METHODS AND GENETIC CONSTRUCTS FOR MODIFICATION OF LIGNIN COMPOSITION OF CORN COBS

• Main Authors: STEFFENS, JOHN, CARTER, ROYSTON, E, LEE, MIKYONG
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 05.10.2006
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; CULTURE MEDIA; ENZYMOLOGY; FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIREDCHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERSFROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE; FISHING; FORESTRY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; NEW PLANTS OR PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGYGENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION; SPIRITS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TRAPPING; VINEGAR; WINE

The present invention relates to methods and genetic constructs for the control of expression of enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis in plants. The method involves the use of double-stranded RNAi to down-regulate or knock out the expression of the CAD and COMT genes. In particular embodiments the method involves the use of cob-specific or cob-preferred promoters for down-regulation of lignin biosynthesis in the cobs of com plants. La présente invention concerne des procédés et des constructions génétiques destinés à réguler l'expression d'enzymes intervenant dans la biosynthèse de la lignine chez des plantes. Le procédé consiste à utiliser un ARNi bicaténaire pour réguler négativement ou neutraliser l'expression des gènes CAD et COMT. Dans des modes de réalisation particulières, le procédé consiste à utiliser des promoteurs spécifiques ou préférés des rafles pour réguler négativement la biosynthèse de la lignine dans les rafles de maïs.