Ice Recrystallisation Inhibition Protein or Antifreeze Proteins from Deschampsia, Lolium and Festuca Species of Grass

Abstract

The present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for polypeptides involved in tolerance to freezing and/or low temperature stress in plants. More particularly, the present invention relates to nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for ice recrystallisation inhibition proteins (IRIPs) in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of plant response to freezing and/or low temperature stress. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to polypeptides involved in tolerance to freezing and/or low temperature stress in Deschampsia and Lolium species.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . An isolated or substantially purified nucleic acid including a nucleotide sequence selected from the list consisting of: 
 (i) a nucleotide sequence encoding an ice recrystallization inhibition protein (IRIP) from a  Deschampsia  species;    (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding an ice recrystallization inhibition protein (IRIP) from a  Festuca  species;    (iii) a nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-16, 18-21, 23-30, 32-37, 39-45, 47-53;    (iv) a nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 55-101 and 103-119;    (v) a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein which is a functionally active fragment or variant of a protein encoded by the nucleotide sequence set forth in any of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv);    (vi) a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the nucleotide sequence referred to in any of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v);    (vii) an antisense nucleotide sequence to the nucleotide sequence referred to in any of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v); or    (viii) an RNA sequence which corresponds to the nucleotide sequence referred to in any of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii).    
     
     
         30 . An isolated or substantially purified regulatory element selected from the list consisting of: 
 (i) a regulatory element derived from an IRIP gene from a  Deschampsia  species;    (ii) a regulatory element derived from an IRIP gene from a  Lolium  or  Festuca  species;    (iii) a regulatory element derived from a gene comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 1-16, 18-21, 23-30, 32-37, 39-45, 47-53;    (iv) a regulatory element derived from a gene comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 55-101 and 103-119;    (v) a regulatory element derived from a gene comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein which is a functionally active fragment or variant of a protein encoded by the gene mentioned in any of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv);    (vi) a regulatory element including the nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 121 to 123;    (vii) a regulatory element including a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the nucleotide sequence mentioned at any one of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi); or    (viii) a regulatory element including a functionally active fragment or variant of the regulatory element mentioned at any one of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi).    
     
     
         31 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 29  wherein said  Deschampsia  species is  Deschampsia antarctica.    
     
     
         32 . A regulatory element according to  claim 30  wherein said  Deschampsia  species is  Deschampsia antarctica.    
     
     
         33 . A nucleic acid construct including one or more nucleic acids according to  claim 29 .  
     
     
         34 . A nucleic acid construct including one or more regulatory elements according to  claim 30 .  
     
     
         35 . A plant cell, plant, plant seed or other plant part, including a nucleic acid construct according to  claim 33 .  
     
     
         36 . A plant cell, plant, plant seed or other plant part, including a nucleic acid construct according to  claim 34 .  
     
     
         37 . A plant, plant seed or other plant part derived from a plant cell or plant according to  claim 35 .  
     
     
         38 . A plant, plant seed or other plant part derived from a plant cell or plant according to  claim 36 .  
     
     
         39 . A method of modifying tolerance of freezing and/or low temperature stress in a plant, said method including introducing into said plant an effective amount of a nucleic acid according to  claim 29 .  
     
     
         40 . A method of modifying tolerance of freezing and/or low temperature stress in a plant, said method including introducing into said plant an effective amount of a regulatory element according to  claim 30 .  
     
     
         41 . Use of a nucleic acid according to  claim 29  and/or nucleotide sequence information thereof, and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms thereof, as a molecular marker.  
     
     
         42 . Use of a regulatory element according to  claim 30 , and/or nucleotide sequence information thereof, and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms thereof, as a molecular marker.  
     
     
         43 . A preparation for transforming a plant, the preparation comprising a nucleic acid according to  claim 29 .  
     
     
         44 . A preparation for transforming a plant, the preparation comprising a regulatory element according to  claim 30 .  
     
     
         45 . An isolated or substantially purified nucleic acid including a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) from a nucleic acid according to  claim 29 .  
     
     
         46 . An isolated or substantially purified polypeptide selected from the list consisting of: 
 (i) an IRIP or IRIP-like polypeptide from a  Deschampsia  species;    (ii) an IRIP or IRIP-like polypeptide from a  Lolium  or  Festuca  species;    (iii) a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in any of SEQ ID NOs: 17, 22, 31, 38, 46 or 54;    (iv) a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 102 or 121;    (v) a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid according to claim  1 ; or    (vi) a functionally active fragment or variant of the polypeptide mentioned in any of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v).    
     
     
         47 . The polypeptide according to  claim 46  wherein said  Deschampsia  species is  Deschampsia antarctica.    
     
     
         48 . The polypeptide according to  claim 46  wherein said  Lolium  species is perennial ryegrass ( L. perenne ).