WO2001007586A2 - Enzyme biosynthetique d'acides gras a chaines longues de plantes - Google Patents

Enzyme biosynthetique d'acides gras a chaines longues de plantes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001007586A2
WO2001007586A2 PCT/CA2000/000860 CA0000860W WO0107586A2 WO 2001007586 A2 WO2001007586 A2 WO 2001007586A2 CA 0000860 W CA0000860 W CA 0000860W WO 0107586 A2 WO0107586 A2 WO 0107586A2
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nucleic acid
kcs2
arabidopsis
sequence
coding sequence
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PCT/CA2000/000860
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WO2001007586A3 (fr
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Ljerka Kunst
Sabine Clemens
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The University Of British Columbia
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Priority to CA002342831A priority Critical patent/CA2342831A1/fr
Priority to AU64180/00A priority patent/AU6418000A/en
Priority to US09/787,962 priority patent/US6815579B1/en
Publication of WO2001007586A2 publication Critical patent/WO2001007586A2/fr
Publication of WO2001007586A3 publication Critical patent/WO2001007586A3/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/10—Transferases (2.)
    • C12N9/1025—Acyltransferases (2.3)
    • C12N9/1029—Acyltransferases (2.3) transferring groups other than amino-acyl groups (2.3.1)

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a condensing enzyme involved in long chain fatty acid production in plants, including related nucleic acid sequences.
  • VLCFAs very long chain fatty acids
  • VLCFAs also accumulate in the seed oil of some plant species, where they are incorporated into triacylglycerols (TAGs), as in the Brassicaceae, or into wax esters, as in Jojoba. These seed VLCFAs include the agronomically important erucic acid (C22:l), that may be used in the production of lubricants, nylon, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and plasticizers.
  • TAGs triacylglycerols
  • C22:l agronomically important erucic acid
  • VLCFAs are synthesized by a microsomal fatty acid elongation (FAE) system which involves four enzymatic reactions: (1) condensation of malonyl-CoA with a long chain acyl- CoA, (2) reduction to beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA, (3) dehydration to an enoyl-CoA and (4) reduction of the enoyl-CoA, resulting in the acyl-CoA elongated by two carbons.
  • the condensing enzyme catalyzing reaction (1) is a key activity of the FAE system. It is the rate- limiting enzyme of the VLCFA biosynthetic pathway, which controls the amount of VLCFAs produced (Miller and Kunststoff, 1997). In addition, the condensing enzyme determines the ultimate VLCFA acyl chain length, and thus their uses in seed oil or wax biosynthesis.
  • a Jojoba protein involved in the synthesis of VLCFAs has also been isolated having relatively high homology to FAEl (52% amino acid identity), and has been shown to have beta-ketoacyl-coenzyme A synthase (KCS) activity (WO9515387). Broad host range activity for genes encoding KCS has been further evidenced by the Jojoba KCS cDNA.
  • the Jojoba KCS cDNA was able to complement a mutation in a Canola variety of rapeseed (Brassica napus), to restore in the variety high levels of VLCFAs (Lassner et al, 1996).
  • CUTl An Arabidopsis gene (CUTl), required for cuticular wax biosynthesis and pollen fertility, has also been described as encoding a VLCFA condensing enzyme that catalyzes the addition of 2C units to pre-existing C24 or longer fatty acids (Millar et al , 1999).
  • heterologous condensing enzymes may be used to produce VLCFAs in plant species that do not otherwise synthesize VLCFAs.
  • targeted expression of heterologous VLCFA condensing enzymes in seeds may allow the production of crop plants capable of synthesizing VLCFAs of desired lengths in seed oil for industrial applications.
  • New condensing enzymes may also be useful for the manipulation of cuticular waxes which have important functions in many physiological processes in plants, including water balance, protection from UV light, plant-insect interactions, and defense against bacterial and fungal pathogens (Post-Beittenmiller, 1996).
  • new condensing enzymes that may be used alone or in combination with other condensing enzymes to confer on plants and plant tissues the ability to synthesize a range of VLCFAs, including VLCFAs up to C30 in length.
  • tissue-specific promoters capable of mediating the expression of heterologous condensing enzymes in epidermal cells, which may facilitate the alteration of the wax composition and/or accumulation in plants. This may, in turn, result in the production of crops with increased tolerance to environmental stresses, and/or resistance to pathogens and insects.
  • drought resistance in rice is associated with high wax lines rich in C29, C33 and C35 alkanes (O'Toole and Cruz, 1983; Haque et al., 1992).
  • Increased wax deposition may also be accomplished by overexpression of condensing enzymes with desired acyl chain length specificities using an epidermis-specific promoter, such as the CUTl promoter (Millar et al., 1999).
