# US 7,745,697 B2 · MEG1 endosperm-specific promoters and genes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,697 B2 - Document ID: US7745697B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/578,126 - Filed: 2004-11-02 - Published: 2007-02-01 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2003-11-03 - Assignees: Biogemma - Inventors: Pascual Perez; José Gutierrez-Marcos; Hugh Dickinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745697B2 ## CPC - C12N 15/8279: {for biotic stress resistance, pathogen resistance, disease resistance} - C07K 14/415: from plants - C12N 15/8234: {Seed-specific, e.g. embryo, endosperm} - 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) ## Abstract The present invention relates to promoters that enable gene expression which is both specific to the endosperm and early during the development of the endosperm, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding basal endosperm transfer cell layer (BETL) proteins. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An isolated nucleic acid molecule that has promoter activity specific to the endosperm and that comprises a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of: a. a sequence as depicted as SEQ ID No: 1; and b. a fragment of a sequence as defined in (a), wherein said sequence has promoter activity specific to the endosperm; e. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1, which has a maternal parent-of-origin pattern of expression. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 1, which has been isolated from a plant selected from the group consisting of maize, teosintes, rice, sorghum, wheat, barley, rye, pea, and sugar cane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid molecule having promoter activity specific to the endosperm according to claim 1 operatively linked to at least one gene of interest. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The expression cassette according to claim 4, wherein said gene of interest is selected from the group consisting of a sequence that encodes a peptide or a protein, an antisense RNA sequence, a sense RNA sequence and a ribozyme. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The expression cassette according to claim 4, in which the gene of interest encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of a protein involved in development of the embryo and/or of the endosperm, in determination of seed size and/or quality, in cell growth, or in sugar or fatty acid metabolism, in nutrient transfer, of a toxic protein, a transcription inhibiting protein, and a protein improving resistance to pathogens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The expression cassette according to claim 4, which further comprises a selection marker gene for plants. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The expression cassette according to claim 4, which further comprises a gene encoding a MRP1 protein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) An expression vector containing at least an expression cassette according to claim 4. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A host cell containing at least a vector according to claim 9. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A transgenic plant, or a part of a transgenic plant comprising a cell according to claim 10. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The plant or part of a plant according to claim 11, wherein said plant or part of plant is a cereal or oily plant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The plant or part of a plant according to claim 12, which is from the group consisting of maize, rice, wheat, barley, rape, and sunflower. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) A hybrid transgenic plant obtained by crossing plants as defined in claim 4. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4, 9) A method of obtaining a plant having improved agronomic qualities and/or improved resistance to a pathogen, comprising the steps consisting of: a. transforming at least one plant cell by means of at least a vector according to claim 9; b. cultivating the cell(s) thus transformed so as to generate a plant containing in its genome at least an expression cassette according to claim 4, whereby a plant having improved agronomic qualities and/or improved resistance to a pathogen is obtained.