Ice nucleation deficient microorganisms by genetic manipulation

US4766077A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Cindy Orser · McLean, US
• Steven E. Lindow · Berkeley, US
• Nickolas J. Panapoulos · Oakland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 1985
• Grant date: Aug 23, 1988
• Expiry date: Dec 4, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S435/91
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Ice nucleation bacteria are modified in vitro to confer an ice nucleation deficient phenotype. Modification is accomplished by deletion, substitution, insertion, inversion, or transversion of a DNA segment within the gene locus responsible for the INA phenotype. By limiting such mutations to the particular gene locus, the modified microorganisms are genetically stable and free from random mutations which might adversely affect their competitive fitness. The modified microorganisms are useful for prevention of frost damage to susceptible plant hosts.