Genes for Galactomannan Production in Plants and Methods of Use

Abstract

The invention relates to the genetic manipulation of plants, particularly to the expression of galactomannan biosynthetic genes in transformed plants. Isolated nucleotide molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding galactosyltransferases and methods for their use are provided. The nucleotide molecules find use in the production of gum in transformed plants.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3;    (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4;    (c) a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% identity to the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having mannan synthase activity;    (d) a fragment of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein said fragment encodes a polypeptide having galactosyltransferase activity; and    (e) a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of (a), (b), (c), or (d).    
     
     
         2 . An expression cassette comprising a nucleotide acid molecule of  claim 1  operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in a non-human host cell.  
     
     
         3 . A vector comprising the expression cassette of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         4 . A non-human host cell having stably incorporated in its genome the expression cassette of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         5 . A plant cell having stably incorporated in its genome the expression cassette of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         6 . A transformed plant comprising in its genome at least one stably incorporated nucleotide construct comprising a nucleotide sequence operably linked to a promoter that is capable of driving expression in a plant cell, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3;    (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4;    (c) a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% identity to the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having mannan synthase activity;    (d) a fragment of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, wherein said fragment encodes a polypeptide having galactosyltransferase activity; and    (e) a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of (a), (b), (c), or (d).    
     
     
         8 . The plant of  claim 6 , wherein said plant is a monocot.  
     
     
         9 . The plant of  claim 8 , wherein said monocot is selected from the group consisting of maize, wheat, rice, sorghum, rye, millet, and barley.  
     
     
         10 . The plant of  claim 6 , wherein said plant is a dicot.  
     
     
         11 . The plant of  claim 10 , wherein said dicot is selected from the group consisting of soybean, sunflower, safflower, alfalfa, potato,  Brassica  spp., cotton, tomato, tobacco, peanut, guar, locust bean, and fenugreek.  
     
     
         12 . The plant of  claim 6 , wherein said promoter is selected from the group consisting of constitutive, pathogen-inducible, chemical-regulated, wound-inducible, and insect-inducible promoters.  
     
     
         13 . A seed of the plant of  claim 6 , wherein said seed comprises in its genome at least one of said nucleotide constructs.