Methods Using Acyl-Coenzyme A-Binding Proteins to Enchance Drought Tolerance in Genetically Modified Plants
AssigneeThe University of Hong Kong
InventorsMee Len CHYE, Zhi Yan DU, Mo Xian CHEN
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Abstract
ACBP2 can be used to enhance drought tolerance in genetically modified plants. ACBP2 was observed to be expressed in guard cells, and ACBP2-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis were conferred enhanced drought tolerance. Vectors/expression cassettes for conferring drought tolerance to plants/plant material are provided. Methods of using ACBP2 to enhance drought tolerance of plants are provided. Plants and plant material with improved drought tolerance are also provided. Methods for screening for genes with ACBP2-like activity are also provided.
Claims20
A transgenic plant genetically engineered to express ACBP2 in an amount effective to enhance drought tolerance relative to an unmodified plant.
A method of obtaining enhanced drought tolerance in a plant or plant cell comprising:
- genetically engineering the plant or plant cell to express ACBP2 in an amount effective to provide drought tolerance relative to a non-genetically engineered plant.
The method of claim 8, wherein the plant cell is of a solanaceous plant species.
A method of obtaining a plant part having drought tolerance, comprising:
- obtaining a plant part genetically modified to express ACBP2;
- and growing the plant part under conditions where it is exposed to drought stress sufficient to be growth-inhibiting to a native plant of the same type.
A method of screening for functional ACBP2 variants, comprising:
- obtaining a cell genetically modified to express a candidate ACBP2 variant;
- growing the cell under conditions of drought stress for a duration that is sufficient to be growth-inhibiting to a native cell of the same type;
- observing whether the cell exhibits a reduction in growth inhibition;
- and, if so, identifying the candidate ACBP2 variant as functional.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.