Juvenile hormone or one of its agonists as a chemical ligand to control gene expression in plants by receptor mediated transactivation
US6362394B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07K2319/00
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention is drawn to a method of controlling gene expression in plants. Specifically, the method comprises transforming a plant with a USP receptor expression cassette which encodes a USP receptor and at least one target expression cassette which encodes a target polypeptide. Contacting said transformed plant with juvenile hormone or one of its agonists activates expression of the target polypeptide in the presence of said USP receptor polypeptide. Optionally, additional “secondary” receptor expression cassettes may be used, wherein the secondary receptor expression cassette encodes a receptor polypeptide distinct from USP. The method is useful for controlling various traits of agronomic importance, such as plant fertility. Also disclosed is a method of identifying previously unknown ligands for USP. Substances to be tested are identified by placing them in contact with plant cells transformed with a USP receptor expression cassette and a target expression cassette. The target expression cassette encodes a reporter polypeptide whose expression can be determined quantitatively or qualitatively, whereby the test substance is identified as a ligand for USP.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.