Control of gene expression
OwnerMichael Wayne Graham, Robert Norman Riceinventors
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to synthetic genes for modifying endogenous gene expression in a cell, tissue or organ of a transgenic organism, in particular a transgenic animal or plant. More particularly, the present invention provides novel synthetic genes and genetic constructs which are capable of repressing delaying or otherwise reducing the expression of an endogenous gene or a target gene in an organism when introduced thereto.
Claims32
A method of modulating (as defined) the expression of a target gene (as defined) in a plant cell, tissue or organ comprising (a) providing one or more dispersed or foreign nucleic acid molecules (as defined) which include multiple copies (as defined) of a nucleotide sequence, each of which is substantially identical (as defined) to or complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the target gene or a region thereof, and (b) transfecting the plant cell, tissue or organ with the dispersed or foreign nucleic acid molecules for a time and under conditions sufficient for expression of at least two of the multiple copies.
The method according to claim I wherein the target gene is derived from the genome of a pathogen of the cell, tissue or organ or an organism comprising said cell, tissue or organ.
A method of modulating (as defined) the expression of a target gene (as defined) in a plant cell, tissue or organ, said method comprising:
- (v) selecting one or more dispersed nucleic acid molecules or foreign nucleic acid molecules (as defined) which comprise multiple copies (as defined) of a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical (as defined) to the nucleotide sequence of said target gene or a region thereof or which is complementary thereto;
- (vi) producing a synthetic gone comprising said dispersed nucleic acid molecules or foreign nucleic acid molecules operably connected to a promoter sequence operable in said cell, tissue or organ;
- (vii) introducing said synthetic gene to said call, tissue or organ;
- and
- (viii) expressing said synthetic gene in said cell, tissue or organ for a time and under conditions sufficient for expression of at least two of the copies.
A method of conferring resistance or immunity to a viral pathogen upon a plant cell, tissue, organ or whole organism, comprising:
- (v) selecting one or more dispersed nucleic acid molecules or foreign nucleic acid molecules (as defined) which comprise multiple copies (as defined) substantially identical to a nucleotide sequence derived from the viral pathogen or a complementary sequence thereto or a region thereof;
- (vi) producing a synthetic gene comprising said dispersed nucleic acid molecules or foreign nucleic acid molecules operably connected to a promoter sequence operable in said cell, tissue, organ or whole organism;
- (vii) introducing said synthetic gene to said cell, tissue, organ or whole organism;
- and
- (viii) expressing said synthetic gene in said cell, tissue or organ for a time and under conditions sufficient for expression of at least two of the copies.
A genetic construct comprising multiple structural gene sequences (as defined), wherein each of said structural gene sequences is substantially identical (as defined) to a target gene (as defined) in a plant cell, and wherein said multiple structural gene sequences are placed operably under the control of a single promoter sequence which is operable in said cell, wherein at least one of said structural gene sequences is placed operably in the sense orientation under the control of said promoter sequence and at least one other of said structural gene sequences is placed operably in the antisense orientation under the control of said promoter sequence, and wherein at least one structural gene sequence that is placed in the sense orientation relative to said promoter and at least one structural gene sequence that is placed in the antisense orientation relative to said promoter are spaced from each other by a nucleic acid stuffer fragment.
A genetic construct which is capable of modulating (as defined) the expression of a target gene in a plant cell, which is transfected with said construct, wherein said construct comprises multiple copies (as defined) of a structural gene sequence (as defined), wherein each copy comprises a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical to said target gene or a derivative of said target gene and wherein said multiple copies are placed operably under the control of a single promoter sequence which is operable in said cell, wherein at least two of said copies are placed operably in the sense orientation under the control of said promoter sequence.
A genetic construct which is capable of modulating (as defined) the expression of a target gene (as defined) in a plant cell, which is transfected with said construct, wherein said construct comprises multiple structural gene sequences (as defined) wherein each of said structural gene sequences is separately placed under the control of a promoter which is operable in said cell, and wherein each of said structural gene sequences comprises a nucleotide sequence which is substantially identical to said target gene or a derivative of said target gene, wherein at least one of said structural gene sequences is placed operably in the sense orientation under the control of an individual promoter sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.