Title: Manipulation of lignin composition in plants using a tissue-specific promoter

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and materials in the field of molecular biology, the manipulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway and the regulation of proteins synthesis through plant genetic engineering. More particularly, the invention relates to the introduction of a foreign nucleotide sequence into a plant genome, wherein the introduction of the nucleotide sequence effects an increase in the syringyl content of the plant's lignin. In one specific aspect, the invention relates to methods for modifying the plant lignin composition in a plant cell by the introduction there into of a foreign nucleotide sequence comprising at issue specific plant promoter sequence and a sequence encoding an active ferulate-5-hydroxylase (F5H) enzyme. Plant transformants harboring an inventive promoter-F5H construct demonstrate increased levels of syringyl monomer residues in their lignin, rendering the polymer more readily delignified and, thereby, rendering the plant more readily pulped or digested.

Inventors:

Chapple, Clinton C. S.

Issue Date:

2003-08-26

Research Org.:

Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1174465

Patent Number(s):

6610908

Application Number:

09/214,139

Assignee:

Purdue Research Foundation (West Lafayette, IN)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12N - MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES

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C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12N - MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES

C12N15/8222 - {Developmentally regulated expression systems, tissue, organ specific, temporal or spatial regulation}
C12N15/8223 - {Vegetative tissue-specific promoters}
C12N15/8255 - {involving lignin biosynthesis}
C12N9/0071 - {acting on paired donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen
C12N9/0077 - {with a reduced iron-sulfur protein as one donor

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DOE Contract Number:  

FG02-94ER20138

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES