNP60.79: BKT at 1966 ng with the same number of cells than in E. coli / p NP71.79: BKT with 284 ng. The proportion of ketocarotenoids is δ8% in E.coli / pNP60.79: BKT and only 13% in E.coli / pNP71.79: BKT, each based on the total carotenoid content. The proportion of ketocarotenoids is δ6% in E.coli / pNs037: BKT, based on the total carotenoid content.

Example 13: Production of transgenic Lycopersicon esculentum plants

Transformation and regeneration of tomato plants was carried out according to the published method by Ling and co-workers (Plant Cell Reports (1998), 17: 843-847). For the Microtome variety, higher kanamycin concentrations (100 mg / L) were selected.

The starting explant for the transformation was cotyledons and hypocotyls, seven to ten day old seedlings of the Microtome line. The culture medium according to Murashige and Skoog (1962: Murashige and Skoog, 1962, Physiol. Plant 15, 473-) with 2% sucrose, pH 6, .1 was used for germination. Germination took place at 21 ° C in low light (20 - 100 μE). After seven to ten days, the cotyledons were divided transversely and the hypocotyls were cut into sections approx. 5-10 mm long and placed on the medium MSBN (MS, pH 6.1, 3% sucrose + 1 mg / l BAP, 0.1 mg / l NAA), which was loaded with suspension-cultivated tomato cells the day before. The tomato cells were covered with sterile filter paper without air bubbles. The explants were precultured on the medium described for three to five days. Cells from the Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 strain were isolated individually with the plasmids pS3FNRNP60.79, pS3FNRNP71.79, pS3FNRNS037, pS3FNRNS063, pS3FNRGV3δ.87. From the individual agrobacterium strains transformed with the binary vectors pS3FNRNP60.79, pS3FNRNP71.79, pS3FNRNS037, pS3FNRNS053, pS3FNRGV35.87, an overnight δ culture in YEB medium with kanamycin (20 mg at 28 ° C / l) and 20 mg Cells centrifuged The bacterial pellet was 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 were transferred to the suspension and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature with gentle shaking. The explants were then dried with sterile filter paper and put back on their preculture medium for the three-day co-culture (21 ° C.).

After the co-culture, the explants were transferred to MSZ2 medium (MS pH 6.1 + 3% sucrose, 2 mg / l zeatin, 100 mg / l kanamycin, 160 mg / l timentin) and for δ selective regeneration at 21 ° C stored under low light conditions (20 - 100 μE, light rhythm 16h / 8h). The explants were transferred every two to three weeks until shoots formed. Small shoots could be separated from the explant and rooted on MS (pH 6.1 + 3% sucrose) 160 mg / l timentin, 30 mg / l kanamycin, 0.1 mg / l IAA. Rooted plants were led into the greenhouse.

According to the transformation method described above, the following lines were obtained with the following expression constructs: δ With pS3FNRNP60.79, the following were obtained: MSP1-1, MSP1-2, MSP1-3 With pS3FNRNP71.79, the following were obtained: MSP3-1, MSP3-2, MSP3 -3 With pS3FNRNS037 was obtained: MSP5-1, MSP5-2, MSPδ-3 With pS3FNRNS0δ3 was obtained: MSP7-1, MSP7-2, MSP7-3 With pS3FNRGV3δ.87 was obtained: MSP9-1, MSP9-2, MSP9- 30

Example 14: Production of transgenic Tagetes plants δ Tagetes seeds are sterilized and placed on germination medium (MS medium; Murashige and Skoog, Physiol. Plant. 1δ (1962), 473-497) pH δ, 8.2% sucrose). Germination takes place in a temperature / light / time interval of 18-28 ° C / 20-200 μE / 3-16 weeks, but preferably at 21 ° C, 20-70 μE, for 4-8 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 - 60 mm ² are in the course of the preparation in liquid MS medium

Store room temperature for a maximum of 2 h.