  • the present invention provides nucleic acid sequence encoding all or part of a new plant long chain fatty acid condensing enzyme (fatty acid elongase), designated herein as KCS2 (for beta-ketoacyl-coenzyme A synthase 2).
  • KCS2 may mediate the biosynthesis of C18, C20, C22 and C24 fatty acids.
  • the activity of the enzyme is typically characterized by two carbon (malonyl-CoA) additions to Cl 6, Cl 8, C20 and C22 moieties (C16-C22 acyl CoA molecules), i.e. condensation of malonyl-CoA with a C16, C18, C20 or C22 acyl-CoA.
  • the fatty acids produced by the enzyme may for example be saturated 18:0, 20:0, 22:0 and 24:0 fatty acids.
  • the invention includes recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a heterologous nucleic acid coding sequence encoding the plant long chain fatty acid condensing enzyme.
  • the nucleic acid coding sequence may be derived from the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence disclosed herein.
  • embodiments include nucleic acids that encode the plant very long chain fatty acid condensing enzyme of the invention, wherein the enzyme has an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to an Arabidopsis KCS2 amino acid sequence disclosed herein, when optimally aligned.
  • the nucleic acid coding sequences of the invention also include sequences that hybridize under stringent conditions to a complement of the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence disclosed herein.
  • nucleic acid coding sequences of the invention may also be at least 70% identical to the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence, when optimally aligned.
  • Embodiments of the invention include isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising the coding sequences of the invention.
  • the invention provides recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the promoter sequence is capable of mediating gene expression in anthers and in very young leaves in Arabidopsis.
  • the promoter sequences of the invention may be derived from an Arabidopsis KCS2 promoter sequence, as disclosed herein. Promoter sequences of the invention may also hybridize under stringent conditions to the Arabidopsis KCS2 promoter sequence disclosed herein. Promoter sequences of the invention may also be at least 70% identical to the Arabidopsis KCS2 promoter sequence when optimally aligned.
  • the invention provides nucleic acid probes comprising probe sequences that hybridize under stringent conditions to a portion of an Arabidopsis KCS2 genomic sequence; or are at least 70% identical to the portion of an Arabidopsis KCS2 genomic sequence when optimally aligned.
  • the invention also provides methods of isolating a nucleic acid molecule encoding a plant long chain fatty acid condensing enzyme, for example by hybridizing a nucleic acid preparation with the nucleic acid probe of the invention.
  • the invention provides transgenic cells (such as plant cells), plants and parts thereof, in which the plants or cells comprise the recombinant nucleic acid molecules of the invention.
  • plant parts may for example include seeds or oils.
  • Transgenic plants of the invention may have a modified phenotype compared to a non-transgenic plant of the same species, such as a modified lipid content. Methods of producing such transgenic plants are provided, for example by introducing into a plant the isolated nucleic acids of the invention. Progeny plants may be provided, produced by sexual or asexual propagation of the transgenic plants of the invention to produce transgenic descendants of transformed plants.
  • Purified proteins are provided, encoded by the recombinant nucleic acid molecules of the invention, including plant fatty acid condensing (elongase) enzymes and fragments thereof. Also provided are recombinant vectors comprising the recombinant nucleic acid molecules of the invention.
  • Antisense nucleic acid molecules are provided, wherein a portion of the nucleic acid coding sequences of the invention are provided in reverse orientation relative to an adjacent promoter sequence.
  • Recombinant antisense nucleic acids of the invention may therefore encode an antisense RNA that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a complement of a portion of the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence; or that are at least 70% identical to a portion of the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence when optimally aligned.
  • Transgenic plants or plant cells of the invention may include the recombinant antisense nucleic acids of the invention.
  • the nucleic acid coding sequences of the invention may be substantially identical to all or part of an Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence.
  • the nucleic acids of the invention may also include an RNA analog or a nucleic acid complementary to sequences of the invention.
  • the nucleic acid may be a fragment of one of the above sequences, such as a fragment that is at least 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 nucleotides in length and that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a genomic KCS2 DNA encoding the nucleic acid sequence.
  • genomic sequence includes either of the strands of a nucleic acid molecule found in the genome of an organism or cell.
  • the nucleic acids of the invention may include a DNA coding sequence encoding an enzyme of the invention, operably linked to a promoter.
  • Promoters of the invention may be tissue-specific or have specific developmental timing.
  • a promoter of the invention may have a nucleotide sequence substantially identical to all or part of the KCS2 promoter region disclosed herein. Promoters of the invention may be operably linked to alternative DNAs, such as agronomically important nucleic acid sequences.
  • the invention provides methods for altering the VLCFA, fatty acid or lipid content in a plant or plant tissue, for example by introducing into a plant cell, capable of being transformed and regenerated to a whole plant, a nucleic acid of the invention. Where such nucleic acids are effective for altering the levels of VLCFAs in a plant; a plant containing the nucleic acid of the invention may be recovered having an altered phenotype.
