# US 7,612,252 B2 · Homeotic genes and proteins, uses thereof

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- Number: US 7,612,252 B2
- Document ID: US7612252B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/482,605
- Filed: 2002-06-25
- Published: 2005-03-24
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2001-06-25
- Inventors: Philip Benfey; Tal Nawy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612252B2

## CPC

- C12N 15/8261: {with agronomic (input) traits, e.g. crop yield}
- C07K 14/415: from plants
- C12N 15/8227: {Root-specific}
- Y02A 40/146: Genetically Modified [GMO] plants, e.g. transgenic plants
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00)
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

## Abstract

The homeotic gene AGL42 in Arabidopsis has been cloned and characterized and is presented herein, both alone and in association with expression control sequences and in vectors which may be used e.g. for transgenic expression. The gene exhibits the role of controlling meristem maintenance. A labeled construct is shown to serve as a marker for identity of the quiescent cells within the meristem. Both the DNA and protein are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

The construct pAGL42::GFP having ATCC Accession No. PTA-9607.

### Claim 2

A nucleic acid construct comprising AGL42 sequence fused to a marker, wherein the AGL42 sequence confers expression of the marker in the central cells or quiescent center of a plant, wherein the AGL42 sequence is comprised of upstream promoter sequence, first exon sequence, first intron sequence and second exon sequence of AGL42, and wherein the first exon sequence is as set out in SEQ ID NO: 3 and the second exon sequence is as set out in SEQ ID NO: 4 and wherein the construct is pAGL42::GFP having ATCC Accession No. PTA-9607.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The construct of claim 2 wherein the marker is green fluorescent protein (GFP).

### Claim 4

A method of identifying and monitoring the central cells or quiescent center in a plant comprising inserting into the genome of said plant or expressing in said plant the construct pAGL42::GFP having ATCC Accession No. PTA-9607.