Nucleic acids encoding a plant enzyme involved in very long chain fatty acid synthesis

Abstract

Nucleic acid molecules encoding an enzyme involved in very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) elongation in plants are disclosed. The invention includes a cDNA, genomic clone and encoded protein, as well as plants having modified VLCFA composition, such as modified epicuticular waxes, and methods of making such plants.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a protein having very long chain fatty acid elongase activity, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) nucleic acids comprising at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3;    (b) nucleic acids possessing at least 70% sequence identity with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3; and    (c) nucleic acids that hybridize under conditions of at least 70% stringency with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3.    
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  wherein the nucleic acid molecule possess at least 80% sequence identity with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3:  
     
     
         4 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1  wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under conditions of at least 80% stringency with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3.  
     
     
         5 . A purified protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . A recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A recombinant vector according to  claim 6  wherein the nucleic acid molecule is in reverse orientation relative to an adjacent promoter sequence of the vector.  
     
     
         8 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant vector according to  claim 6 .  
     
     
         9 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant vector according to  claim 7 .  
     
     
         10 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant expression cassette comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) nucleic acids comprising at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 1;    (b) nucleic acids possessing at least 70% sequence identity with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3; and    (c) nucleic acids that hybridize under conditions of at least 70% stringency with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3.    
     
     
         11 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 10  wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises at least 30 consecutive nucleotides of the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 1.  
     
     
         12 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 10  wherein the nucleic acid sequence possess at least 80% sequence identity with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3.  
     
     
         13 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 10  wherein the nucleic acid sequence hybridizes under conditions of at least 80% stringency with the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 3.  
     
     
         14 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 10 , wherein the plant has a modified phenotype compared to a non-transgenic plant of the same species.  
     
     
         15 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 14  wherein the modified phenotype is a modified very long chain fatty acid composition.  
     
     
         16 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 15  wherein the modified phenotype is a modified epicuticular wax layer.  
     
     
         17 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 14  wherein the modified phenotype is modified seed oil composition.  
     
     
         18 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 14  wherein the modified phenotype is conditional male sterility.  
     
     
         17 . A method of producing a plant with a modified very long chain fatty acid composition relative to a non-transgenic plant of the same species, comprising introducing into the plant a recombinant vector according to  claim 6 .  
     
     
         18 . A transgenic plant produced by the method of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         19 . A transgenic plant produced by sexual or asexual propagation of a plant according to  claim 18  or the progeny of said plant.  
     
     
         20 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence according to Seq. I.D. No. 3.  
     
     
         21 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence as shown in Seq. I.D. No. 4.  
     
     
         24 . A method of isolating a nucleic acid molecule encoding a plant very long chain fatty acid elongation enzyme, the method comprising hybridizing a nucleic acid preparation with a DNA molecule comprising at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 1.  
     
     
         25 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule isolated according to the method of claim  24 .  
     
     
         26 . A recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the promoter sequence comprises a CUT1 promoter.  
     
     
         27 . A recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to claim  26  wherein the promoter sequence comprises at least 50 consecutive nucleotides of the sequence shown in Seq. I.D. No.12.  
     
     
         28 . A purified peptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least 70% identical to the sequence set forth in Seq. I.D. No. 4.