Any Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain, but preferably a supervirulent strain, such as EHA106 with a corresponding binary plasmid, which can carry a selection marker gene (preferably bar or pat) and one or more trait or reporter genes (pS6FNRNP60.79, pS5FNRNP71.79 , pS5FNRNS037, pSδFNRNS053, pS5FNRGV35.87), grown overnight and used for the co-cultivation with the leaf material. The bacterial strain can be grown as follows: A single colony of the corresponding strain is in YEB (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 / l 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 ₆₀₀ of approx. 0.1 to 0.8 was formed. This suspension is used for C cultivation with the leaf material.

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 / l benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1 mg / l indolylacetic acid (IAA). The orientation of the leaves on the medium is insignificant, and the explants are cultivated for 1 to 8 days, but preferably for 6 days, the following conditions being able to be used: light intensity: 30-80 μmol / m ² × sec, temperature: 22 - 24 ° C, light / dark change of 16/8 hours, after which the co-cultivated explants are 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 / l is very suitable for this purpose, and the second selective component is one used to select the success of the transformation. Phosphinothricin in a concentration of 1 to 5 mg / l selects very efficiently, but other selective components according to the method to be used are also conceivable.

After one to three weeks each, the explants are transferred to fresh medium until the bud bud and small shoot develop, which then work on the same thing Basal medium including timentin and PPT or alternative components with growth regulators, namely for example 0.5 mg / l indolylbutyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg / l 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 3-4, on the medium described above for the co-culture. The infection, co-culture and selective regeneration then take place as described above.

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

The addition of AgNO ₃ (3 - 10 mg / l) to the regeneration medium improves the condition of the culture including the regeneration itself.

Components that reduce phenol formation and are known to those skilled in the art, e.g. Citric acid, ascorbic acid, PVP and many more 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.

According to the transformation method described above, the following lines were obtained with the following expression constructs:

With pS5FNRNP60.79 it was obtained: MSP2-1, MSP2-2, MSP2-3

With pS5FNRNP71.79 it was obtained: MSP4-1, MSP4-2, MSP4-3

With pS5FNRNS037 was obtained: MSP6-1, MSP6-2, MSP6-3

With pS6FNRNS0δ3 was obtained: MSP8-1, MSP8-2, MSP8-3

With pSδFNRGV35.87 it was obtained: MSP10-1, MSP10-2, MSP10-3

Example 15: Enzymatic lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of carotenoid esters from plant material and identification of the carotenoids

General working instructions a) Mortarized plant material (eg Petalenrηaterial) (30-100 mg fresh weight) is extracted with 100% acetone (three times 500μl; shake for about 15 minutes each). The solvent is evaporated. Carotenoids are then taken up in 495 μl of acetone, 4.95 ml of potassium phosphate buffer (100 mM, pH 7.4) are added and mixed well. Then about 17 mg of Bile salts (Sigma) and 149 μl of a NaCl / CaCl ₂ solution (3M NaCl and 7δ mM CaCl ₂ ) are added. The suspension is incubated at 37 ° C for 30 minutes. For the enzymatic hydrolysis of the carotenoid esters, 695 μl of a lipase solution (50 mg / ml lipase type 7 from Candida rugosa (Sigma)) is added and incubated with shaking at 37C. After about 21 hours, 596 μl of lipase was again added, with incubation again at least δ hours at 37 ° C. Then about 700 mg Na ₂ SO _{4 are dissolved} in the solution. After adding 1800 μl of petroleum ether, the carotenoids are extracted into the organic phase by vigorous mixing. This shaking is repeated until the organic phase remains colorless. The petroleum ether fractions are combined and the petroleum ether evaporated. Free carotenoids are taken up in 100-120 μl acetone. Free carotenoids can be identified on the basis of retention time and UV-VIS spectra using HPLC and C30 reverse phase columns.