  • Figure 1 shows the coding strand DNA sequence of a KCS2 genomic clone from Arabidopsis, containing a 1001 bp long KCS2 promoter region (5' to the initiation codon) and a 1508 bp long KCS2 coding sequence.
  • the initiation (ATG) codon is indicated in all caps (at positions 1046-1048).
  • the Figure identifies locations homologous or complementary to oligonucleotide primers (probes) that may be used for amplifying the wild-type Arabidopsis KCS2 promoter (shown as kcs3 and kcs4) and the KCS2 coding sequence (kcsl and kcs2), these sequences are underlined and marked by arrows indicating the putative direction for amplification.
  • the recombinant nucleic acid molecules of the invention may comprise a heterologous nucleic acid coding sequence encoding the plant long chain fatty acid condensing enzyme of the invention.
  • the nucleic acid coding sequence may be derived from the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence disclosed herein.
  • recombinant means that something has been recombined, so that when made in reference to a nucleic acid molecule the term refers to a molecule that is comprised of nucleic acid sequences that are joined together by means of molecular biological techniques.
  • recombinant when made in reference to a protein or a polypeptide refers to a protein molecule which is expressed using a recombinant nucleic acid molecule.
  • heterologous when made in reference to a nucleic acid sequence refers to a nucleotide sequence which is ligated to, or is manipulated to become ligated to, a nucleic acid sequence to which it is not ligated in nature, or to which it is ligated at a different location in nature.
  • the term “heterologous” therefore indicates that the nucleic acid molecule has been manipulated using genetic engineering, i.e. by human intervention.
  • Sequences may be derived or obtainable from the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence by deduction and synthesis based upon the wild-type KCS2 amino acid sequence, using the redundancy of the genetic code to formulate alternative coding sequences. Derived sequences may also be identified in different organisms, for example by isolation using as probes the nucleic acid sequences of the invention. Antibodies prepared against a KCS2 protein of the invention may also be used to identify alternative coding sequences, which are thereby derived from the coding sequence disclosed herein.
  • Alternative KCS2 amino acid sequences of the invention such as amino acid sequences developed through mutagenesis or substitution, may similarly be used to infer coding sequences derived from the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence disclosed herein.
  • Derived nucleic acids of the invention may be obtained by chemical synthesis, isolation, or cloning from genomic DNAs using techniques known in the art, such as the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
  • Nucleic acids of the present invention may be used to design alternative primers (probes) suitable for use as PCR primers to amplify particular regions of an condensing enzyme cDNA of the invention.
  • Such PCR primers may for example comprise a sequence of 15-20 consecutive nucleotides of the KCS2 cDNA of the invention.
  • primers of 20-30 nucleotides in length may also be used. Methods and conditions for PCR amplification are described in Innis et al. (1990); Sambrook et al. (1989); and Ausubel et al. (1995).
  • probe when made in reference to an oligonucleotide refers to an oligonucleotide which is capable of hybridizing to another oligonucleotide of interest.
  • a probe may be single-stranded or double-stranded. Probes are, for example, useful in the detection, identification, amplification and isolation of particular gene sequences. Oligonucleotide probes may be labelled with a "reporter molecule,” so that the probe is detectable using a detection system, such as enzymatic, fluorescent, radioactive or luminescent detection systems.
  • Derived nucleic acids of the invention may also be identified by Southern analysis, a method by which the presence of DNA sequences in a target nucleic acid mixture are identified by hybridization to a labeled probe, comprising an oligonucleotide or DNA fragment of a nucleic acid of the invention.
  • Probes for Southern analysis may for example be at least 15 nucleotides in length. Southern analysis typically involves electrophoretic separation of DNA digests on agarose gels, denaturation of the DNA after electrophoretic separation, and transfer of the DNA to nitrocellulose, nylon, or another suitable membrane support for analysis with a radiolabeled, biotinylated, or enzyme-labeled probe as described in Sambrook et al. (1989).
  • the invention includes nucleic acids that encode the plant very long chain fatty acid condensing enzyme of the invention, wherein the enzyme has an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to an Arabidopsis KCS2 amino acid sequence disclosed herein, when optimally aligned.
  • the degree of identity may be between 50% and 100%, such as 60%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 99%.
  • fatty acid condensing enzymes may include peptides that differ from a portion of the wild-type Arabidopsis KCS2 sequence by conservative amino acid substitutions.
  • conservative amino acid substitutions refers to the substitution of one amino acid for another at a given location in the peptide. where the substitution can be made without substantial loss of function.
