4-ketocarotenoids in flower petals
US7223909B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N15/8243
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The formation of a carotenoid compound containing a 4-keto-β-ionene ring such as astaxanthin or canthaxanthin in flowers, and particularly in the corolla and reproductive parts of a flower of a higher plant whose flowers produce a carotenoid compound containing a β-ionene ring such as β-carotene or zeaxanthin, but otherwise do not produce astaxanthin or canthaxanthin is disclosed. One or more genes controlled by a promoter are inserted (transformed) into a higher plant. The inserted gene encodes a chimeric enzyme including (a) a carotenoid-forming enzyme that is at least a ketolase. That gene is operatively linked to (b) a plastid-directed transit peptide. Some higher plants to be transformed produce at least zeaxanthin or β-carotene in their flowers prior to transformation, whereas other plants produce little if any colored carotenoid pigments prior to transformation and are transformed with a cassette of carotenoids-forming genes. Methods of transformation and use of the transformed plants are described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.