The Bile salts or bile acid salts used are 1: 1 mixtures of cholate and deoxycholate.

b) Working procedure for processing if only small amounts of carotenoid esters are present in the plant material

Alternatively, the hydrolysis of the carotenoid esters by lipase from Candida rugosa can be achieved after separation by means of thin layer chromatography. For this, 50-100mg of plant material are extracted three times with about 750μl acetone. The solvent extract is evaporated in a vacuum (elevated temperatures of 40-50 ° C are tolerable). Then add 300μl petroleum ether acetone (ratio 6: 1) and mix well. Suspended matter is sedimented by centrifugation (1-2 minutes).

The upper phase is transferred to a new reaction vessel. The remaining residue is extracted again with 200 μl of petroleum ether acetone (ratio δ: 1) and suspended matter is removed by centrifugation. The two extracts are combined (volume 500 μl) and the solvents evaporated. The residue is resuspended in 30 μl of petroleum ether: acetone (ratio δ: 1) and applied to a thin-layer plate (silica gel 60, Merck). If more than one application is required for preparative-analytical purposes, several aliquots, each with δ0-100 mg fresh weight, should be prepared for thin-layer chromatographic separation in the manner described. The thin-layer plate is developed in petroleum acetone (ratio δ: 1). Carotenoid bands can be identified visually based on their color. Individual carotenoid bands are scraped out and can be pooled for preparative-analytical purposes. The carotenoids are eluted from the silica material with acetone; the solvent is evaporated in vacuo. For the hydrolysis of the carotenoid esters, the residue is dissolved in 49δμl acetone, 17mg Bile salts (Sigma), 4.9δml 0.1M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and 149μl (3M NaCI, 7δmM CaCI ₂ ) added. After thorough mixing, equilibrate at 37 ° C for 30 minutes. Then add δθδμl lipase from Candida rugosa (Sigma, stock solution of δOmg / ml in δmM CaCl ₂ ). Incubation with lipase takes place overnight with shaking at 37 ° C. After about 21 hours, the same amount of lipase is added again; incubate again at 37 ° C. with shaking for at least δ hours. Then 700 mg Na ₂ SO ₄ (anhydrous) are added; with 1800μl of petroleum ether is shaken for about 1 minute and the mixture centrifuged at 3600 revolutions / minute for δ minutes. The upper δ phase is transferred to a new reaction vessel and the shaking is repeated until the upper phase is colorless. The combined petroleum ether phase is concentrated in vacuo (temperatures of 40-δ0 ° C are possible). The residue is in 120μl. Acetone, possibly by means of ultrasound The dissolved carotenoids can be separated by HPLC using a C30 column and quantified using reference substances.

Example 16: HPLC analysis of free carotenoids

The analysis of the samples obtained according to the working instructions in Example 1 δ is carried out6 under the following conditions:

The following HPLC conditions were set. Separation column: Prontosil C30 column, 2δ0 x 4.6 mm, (Bischoff, Leonberg, Germany) Flow rate: 1.0 ml / min0 eluent solvent A 100% methanol solvent B 80% methanol, 0.2% ammonium acetate solvent C 100% t- Butyl methyl ether detection: 300-630 nm 5 gradient profile:

Some typical retention times for carotenoids formed according to the invention are, for example, violaxanthin 11.7 minutes, astaxanthin 17.7 minutes, adonixanthin 19 minutes, adonirubin 19.9 minutes and zeaxanthin 21 minutes.

Claims

claims

1. Process for the preparation of ketocarotenoids by cultivating genetically modified, non-human organisms which have an altered ketolase activity compared to the wild type and the altered ketolase activity is caused by a ketolase selected from the group

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least δO% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that non-human organisms are used which already have a ketolase activity as wild type, and the genetic change brings about an increase in ketolase activity compared to the wild type.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that to increase the ketolase activity, the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase selected from the group A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 60% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has increased compared to the wild type.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that in order to increase the gene expression nucleic acids are introduced into the organism, which encode a ketolase, selected from the group.

B ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% on amino acids level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 has

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that non-human organisms are used which have no ketolase activity as a wild type and the genetic change causes a ketolase activity compared to the wild type.

