Patent · US Expired

Engineering plant thioesterases for altered substrate specificity

US5955329A · kind A · utility

63Cited by
3References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 15, 1995
Grant dateSep 21, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 15, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC12N9/16
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Methods of altering substrate specificity of plant acyl-ACP thioesterases, and engineered plant acyl-ACP thioesterases so produced are provided. The C-terminal two thirds portion of plant thioesterases is identified as desirable for such modifications. DNA sequences and constructs for expression of engineered thioesterases, as well as the novel thioesterases produced therefrom are also provided. Such DNA sequences may be used for expression of the engineered thioesterases in host cells, particularly seed cells of oilseed crop plants, for the modification of fatty acid composition. A C12 preferring plant acyl-ACP thioesterase described herein may be altered to obtain a plant thioesterase having approximately equal activity on C14 and C12 substrates. Further modification of the C12 enzyme yields a thioesterase having greater activity on C14 as compared to C12 substrates. Also provided in the instant invention are novel plant acyl-ACP thioesterase sequences from Cuphea palustris and mangosteen (Garcinia mangifera), which demonstrate desirable thioesterase activity profiles for plant genetic engineering applications.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.