  • substitutions of like amino acid residues can be made, for example, on the basis of relative similarity of side-chain substituents, for example, their size, charge, hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, and the like, and such substitutions may be assayed for their effect on the function of the peptide by routine testing.
  • conserved amino acid substitutions may be made where an amino acid residue is substituted for another having a similar hydrophilicity value (e.g., within a value of plus or minus 2.0), where the following hydrophilicity values are assigned to amino acid residues (as detailed in United States Patent No.
  • conserved amino acid substitutions may be made where an amino acid residue is substituted for another having a similar hydropathic index (e.g., within a value of plus or minus 2.0).
  • each amino acid residue may be assigned a hydropathic index on the basis of its hydrophobicity and charge characteristics, as follows: He (+4.5); Val (+4.2); Leu (+3.8); Phe (+2.8); Cys (+2.5); Met (+1.9); Ala (+1.8); Gly (-0.4); Thr (-0.7); Ser (-0.8); Trp (-0.9); Tyr (-1.3); Pro (-1.6); His (-3.2); Glu (-3.5); Gin (-3.5); Asp (- 3.5); Asn (-3.5); Lys (-3.9); and Arg (-4.5).
  • conserved amino acid substitutions may be made where an amino acid residue is substituted for another in the same class, where the amino acids are divided into non-polar, acidic, basic and neutral classes, as follows: non-polar: Ala, Val, Leu, He, Phe, Trp, Pro, Met; acidic: Asp, Glu; basic: Lys, Arg, His; neutral: Gly, Ser, Thr, Cys, Asn, Gin, Tyr.
  • the nucleic acid coding sequences of the invention also include sequences that hybridize under stringent conditions to a complement of the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence disclosed herein.
  • the nucleic acid coding sequences of the invention may also be at least 70% identical to the Arabidopsis KCS2 coding sequence, when optimally aligned.
  • Embodiments of the invention include isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising the coding sequences of the invention.
  • the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding a plant elongase enzyme that mediates biosynthesis of 18:0, 20:0, 22:0 and 24:0 fatty acids in plants.
  • the nucleic acid encodes KCS2 identified in Arabidopsis shown in Figure 1.
  • isolated it is meant that the isolated substance has been substantially separated or purified away from other biological components with which it would otherwise be associated, for example in vivo.
  • isolated' therefore includes substances purified by standard purification methods, as well as substances prepared by recombinant expression in a host, as well as chemically synthesized substances.
  • nucleic acids of this invention may be genomic or cDNA and may be isolated from cDNA or genomic libraries or directly from isolated plant DNA. Nucleic acids of this invention further include sequences corresponding to the KCS2 protein as well as sequences obtainable from the KCS2 protein or nucleic acid sequences. By corresponding is meant nucleic acid sequences, either DNA or RNA, including those which encode the KCS2 protein or a portion thereof, the promoter sequence found 5' to said encoding sequence, intron sequences not present in the cDNA, as well as sequences encoding any leader or signal peptide of a precursor protein that may not be found in the mature elongase protein.
  • a nucleic acid of the invention may further comprise additional nucleic acids. For example, linkers, modified or unmodified restriction endonuclease sites and other nucleic acid sequences useful for cloning, expression, or purification.
  • Hybridization to filter-bound sequences may for example, be performed in 0.5 M NaHPO 4 , 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM EDTA at 65°C, and washing in 0.2 x SSC/0.1% SDS at 42°C (Ausubel et al., 1995).
  • hybridization to filter-bound sequences may for example, be performed in 0.5 M NaHPO 4 , 7% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM EDTA at 65°C, and washing in 0.1 x SSC/0.1% SDS at 68°C (Ausubel et al, 1995).
  • Hybridization conditions may be modified in accordance with known methods depending on the sequence of interest (Tijssen, 1993). Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5°C lower than the thermal melting point for the specific sequence at the defined ionic strength and pH.
  • a nucleic acid may also be identified by Northern analysis, a method used to identify RNAs that hybridize to a known probe such as an oligonucleotide, DNA fragment, cDNA or fragment thereof, or RNA fragment of a nucleic acid of the invention. The probe is labeled with a radioisotope such as 32 P, by biotinylation or with an enzyme.
  • RNA to be analyzed may be electrophoretically separated on an agarose or polyacrylamide gel, transferred to nitrocellulose, nylon, or other suitable membrane, and hybridized with the probe, using standard techniques well known in the art such as described in Sambrook et al. (1989).
  • a nucleic acid of the invention may alternatively be obtained by immuno logical screening.
  • Antibodies to the KCS2 protein may be used to identify related protein in extracts of desired plant species. Two amino acid sequences are considered substantially identical if one peptide is specifically immunologically reactive with antibodies that are also specifically immunoreactive against the other peptide. Specific immunoreactivity of antibodies to peptides may be assessed using a variety of immunoassay formats, such as solid-phase ELISA immunoassays for selecting monoclonal antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein (Harlow and Lane, 1988).