6. The method according to claim δ, characterized in that one uses genetically modified organisms which transgenically express a ketolase, selected from the group

C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% on amino acids. level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or

7. The method according to claim δ or 6, characterized in that nucleic acids are introduced into the organisms which code for ketolases, selected from the group, to cause gene expression

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least δO% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. HO. 14 has.

8. The method according to claim 5 or 7, feature A, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 1, 3, 5 or 7.

9. The method according to claim 5 or 7, feature B, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 9 brings.

10. The method according to claim 5 or 7, feature C, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 11 brings.

11. The method according to claim 5 or 7, feature D, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 13 brings.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the genetically modified organisms in addition to the wild type have an increased or caused activity of at least one of the activities selected from the group hydroxylase activity and β-cyclase activity.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that to additionally increase at least one of the activities, the gene expression of at least one nucleic acid selected from the group nucleic acids encoding a hydroxylase, and nucleic acids encoding a β-cyclase, increased compared to the wild type.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that to increase gene expression at least one nucleic acid selected from the group encoding nucleic acids, a hydroxylase and nucleic acids encoding a β-cyclase is introduced into the organism.

1δ. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that nucleic acid encoding a hydroxylase is introduced, nucleic acids encoding a hydroxylase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 16 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 16.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 15 are introduced.

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that nucleic acid encoding a β-cyclase, nucleic acids which encode a β-cyclase, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 18 or one of these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion sequence derived from amino acids, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 18.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 17 are introduced.

19. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the genetically modified organisms in addition to the wild type an increased or caused activity of at least one of the activities selected from the group HMG-CoA reductase activity, (E) -4 -Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase activity, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase activity, 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase activity, isopentenyl - Diphosphate-Δ-isomerase activity, geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, fernsyl diphosphate synthase activity, geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase activity, phytoene synthase activity, phytoene desaturase activity, zeta Carotene desaturase activity, crtlSO activity, FtsZ activity and MinD activity.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that for additional increase or causation of at least one of the activities, the gene expression of at least one nucleic acid selected from the group encoding an HMG-CoA reductase, nucleic acids encoding an (E) - 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase, nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-δ-phosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-δ-phosphate reductoisomerase, Nucleic acids encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a nucleic acid synthase Phytoene desaturase, nucleic acids encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase, nucleic acids encoding a crtlSO protein, nucleic acids encoding an FtsZ prot a and Nucleic acids encoding a MinD protein increased compared to the wild type.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that for increasing or causing the gene expression at least one of the nucleic acids, at least one nucleic acid selected from the group, nucleic acids encoding an HMG-CoA reductase, nucleic acids encoding an (E) -4 -Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase, nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-δ-phosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-r 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, Nucleic acids encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl geranyl diphosphate synthase, nucleic acids encoding a nucleic acid synthase Phytoene desaturase, nucleic acids encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase, nucleic acids encoding a crtlSO protein, nucleic acids encoding an FtsZ protein and nuc introduces a MinD protein encoding linseed acids into the non-human organisms.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the nucleic acid coding is an HMG-CoA reductase, nucleic acids which encode an HMG-CoA reductase are introduced, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 20 or one of this sequence sequence derived by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 20.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 19 are introduced.

24. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the nucleic acid encoding is an (E) -4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase; nucleic acids are introduced which are an (E) -4-hydroxy-3- Encoding methyibut-2-enyl-diphosphate reductase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 22 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of min. at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 22.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 21 are introduced.

26. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase encoding nucleic acid is introduced, containing nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate synthase the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 24 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 24.

27. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 23 are introduced.

28. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a nucleic acid encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase is introduced, containing nucleic acids encoding a 1-deoxy-D-xylose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 26 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 26.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID. NO: 25.

30. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the nucleic acid encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase is introduced, nucleic acids encoding an isopentenyl diphosphate Δ isomerase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 28 or one of this sequence sequence derived by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 28.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 27 are introduced.

32. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a nucleic acid encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase is introduced, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl diphosphate synthase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 30 or one of these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acid-derived sequence which has at least 20% identity at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 30.

33. The method according to claim 32, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 29 are introduced.

34. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a farnesyl diphosphate synthase encoding is introduced as nucleic acid, nucleic acids encoding a farnesyl diphosphate synthase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 32 or one of these sequences by substitution , Insertion or deletion of amino acid-derived sequence which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 32.

35. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 31 are introduced.

36. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a nucleic acid encoding a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase is introduced, nucleic acids encoding a geranyl-geranyl diphosphate synthase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 34 or one of this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 34.

37. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 23 are introduced.

38. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a nucleic acid encoding a phytoene synthase is introduced, nucleic acids encoding a phytoene synthase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 36 or one of this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids derived sequence which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 36.

39. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 35 are introduced.

40. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a nucleic acid encoding a phytoene desaturase is introduced, nucleic acids encoding a phytoene desaturase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 38 or one of these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acid - Ren derived sequence, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 38.

41. The method according to claim 40, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 37 are introduced.

42. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that a nucleic acid encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase is introduced, nucleic acids encoding a zeta-carotene desaturase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 40 or one of these sequences by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acid-derived sequence that has at least 20% identity at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 40.

43. The method according to claim 42, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 39 are introduced.

44. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the nucleic acid coding is a crtlSO protein, nucleic acids which encode a crtlSO protein are introduced, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 42 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids that have an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the Sequence SEQ ID NO: 42.

45. The method according to claim 44, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 41 are introduced.

46. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the nucleic acid encoding is an FtsZ protein, nucleic acids which encode an FtsZ protein are introduced, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO; 44 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 44.

47. The method according to claim 46, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 43 are introduced.

48. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the nucleic acid encoding is a MinD protein, nucleic acids which encode a MinD protein are introduced, containing the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 46 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids which has an identity of at least 20% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ ID NO: 46.

49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that nucleic acids containing the sequence SEQ ID NO: 45 are introduced. ^■

50. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 49, characterized in that after culturing, the genetically modified organisms are harvested and then the ketocarotenoids are isolated from the organisms.

51. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 50, characterized in that the organism used is an organism which is capable of producing carotenoids naturally or as a starting organism or by genetic complementation or re-regulation of metabolic pathways.

52. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 51, characterized in that microorganisms or plants are used as organisms.

53. The method according to claim 52, characterized in that bacteria, yeast, algae or fungi are used as microorganisms.

54. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that the microorganisms are selected from the group Escherichia, Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Paracoccus, Nostoc, cyanobacteria of the genus Synechocystis, Candida, Saccharomyces, Hansenula, Phaffia, Pichia, Aspergillus Trichoderma, Ashbya, Neurospora, Blakeslea, Phycomyces, Fusarium, Haematococcus, Phaedactylum tricornatum, Volvox or Dunaliella.

5δ. A method according to claim δ2, characterized in that plants are used as the organism.

56. The method according to claim 50, characterized in that genetically modified plants are used which have the highest expression rate of a ketolase according to claim 1 in flowers.

57. The method according to claim 66, characterized in that the gene expression of the ketolase according to claim 1 takes place under the control of a flower-specific promoter.

68. The method according to any one of claims δδ to 57, characterized in that the plants additionally have a reduced ε-cyclase activity compared to the wild type.

