Sorghum aluminum tolerance gene, SbMATE

US7582809B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US
• EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA—EMBRAPA · BR

Inventors

• Leon Kochian · Ithaca, US
• Jiping Liu · Tuji, CN
• Jurandir Vieira de Magalhaes · Belo Horizonte, BR
• Claudia Teixeira Guimaraes · Sete Lagoas, BR
• Robert Eugene Schaffert · Sete Lagoas, BR
• Vera Maria Carvalho Alves · Sete Lagoas, BR
• Patricia Klein · College Station, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 2007
• Grant date: Sep 1, 2009
• Expiry date: May 17, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N15/8271
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The major aluminum tolerance gene, the SbMATE gene, encodes a root citrate efflux transporter that is Al-inducible at the level of gene transcription and is also Al-activated at the level of protein function. High level of expression of the SbMATE gene and the protein was found in roots. SbMATE orthologs with high degree of sequence homology were found in other higher plants, including rice. Successful transformation of Arabidopsis provides strong evidence that SbMATE can work across species to enhance tolerance to Al in other important crops grown in localities worldwide where Al3+ cations are present in acid soils and are toxic to plants.