Methods of identifying genes for the manipulation of triterpene saponins
AssigneeThe Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
InventorsRichard A. Dixon, Lahoucine Achnine, Hideyuki Suzuki, Xian-Zhi He, Liangjiang Wang
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Abstract
The invention provides methods for the isolation of plant genes and their regulatory sequences involved in the biosynthesis of triterpene saponins. Also provided by the invention are genes involved in the biosynthesis of triterpenes, including squalene synthase, squalene epoxidase and β-amyrin synthase from Medicago truncatula. The identification of triterpene biosynthesis genes allows genetic modification of the content and composition of triterpene saponins in plants for crop improvement and the development of drugs, nutriceuticals and functional foods.
Claims31
A method of identifying a triterpene biosynthesis coding sequence comprising:
- (a) obtaining a cell from a target legume species;
- (b) contacting said cell with methyl jasmonate;
- and
- (c) identifying a coding sequence which is specifically upregulated in the cell following the contacting with methyl jasmonate to identify a triterpene biosynthesis gene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.