59. The method according to claim 58, characterized in that the reduction of the ε-cyclase activity in plants is achieved by at least one of the following methods: a) introduction of at least one double-stranded ε-cyclase ribonucleic acid sequence or an expression cassette ensuring its expression or expression cassettes in plants, b) introducing at least one ε-cyclase antisense ribonucleic acid sequences or an expression cassette ensuring their expression in plants, c) introducing at least one ε-cyclase antisense ribonucleic acid sequence combined with a ribozyme or an expression cassette or expression cassette ensuring their expression , d) introducing at least one ε-cyclase sense ribonucleic acid sequences to induce cosuppression or an expression cassette ensuring their expression in plants, e) introducing at least one DNA or protein-binding factor against an ε-cyclase gene, RNA or protein or an expression cassette ensuring its expression in plants, f) introducing at least one viral nucleic acid sequence causing ε-cyclase RNA degradation or an expression cassette ensuring its expression in plants, g) introducing at least one cons truktes for generating an insertion, deletion, inversion or mutation in an ε-cyclase gene in plants.

60. The method according to any one of claims 55 to 59, characterized in that the plant used is a plant which has chromoplasts in petals.

61. The method according to any one of claims 55 to 60, characterized in that the plant is a plant selected from the families Amarantha- ceae, Amaryllidaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Balsaminaceae, Begoniaceae, Berberidaceae, Brassicaceae, Cannabaceae, Caprifoliaciaceae, Caryophyliaceae, Caryophyliaceae, Caryophyliaceae, Caryophyliaceae, Caryophyliaceae, Caryophyliaceae, Caryophyliaceae , Compositae, Cucurbitaceae, Crueiferae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Gentianaceae, Geraniaceae, Graminae, llliaceae, Labiatae, Lamiaceae, Le- guminosae, Liliaceae, Linaceae, Lobeliaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae, Orchidaceae, Papaveraceae, Plumbaginaceae, Poaceae, Polemoniaceae, Primulaceae, Ra- nunculaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Verbolanaceaeaea, Solophanaceaeaea, Scrophularaceaeaea

62. The method according to claim 61, characterized in that a plant is selected from the plant genera Marigold, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, Acacia, Aconitum, Adonis, Arnica, Aqulegia, Aster, Astragalus, Bignonia, Calendula, Caltha , Campanula, Canna, Centaurea, Cheiranthus, Chrysanthemum, Citrus, Crepis, Crocus, Curcurbita, Cytisus, Delonia, Delphinium, Dianthus, Dimorphotheca, Doronicum, Eschscholtzia, Forsythia, Fremontia, Gazania, Gel-semium, Genista, Gentiana, Geranium , Gerbera, Geum, Grevillea, Helenium, Helianthus, Hepatica, Heracleum, Hisbiscus, Heliopsis, Hypericum, Hypochoeris, Impatiens, Iris, Jacaranda, Kerria, Laburnum, Lathyrus, Leontodon, Lilium, Linum, Lotus, Lycopersicon, Liaimachia, Marys , Medicago, Mimulus, Narcissus, Oenothera, Osmanthus, Petunia, Photinia, Physalis, Phyteuma, Potentilla, Pyra- cantha, Ranunculus, Rhododendron, Rosa, Rudbeckia, Senecio, Silene, Silphium, Sinapsis, Sorbus, Spartium, Tecoma, Torenia , Tragopogon , Trollius, Tropaeolum, Tulipa, Tussilago, Ulex, Viola or Zinnia are used.

63. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 62, characterized in that the ketocarotenoids are selected from the group of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, echinenone, 3-hydroxyechinenone, 3'-hydroxyechinenone, adonirubin and adonixanthin.

64. Genetically modified, non-human organism, the genetic modification being the activity of a ketolase

65. Genetically modified organism according to claim 25, characterized in that the increase or cause of the ketolase activity by increasing or causing the gene expression of a nucleic acid encoding a ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 42% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2, against which wild type is effected.

66. Genetically modified organism according to claim 65, characterized in that nucleic acids which encode ketolases, selected from the group, are introduced into the organism in order to increase or cause the gene expression A ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has

D ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 50% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 14 has ..

67. Genetically modified organism containing at least one transgenic nucleic acid encoding a ketolase selected from the group

C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or one of this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids derived sequence that is at least 90% identical at the amino acid level to the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or

68. An organism modified by walking, containing at least two endogenous nucleic acids, coding for a ketolase, selected from the group

C ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or one of. this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids derived sequence that have an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or

69. Genetically modified organism according to one of claims 64 to 68, selected from the group of microorganisms or plants.

70. Genetically modified microorganism according to claim 69, characterized in that the microorganisms are selected from the group of bacteria, yeast, algae or fungi.

71. Genetically modified microorganism according to claim 70, characterized in that the microorganisms are selected from the group Escherichia, Erwinia, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Paracoccus, Nostoc, Cyanobacteria of the genus Synechocystis, Candida, Saccharomyces, Hansenula, Pichia , Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Ashbya, Neurospora, Blakeslea, Phycomyces, Fumarium, Haematococcus, Phaedactylum tricornatum, Volvox or Dunaliella.

72. Genetically modified plant according to claim 69, characterized in that the plants are selected from the families Amaranthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Balsaminaceae, Begoniaceae, Berberidaceae, Brassicacacee, Cannabaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caryophopodaceae, Caryophopodeaea, Caryophopodeaea, Caryophylodeaea Crueiferae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Gentianaceae, Geraniaceae, Graminae, llliaceae, Labiatae, Lamiaceae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Linaceae, Lobeliaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae, Orchidaceae, Plaumuleae, Papaumaceaaceaaceaaceaaceaaceaaceae, Papaveraceae Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae, Tropaeolaceae, Umbelliferae, Verbanaceae, Vitaceae and Violaceae.

73. Genetically modified plant according to claim 72, characterized in that plants are selected from the plant genera Marigold, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, Acacia, Aconitum, Adonis, Arnica, Aqulegia, Aster, Astragalus, Bignonia, Calendula, Caltha, Campanula, Canna , Centaurea, Cheiranthus, Chrysanthemum, Citrus, Crepis, Crocus, Curcurbita, Cytisus, Delonia, Delphinium, Dianthus, Dimorphotheca, Doronicum, Eschscholtzia, Forsythia, Fremontia, Gazania, Gelsemium, Genista, Gentiana, Geranium, Gervillea, Geum , Helenium, Helianthus, Hepatica, Heracleum, Hisbiscus, Heliopsis, Hypericum, Hypochoeris, Impatiens, Iris, Jacaranda, Kerria, Labumum, Lathyrus, Leontodon, Lilium, Linum, Lotus, Lycopersicon, Lysimachia, Maratia, Medicago, Mimulus, Narciss - nothera, Osmanthus, Petunia, Photinia, Physalis, Phyteuma, Potentilla, Pyra- cantha, Ranunculus, Rhododendron, Rosa, Rudbeckia, Senecio, Silene, Silphium, Sinapsis, Sorbus, Spartium, Tecoma, Torenia, Tragopogon, T rollius, tropaeolum, Tulipa, Tussilago, Ulex, Viola or Zinnia are used.

74. Use of the genetically modified organisms according to one of claims 64 to 68 as feed or food.

75. Use of the genetically modified organisms according to one of claims 64 to 68 for the production of ketocarotenoid-containing extracts or for the production of feed and food supplements.

76. Ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 80% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2 has.

77. Ketolase according to claim 76, comprising the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 2, 4, 6 or 8.

78. Nucleic acid encoding a ketolase according to claim 76 or 77.

79. Nucleic acid according to claim 78, comprising the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 1, 3, 5 or 7.

80. Ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 or a sequence derived from this sequence by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids, which has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10 has.

81. Ketolase according to claim 80, comprising the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 10th

82. Nucleic acid encoding a ketolase according to claim 80 or 81.

83. Nucleic acid according to claim 82, containing the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 9th

84. Ketolase containing the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 or a sequence derived from this by substitution, insertion or deletion of amino acids Sequence that has an identity of at least 90% at the amino acid level with the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12 has.

85. Ketolase according to claim 84, comprising the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 12th

86. Nucleic acid encoding a ketolase according to claim 84 or 85.

87. Nucleic acid according to claim 86, containing the sequence SEQ. ID. NO. 11th