  • Optimal alignment of sequences for comparisons of identity may be conducted using a variety of algorithms, such as the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (1981), the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970), the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman (1988), and the computerized implementations of these algorithms (such as GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, Madison, WI, U.S.A.). Sequence alignment may also be carried out using the BLAST algorithm described in Altschul et al. (1990), using the published default settings.
  • the BLAST algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence that either match or satisfy some positive- valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighbourhood word score threshold.
  • HSPs high scoring sequence pairs
  • Initial neighbourhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs.
  • the word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased.
  • Extension of the word hits in each direction is halted when the following parameters are met: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative- scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached.
  • the BLAST algorithm parameters W, T and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment.
  • the BLAST programs may use as defaults a word length (W) of 11 , the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix
  • the BLOSUM matrix assigns a probability score for each position in an alignment that is based on the frequency with which that substitution is known to occur among consensus blocks within related proteins.
  • a variety of other matrices may be used as alternatives to BLOSUM62, including: PAM30 (settings: 9,1,0.87); PAM70 (settings: 10,1,0.87) BLOSUM80 (settings: 10,1,0.87); BLOSUM62 (settings: 11,1,0.82) and BLOSUM45 (settings: 14,2,0.87).
  • nucleotide or amino acid sequences may be identified as sequences of the invention where the smallest sum probability in a comparison to a reference KCS2 amino acid or KCS2 nucleic acid test sequence is less than about 1 , preferably less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.
  • the molecules When a position in the compared sequence is occupied by the same nucleotide or amino acid, following optimal alignment of the sequences, the molecules are considered to have identity at that position.
  • the degree of identity between sequences is a function of the number of matching positions shared by the sequences. In terms of percentage, identity is the sum of identical positions, divided by the total length over which the sequences are aligned, multiplied by 100.
  • nucleic acids of this invention may be modified using standard techniques of site specific mutation or PCR, or modification of the sequence may be accomplished in producing a synthetic nucleic acid sequence. Such modified sequences are also considered in this invention.
  • codons may be changed such that the nucleic acid sequence encodes the same amino acid sequence, or alternatively, codons may be altered such that conservative amino acid substitutions or substitutions of similar amino acids result without affecting protein function.
  • the nucleic acid may further comprise a promoter operably linked to the enzyme-encoding region.
  • a first nucleic acid sequence is operably linked with a second nucleic acid sequence when the first nucleic acid sequence is placed in a functional relationship with the second nucleic acid sequence.
  • a promoter is operably linked to a coding sequence if the promoter affects the transcription or expression of the coding sequences.
  • operably linked DNA sequences are contiguous and, where necessary to join two protein coding regions, in reading frame.
  • a promoter is a DNA sequence in a gene, usually (but not necessarily) upstream (5') to its coding sequence, which controls the expression of the coding sequence by providing the recognition for RNA polymerase and other factors required for proper transcription.
  • promoters may also be used to transcribe antisense RNA. Promoters may also contain DNA sequences that are involved in the binding of protein factors which control the effectiveness of transcription initiation in response to physiological or developmental conditions.
  • a promoter may also contain enhancer elements, a DNA sequence which can stimulate promoter activity.
  • a gene of the present invention may also include transcription termination signals.
  • the nucleic acid may be used to alter the composition and accumulation of fatty acids in plant cells.
  • a plant promoter may be employed which will direct expression of the elongase in all tissues of a regenerated plant.
  • Over-expression of the gene for example, in plant epidermal cells could increase cuticle accumulation thereby increasing drought and stress tolerance of transgenic plants over control plants.
  • Such promoters are referred to herein as "constitutive" promoters and are active under most environmental conditions and states of development or cell differentiation.
  • constitutive promoters include the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S transcription initiation region, the 1 '- or 2'- promoter derived from T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and other transcription initiation regions from various plant genes known to those of skill in the art.
  • CaMV cauliflower mosaic virus
  • 1 '- or 2'- promoter derived from T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens examples include the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S transcription initiation region, the 1 '- or 2'- promoter derived from T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and other transcription initiation regions from various plant genes known to those of skill in the art.
  • the invention comprises plants transformed with the nucleic acids of the invention. In some embodiments, such plants will exhibit altered fatty acid content in one or more tissues.
  • These aspects of the invention relate to all higher plants, including monocots and dicots, such as species from the genera Fragaria. Lotus, Medicago, Onobrychis, Triforium, Trigonelia, Wgna, Citrus, Linum.
  • Such plants may include maize, wheat, rice, barley, soybean, beans, rapeseed, canola, alfalfa, flax, sunflower, cotton, clover, lettuce, tomato cucurbits, potato carrot, radish, pea lentils, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, peppers, apple, pear, peach, apricot, carnations and roses.
