Methods for altering the reactivity of plant cell walls

US8507755B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bayer CropScience N.V. · BE

Inventors

• Marc De Block · Merelbeke, BE
• Frank Meulewaeter · Merelbeke, BE
• Rainhard Koch · Neunburg vorm Wald, DE
• Bernd Essigmann · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 20, 2011
• Grant date: Aug 13, 2013
• Expiry date: Jul 20, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/249921
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methods and means are provided for the modification of the reactivity of plant cell walls, particularly as they can be found in natural fibers of fiber producing plants by inclusion of positively charged oligosaccharides or polysaccharides into the cell wall. This can be conveniently achieved by expressing a chimeric gene encoding an N-acetylglucosamine transferase, particularly an N-acetylglucosamine transferase, capable of being targeted to the membranes of the Golgi apparatus in cells of a plant.