Polynucleotides and polypeptides involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing

Abstract

This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding polypeptides involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. The invention also relates to construction of a recombinant DNA construct encoding all or a portion of the polypeptide involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct results in production of altered levels in a transformed host cell of the the polypeptide involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising: 
 (a) a first nucleotide sequence encoding a first polypeptide having post-transcriptional gene silencing activity, wherein the amino acid sequence of the first polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 80% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method,    (b) a second nucleotide sequence encoding a second polypeptide having post-transcriptional gene silencing activity, wherein the amino acid sequence of the second polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42 have at least 85% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method, or    (c) the complement of the nucleotide sequence of (a) or (b).    
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the first polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 85% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method.  
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the first polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 90% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method, and wherein the amino acid sequence of the second polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42 have at least 90% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method.  
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the first polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 95% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method, and wherein the amino acid sequence of the second polypeptide and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42 have at least 95% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method.  
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid sequence of the first polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54, and wherein the amino acid sequence of the second polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42.  
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the first nucleotide sequence comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, 13, 21, 27, 39 or 53, and wherein the second nucleotide sequence comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, 37 or 41.  
     
     
         7 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . A recombinant DNA construct comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1  operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence.  
     
     
         9 . A method for transforming a cell, comprising transforming a cell with the polynucleotide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . A cell comprising the recombinant DNA construct of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         11 . A method for production of a polypeptide having post-transcriptional gene silencing activity comprising the steps of cultivating the cell of  claim 10  under conditions that allow for the synthesis of the polypeptide and isolating the polypeptide from the cultivated cells, from the culture medium, or from both the cultivated cells and the culture medium.  
     
     
         12 . A method for producing a plant comprising transforming a plant cell with the polynucleotide of  claim 1  and regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell.  
     
     
         13 . A plant comprising the recombinant DNA construct of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         14 . A seed comprising the recombinant DNA construct of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         15 . An isolated polypeptide having post-transcriptional gene silencing activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises: 
 (a) a first amino acid sequence, wherein the first amino acid sequence and and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 80% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method, or    (b) a second amino acid sequence, wherein the second amino acid sequence and and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42 have at least 85% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method.    
     
     
         16 . The polypeptide of  claim 15 , wherein the first amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 85% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method.  
     
     
         17 . The polypeptide of  claim 15 , wherein the first amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 90% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method, and wherein the second amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42 have at least 90% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method.  
     
     
         18 . The polypeptide of  claim 15 , wherein the first amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54 have at least 95% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method, and wherein the second amino acid sequence and the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42 have at least 95% sequence identity based on the ClustaIV alignment method.  
     
     
         19 . The polypeptide of  claim 15 , wherein the first amino acid sequence comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12, 14, 22, 28, 40 or 54, and wherein the second amino acid sequence comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, 38 or 42.