  • plants for which the invention may be used in modifying fatty acid content include oil crops of the Cruciferae family: canola, rapeseed (Brassica spp.), crambe (Crambe spp.), honesty (Lunaria spp.) lesquerella (Lesquerela spp.), and others; the Composirae family: sunflower (Helianthus spp.), safflower (Carthamus spp.), niger (Guizotia spp.) and others; the Palmae family: palm (Elaeis spp.), coconut (Cocos spp.) and others; the Leguminosae family: peanut (Arachis spp.), soybean (Glycine spp.) and others; and plants of other families such as maize (Zea spp.), cotton (Gossvpiun sp.), jojoba (Simonasia sp.), flax (L
  • the promoter of the invention may direct expression of the elongase gene in a specific tissue or may be otherwise under more precise environmental or developmental control. Such promoters are referred to here as "inducible" promoters. Examples of environmental conditions that may effect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions, elevated temperature, or the presence of light. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that initiate transcription only in certain tissues, such as fruit, seeds, or flowers.
  • a nucleic acid disclosed herein may be used for cosuppression or antisense inhibition.
  • Antisense inhibition refers to the production of antisense RNA transcripts capable of preventing or reducing the expression of the target protein.
  • the term "antisense” as used herein refers to a nucleotide sequence in which the sequence of residues is in reverse 5' to 3' orientation in relation to the sequence of residues in a sense strand of a nucleic acid coding sequence.
  • a "sense” or “coding” strand or sequence refers to a sequence that may be transcribed by a cell into an mRNA encoding a protein.
  • an antisense sequence will therefore generally have the same sequence as the non-coding strand in a DNA duplex, and an antisense RNA will be complementary to an "antisense” sequence.
  • Co-suppression refers to the phenomenon in which expression of a foreign gene which has substantial homology to an endogenous gene results in the suppression of expression of both the foreign and the endogenous gene.
  • complementary when used in reference to polynucleotides refer to polynucleotides which are related by the base-pairing rules, including the rules governing complementarity between DNA and RNA.
  • sequence 5'-AGT-3' is complementary to the sequence 5'-ACT-3'.
  • the KCS2 promoter disclosed herein may be operably linked to agronomically important genes, other than the elongase gene disclosed in the present invention.
  • the KCS2 promoter may be operably linked to the Bt gene, encoding a protein insecticide, to confer insect resistance on the transformed plant (US Patent No. 5,723,756).
  • the KCS2 promoter may be operably linked to genes encoding proteins, which have fungal, bacterial and viral inhibiting effects, such as lysozyme. chitinase, attacin, and cecropin (US Patent No. 5,597,946) to confer fungal/bacterial resistance on transformed plants.
  • a cell, tissue, organ, or organism into which has been introduced a foreign nucleic acid is considered “transformed”, “transfected", or “transgenic”.
  • a transgenic or transformed cell or organism also includes progeny of the cell or organism and progeny produced from a breeding program employing a transgenic plant as a parent in a cross and exhibiting an altered phenotype resulting from the presence of a recombinant nucleic acid construct.
  • a transgenic plant is therefore a plant that has been transformed with a heterologous nucleic acid, or the progeny of such a plant that includes the transgene.
  • the invention provides vectors, such as vectors for transforming plants or plant cells.
  • the term "vector" in reference to nucleic acid molecule generally refers to a molecule that may be used to transfer a nucleic acid segment(s) from one cell to another.
  • Nucleic acids of the invention may be introduced into the genome of the desired plant host by a variety of conventional techniques which include, without limitation, electroporation and microinjection of plant cell prototplasts and polyethylene glycol precipitation (such as are disclosed in Paszkowski et al. (1984); Fromm et al, (1985); Rogers et al, (1986); and in U.S Patent Nos. 4,684,611; 4,801,540; 4,743,548 and 5.231.019), ballistic methods such as DNA particle bombardment (for example as disclosed in Klein, et al, (1987); Gordon-Kamm, et al. (1990); and in U.S.
  • Transformed plant cells which may be derived by any of the above transformation techniques, may be cultured to regenerate whole plants having the transformed genotype and displaying a desired phenotype, as for altered VLCFA levels.
  • a variety of plant culture techniques may be used to regenerate whole plants, such as described in Gamborg and Phillips (1995); Evans et al. (1983); or Binding, (1985); or in Klee (1987).
  • One of skill will recognize that after the nucleic acid is stably incorporated in transgenic plants and confirmed to be operable, it can be introduced into other plants by sexual crossing. Any of a number of standard breeding techniques may be used, depending upon the species to be crossed.
