Generation of high polyhydroxybutyrate producing oilseeds

US9181559B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Metabolix, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Nii Patterson · Calgary, CA
• Jihong TANG · Watertown, US
• Jixiang Han · Maryland Heights, US
• Venkata Tavva · Secunderabad, IN
• Andrew Hertig · Cambridge, US
• Zhigang Zhang · Hunan, CN
• Thomas M. Ramseier · Newton, US
• Karen Bohmert-Tatarev · Brookline, US
• Oliver P. Peoples · Arlington, US
• Kristi D. Snell · Belmont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2010
• Grant date: Nov 10, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 24, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N15/8257
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Transgenic plants, plant material, plant cells, and genetic constructs for synthesis of biopolymers, for example polyhydroxyalkanoates (“PHA”) are provided. In one embodiment, the transgenic plants synthesize polyhydroxybutyrate (“PHB”). In one embodiment the transgenic plant encodes siRNA for one or more of the genes encoding enzymes for producing PHA. In a more preferred embodiment, the siRNA expression is under the control of an inducible regulatory element. In another embodiment, the transgenic plant contains transgenes that encode expression enzymes that will degrade the polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the expression of these enzymes is under the control of a germination specific, inducible, or minimal promoter. In another embodiment, the transgenic plant contains transgenes encoding enzymes that increase carbon flow for polymer synthesis. In a preferred embodiment, these transgenes encode enzymes that increase carbon flow in the Calvin Cycle.