Genetically engineered modification of potato to form amylopectin-type starch

An isolated fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule bound starch synthase (GBSS), wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 3, and nucleotide sequences encoding one or more of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 6-17.

An antisense construct capable of inhibiting expression of a gene that encodes a starch synthase in potato, comprising

• a promoter;
• operably linked to
• a fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase positioned in an antisense orientation, wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, and nucleotide sequences encoding one or more of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 6-17.

A vector comprising a fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 3, and nucleotide sequences encoding one or more of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 6-17, said nucleotide sequence positioned in an antisense orientation in relation to a promoter positioned upstream from said nucleotide sequenceand operably linked thereto.

A method for tuber-specific expression of a gene product in a potato comprising:

• transforming said potato with a DNA molecule comprising an isolated promoter from a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS).

A method for tuber-specific expression of a gene product in a potato comprising:

• transforming said potato with a DNA molecule comprising a promoter sequence from a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), said promoter sequence containing the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4.

A method of suppressing amylose formation in potato, comprising:

• cultivating a potato containing a gene construct comprising a fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) positioned in an anti-sense orientation, wherein said fragment contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1.

A method of suppressing amylose formation in potato, comprising:

• cultivating a potato containing a gene construct comprising a fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) positioned in an anti-sense orientation, wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, and nucleotide sequences encoding one or more of the amino acid sequences of SEO ID NOs. 6-7.

An isolated fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3.

An antisense construct that is capable of inhibiting expression of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) comprising:

• a promoter, operably linked to
• a fragment of the potato gene that encodes said granule-bound starch synthase positioned in an antisense orientation, wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, and SEQ ID NO. 3.

A vector comprising a fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, and SEQ ID NO. 3, and said nucleotide sequence is positioned in an antisense orientation in relation to a promoter positioned upstream from said nucleotide sequence and operably linked thereto.

A method of suppressing amylose formation in potato, comprising:

• cultivating a potato containing a gene construct comprising a fragment of a potato gene of that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) inserted positioned in an anti-sense orientation, wherein said fragment contains the nucleotide sequence of of SEQ ID NO. 3.

A method of enhancing amylopectin formation in potato, comprising:

• cultivating a potato containing a gene construct comprising a fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) positioned in an anti-sense orientation, wherein said fragment contains a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, and nucleotide sequences that encode one or more of the amino acid sequences of SEQ.ID NOs. 6-17.

An isolated fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), wherein said fragment contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1.

An antisense construct that is capable of inhibiting expression of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) comprising:

• a promoter, operably linked to
• a fragment of the potato gene that encodes said granule-bound starch synthase positioned in an antisense orientation, wherein said fragment contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1.

A vector comprising a fragment of a potato gene that encodes a granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), wherein said fragment contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1.

An isolated, tuber-specific potato, granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) gene promoter that contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4.

An isolated tuber-specific, potato, granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) gene promoter consisting essentially of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4.