  • Nucleic acids of the invention may also be used as a plant breeding tool, as molecular markers to aid in plant breeding programs. Such techniques would include using the gene itself as a molecular probe or using the DNA sequence to design PCR primers to use PCR based screening techniques in plant breeding programs.
  • the upstream primer was 5'-GTATCATCAACAAAAATATC-3' (kcsl) in combination with the downstream primer 5'-CAAAGATCGATCTTAACC-3' (kcs2) for the PCR-synthesis of the 1508 bp genomic DNA fragment, which includes a complete coding sequence.
  • Primers 5'-CGATCACGGAGTAGAGAA-3' (kcs3) and 5'- GGAC AGTTTCTAAAGC AG-3 ' (kcs4) were used for the PCR-amplification of the 1001 bp of the 5' untranslated region (promoter fragment).
  • the amplified 1508 bp fragment was subcloned in the EcoRI site of the plasmid pCR2.1 (Invitrogen) to produce plasmid pCR- KCS2, whereas the 1001 bp promoter fragment was subcloned in the Smal site of the plasmid pGEM7zf (Promega) to produce plasmid pGEM-proKCS2.
  • the cloned DNA fragments were then completely sequenced on both strands using an automatic sequencer by the dideoxy chain termination method. These two fragments together comprise 2508 bp of continuous genomic DNA sequence shown in Figure 1.
  • This DNA sequence represents a 1001 bp 5' untranslated region (i.e., nucleotides preceding the first ATG codon), and a 1461 bp open reading frame that encodes a 487 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 54,900 Da (KCS2).
  • KCS2 predicted molecular weight of 54,900 Da
  • the full length KCS2 cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae linked to the GAL 10 inducible promoter.
  • the KCS2 gene was cleaved from pCR2.1 with EcoRI and inserted into the EcoRI site of the polylinker of the S. cerevisiae expression vector pESC-TRP (Stratagene), resulting in the plasmid pESC-KCS2.
  • the construct was transformed into the S. cerevisiae strain YPHY99 by standard procedures (Schiestl and Gietz, 1989) and transformants selected on minimal medium agar plates lacking tryptophan (Ausubel et al., 1995).
  • yeast cells harboring the pESC- ⁇ GS ⁇ construct were grown in the presence of galactose, 18:0, 20:0, 22:0 and 24:0 fatty acids accumulated (which are not normally present in the YPHY99 yeast stain, and were not detected in cultures of yeast transformed with the pESC plasmid alone).
  • yeast expression system is a predictive model of elongase condensing enzyme activity in plants (Millar and Kunststoff, 1997).
  • the yeast expression results disclosed herein shows that the KCS2 gene encodes an elongase (condensing) enzyme capable of mediating biosynthesis of saturated VLCFAs, including 18:0, 20:0, 22:0 and 24:0 fatty acids, in a wide variety of organisms.
  • flanking sequences from the KCS2 genomic clone were translationally fused (operatively linked) to the uidA reporter gene encoding beta-glucuronidase (GUS).
  • the inserts were cleaved out of pGEM7zf with BamHI and Xbal and directionally subcloned into the corresponding sites of the binary Ti plasmid pBHOl (Clontech), which contains a promoterless GUS gene (Jefferson et al. 1987).
  • the pKCS2-GUS fusion construct in pBHOl was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 (Koncz and Schell, 1986) by heat-shock and selected for resistance to kanamycin (50 (g/ml).
  • the pKCS2-GOS fusion was introduced into Arabidopsis using the floral dip method (Clough and Bent, 1998). Screening for transformed seed was done on 50 micrograms/mL kanamycin as described previously (Katavic et al., 1994).
  • the KCS2 promoter expression pattern was determined using GUS histochemical assays using buffer containing X-GLUC on whole seedlings, leaves at different stages of development, stems, flowers, siliques and roots on a large number of pKCS2-GUS transgenic lines. Wild type plants treated with GUS buffer under the same conditions were used as controls.
  • the expression pattern observed for the KCS2 promoter in the pKCS2-GUS fusion was consistent in all transgenic lines tested. GUS activity was only observed in the anthers and very young emerging leaves (1-2 mm in size). No GUS expression was detected in any of the other tissues or the wild type controls. Expression of KCS2 in the anthers was confirmed by RNA blot analysis, using the full KCS2 ORF (Open Reading Frame) as a probe, confirming that the Arabidopsis KCS2 promoter mediates the expression of heterologous proteins in a tissue specific manner.
  • the full KCS2 coding sequence was placed behind the FAEl seed specific promoter.
  • the recipient plant used for the experiment was the mutant CB25, which contains a lesion in the FAEl gene, resulting in a truncated FAEl protein.
  • CB25 plants do not make VLCFAs in the seeds, and all the VLCFAs observed would be the product of the KCS2 condensing enzyme.
