Dwf7 mutants

Abstract

Dwarf7 (dwf7) mutants and polypeptides, as well as methods of using the same, are disclosed. The dwf7 polynucleotides can be used in the production of transgenic plants which display at least one dwf7 phenotype, so that the resulting plants have altered structure or morphology.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An isolated dwf7 polynucleotide that imparts at least one dwf7 mutant phenotype when expressed in a plant, said polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 143 to 322, inclusive, of FIGS.  8 A- 8 D; (b) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 143 to 1552, inclusive, of FIGS.  8 A- 8 D; (c) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of (a) or (b); (d) a fragment of (a), (b) or (c) comprising at least 15 contiguous nucleotides; and (e) complements of (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e).  
     
     
         2 . The isolated dwf7 polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 143 to 322, inclusive, of FIGS.  8 A- 8 D or the complement thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated dwf7 polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 143 to 1552, inclusive, of FIGS.  8 A- 8 D or the complement thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated dwf7 polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide consists of the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 143 to 322, inclusive, of FIGS.  8 A- 8 D or the complement thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The isolated dwf7 mutant polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide consists of the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 143 to 1552, inclusive, of FIGS.  8 A- 8 D or the complement thereof.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated dwf7 polynucleotide that imparts at least one dwf7 mutant phenotype when expressed in a plant, said polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 1506 to 2720, inclusive, of FIGS.  10 A- 10 F; (b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 70% identity to the nucleotide sequence of (b); (c) a fragment of (a) or (b) comprising at least 15 contiguous nucleotides; and (d) complements of (a), (b), (c) or (d).  
     
     
         7 . The isolated dwf7 polynucleotide of  claim 6 , wherein said polynucleotide consists of the nucleotide sequence depicted at positions 1506 to 2720, inclusive, of FIGS.  10 A- 10 F or the complement thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A recombinant vector comprising: 
 (a) the isolated dwf7 polynucleotide of  claim 1;  and    (b) control elements that are operably linked to said polynucleotide whereby a coding sequence within said polynucleotide can be transcribed and translated in a host cell, and at least one of said control elements is heterologous to said coding sequence.    
     
     
         9 . A recombinant vector comprising: 
 (a) the isolated dwf7 polynucleotide of claim  6 ; and    (b) control elements that are operably linked to said polynucleotide whereby a coding sequence within said polynucleotide can be transcribed and translated in a host cell, and at least one of said control elements is heterologous to said coding sequence.    
     
     
         10 . A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         11 . A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a DWF7 polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) providing a population of host cells according to claim  10 ; and    (b) culturing said population of cells under conditions whereby the DWF7 polypeptide encoded by the coding sequence present in said recombinant vector is expressed.    
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a DWF7 polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) providing a population of host cells according to claim  11 ; and    (b) culturing said population of cells under conditions whereby the DWF7 polypeptide encoded by the coding sequence present in said recombinant vector is expressed.    
     
     
         14 . A transgenic plant comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A transgenic plant comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         16 . A method of producing a transgenic plant comprising the steps of: 
 (a) introducing the polynucleotide of  claim 1  into a plant cell to produce a transformed plant cell; and    (b) producing a transgenic plant from the transformed plant cell.    
     
     
         17 . A method of producing a transgenic plant comprising the steps of: 
 (a) introducing the polynucleotide of  claim 6  into a plant cell to produce a transformed plant cell; and    (b) producing a transgenic plant from the transformed plant cell.    
     
     
         18 . A method for altering the sterol composition of a plant relative to the wild-type plant comprising: 
 (a) introducing the polynucleotide of  claim 1  into a plant cell to produce a transformed plant cell; and    (b) producing a transgenic plant from the transformed plant cell, said transgenic plant having an altered sterol composition relative to the wild-type plant.    
     
     
         19 . A method for altering the sterol composition of a plant relative to the wild-type plant comprising: 
 (a) introducing the polynucleotide of  claim 6  into a plant cell to produce a transformed plant cell; and    (b) producing a transgenic plant from the transformed plant cell, said transgenic plant having an altered sterol composition relative to the wild-type plant.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transgenic plant has less cholesterol relative to the wild-type plant.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the transgenic plant has less cholesterol relative to the wild-type plant.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the transgenic plant has increased sterol production relative to the wild-type plant.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the transgenic plant has increased sterol production relative to the wild-type plant.  
     
     
         24 . An isolated DWF7 polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         25 . The isolated DWF7 polypeptide of  claim 24 , wherein said polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence depicted at positions 1-60, inclusive, of FIG. 9.  
     
     
         26 . The isolated DWF7 polypeptide of  claim 24 , wherein said polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence depicted at positions 1-230, inclusive, of FIG. 9.  
     
     
         27 . An isolated DWF7 polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         28 . The isolated DWF7 polypeptide of  claim 27  wherein said polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence depicted at positions 1-279, inclusive, of FIG. 11.  
     
     
         29 . An isolated control element having at least 70% identity to a control element found within nucleotide positions 43-142 of FIGS.  8 A- 8 D.  
     
     
         30 . A recombinant vector comprising: 
 (a) the isolated control element of claim  29 ; and    (b) a polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence which is heterologous to said control element.    
     
     
         31 . An isolated control element having at least 70% identity to a control element found within nucleotide positions 1-1505 of FIGS.  10 A- 10 F.  
     
     
         32 . A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of  claim 30 .  
     
     
         33 . A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of  claim 31 .  
     
     
         34 . A method of producing a recombinant polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) providing a population of host cells according to claim  32 ; and    (b) culturing said population of cells under conditions whereby the recombinant polypeptide encoded by the coding sequence present in said recombinant vector is expressed.    
     
     
         35 . A method of producing a recombinant polypeptide comprising: 
 (a) providing a population of host cells according to claim  33 ; and    (b) culturing said population of cells under conditions whereby the recombinant polypeptide encoded by the coding sequence present in said recombinant vector is expressed.