Methyl-d-erythritol phosphate pathway genes

Abstract

The present invention provides and includes nucleic acids, proteins and antibodies associated with novel genes in the MEP pathway. The invention further encompasses methods utilizing such molecules, for example in gene isolation, gene analysis and the production of transgenic plants. The present invention also includes transgenic plants modified to express proteins associated with the MEP pathway.

1 . A substantially purified nucleic acid molecule that encodes a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 48 through 50. 
     
     
         2 . The substantially purified nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said protein is operably linked to a chloroplast transit peptide-encoding sequence. 
     
     
         3 . The substantially purified nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule (A) hybridizes under moderate stringency conditions to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1 through 3, 5 through 47, and complements thereof, or (B) has greater than 85% identity to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1 through 3, 5 through 47, and complements thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The substantially purified nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises: (A) a promoter; and (B) a heterologous nucleic acid molecule that encodes an amino sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 48 through 50. 
     
     
         5 . A transformed cell comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         6 . An antibody capable of specifically binding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 48 and 49. 
     
     
         7 . A transgenic plant comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         8 . Seed derived from a transgenic plant of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a transgenic plant having seed with an altered isoprenoid compound level comprising: (A) transforming the plant with a nucleic acid molecule to produce a transgenic plant, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a protein with an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 48-50; and (B) growing the transgenic plant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said nucleic acid molecule is in an antisense orientation.