  • the identity of the peaks was estimated by comparing their retention times to known fatty acid standards.
  • CaMV 35S promoter was used to constitutively express KCS2 in all plant tissues.
  • RNA blot analyses carried out on randomly selected transgenic lines to assess the level of expression of the 35S-KCS2 transgene demonstrated high levels of expression of the KCS2 gene in a number of lines. To determine whether high levels of the KCS2 expression translated into higher levels of VLCFAs in the seed, seed of the 35S-KCS2 plants showing the highest levels of the KCS2 transcript were subjected to gas chromatography analyses.
  • Floral dip a simplified method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J. 16: 735-743.
  • TL-DNA gene 5 controls the tissue-specific expression of chimeric genes carried by a novel type of Agrobacterium binary vector. Mol. Gen. Genet. 204: 383-396.

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Abstract

Selon divers aspects, la présente invention concerne une séquence d'acides nucléiques codant tout ou partie d'une nouvelle enzyme condensant les acides gras à chaînes longues (élongase d'acide gras), désignée ci-après KCS2 (pour béta-kétoacyl-coenzyme A synthase 2). Dans certains modes de réalisation, KCS2 peut induire la biosynthèse d'acides gras C18, C20, C22 et C24. L'activité de cette enzyme est généralement caractérisée par les additions de deux carbone(malonyl-CoA) aux fractions C16, C18, C20 et C22 (molécules acylCoA C16-C22), c'est-à-dire, la condensation de malonyl-CoA avec un acyl-CoA C16, C18, C20 ou C22. Les acides gras produits par l'enzyme peuvent, par exemple, être des acides gras 18 :0, 20 :0, 22 :0 et 24 :0 saturés. L'invention concerne des molécules d'acide nucléique de recombinaison comprenant une séquence de codage d'acides nucléiques hétérologues codant l'enzyme de condensation d'acides gras à chaînes longues de plantes.
PCT/CA2000/000860 1999-07-22 2000-07-21 Enzyme biosynthetique d'acides gras a chaines longues de plantes WO2001007586A2 (fr)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001090364A2 (fr) * 2000-05-24 2001-11-29 The University Of British Columbia Acide nucleique codant un enzyme biosynthetique d'acide gras possedant une chaine tres longue et appartenant a une plante
WO2001090386A2 (fr) * 2000-05-24 2001-11-29 The University Of British Columbia Region regulatrice de genes promouvant une transcription precoce specifique de graines
WO2002099068A2 (fr) * 2001-06-05 2002-12-12 Exelixis, Inc. Lce utilises comme modificateurs de la voie p53 et procede d'utilisation

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WO1995015387A2 (fr) * 1993-11-30 1995-06-08 Calgene, Inc. Sequences d'acide nucleique codant une proteine cytoplasmique de plante impliquee dans le metabolisme d'acyle gras-coa
WO1996013582A1 (fr) * 1994-10-26 1996-05-09 Dna Plant Technology Corporation Les genes fae1 et leurs utilisations

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WO1995015387A2 (fr) * 1993-11-30 1995-06-08 Calgene, Inc. Sequences d'acide nucleique codant une proteine cytoplasmique de plante impliquee dans le metabolisme d'acyle gras-coa
WO1996013582A1 (fr) * 1994-10-26 1996-05-09 Dna Plant Technology Corporation Les genes fae1 et leurs utilisations

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TODD JAMES ET AL: "KCS1 encodes a fatty acid elongase 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase affecting wax biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana." PLANT JOURNAL, vol. 17, no. 2, January 1999 (1999-01), pages 119-130, XP002162954 ISSN: 0960-7412 *

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001090364A2 (fr) * 2000-05-24 2001-11-29 The University Of British Columbia Acide nucleique codant un enzyme biosynthetique d'acide gras possedant une chaine tres longue et appartenant a une plante
WO2001090386A2 (fr) * 2000-05-24 2001-11-29 The University Of British Columbia Region regulatrice de genes promouvant une transcription precoce specifique de graines
WO2001090364A3 (fr) * 2000-05-24 2002-06-13 Univ British Columbia Acide nucleique codant un enzyme biosynthetique d'acide gras possedant une chaine tres longue et appartenant a une plante
WO2001090386A3 (fr) * 2000-05-24 2002-06-20 Univ British Columbia Region regulatrice de genes promouvant une transcription precoce specifique de graines
WO2002099068A2 (fr) * 2001-06-05 2002-12-12 Exelixis, Inc. Lce utilises comme modificateurs de la voie p53 et procede d'utilisation
WO2002099068A3 (fr) * 2001-06-05 2003-12-04 Exelixis Inc Lce utilises comme modificateurs de la voie p53 et procede d'utilisation

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