Patents

United States Patent: 7,226,756

Cosgrove, et al. June 5, 2007

Purified plant expansin proteins and DNA encoding same

Abstract

This invention relates to a new class of proteins called expansins, and methods related thereto are presented. This class of proteins can be characterized as catalysts of the extension of plant cell walls and the weakening of the hydrogen bonds in pure cellulose. Two proteins have been isolated from washed wall fragments of cucumber hypocotyls, referred to as "cucumber expansin-29" and "cucumber expansin-30". Moreover, three peptide fragments from the purified cEx-29 protein were sequenced, then oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a portion of the expansin cDNA using polymerase chain reaction with a cDNA template derived from cucumber seedlings, and then the PCR fragment was used to screen a cDNA library to identify full length clones. Another expansin protein has been isolated from oat coleoptiles (oat expansin oEx-29), while three additional expansin sequences have been identified in Arabidopsis and an additional two in rice.

Inventors: Cosgrove; Daniel J. (Pennsylvania Furnace, PA), McQueen-Mason; Simon (Fulford, GB), Guiltinan; Mark J. (State College, PA), Shcherban; Tatyana (State College, PA), Shi; Jun (Wilmington, DE)

Assignee:The Penn State Research Foundation (University Park, PA)

Appl. No.:10/670,009

Filed:September 24, 2003

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United States Patent: 6,255,466

Cosgrove, et al. July 3, 2001

Purified plant expansion proteins and DNA encoding same

Abstract

The sequence is disclosed both as the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 and as the corresponding amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 7. Five other amino acid sequences are also disclosed, two from rice and three from Arabidopsis, SEQ ID NO: 2 through SEQ ID NO:6, respectively.

Inventors: Cosgrove; Daniel J. (State College, PA), McQueen-Mason; Simon (York, GB), Guiltinan; Mark (State College, PA), Shcherban; Tatyana (State College, PA), Shi; Jun (State College, PA)

Assignee:The Penn State Research Foundation (University Park, PA)

Appl. No.: 09/092,160

Filed: June 5, 1998

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United States Patent: 6,197,587

Guiltinan, Mark et al. March 6, 2001

Methods and tissue culture media for inducing somatic embryogenesis, agrobacterium-medicated transformation and efficient regeneration of cacao plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved methods of (i) inducing somatic embryogenesis from cacao tissue explants and (ii) regenerating cacao plants from somatic embryos. The invention further relates to cacao somatic embryos and plants obtained according to the methods of the invention. Novel tissue culture media adapted for use in the above-identified methods are also within the scope of the invention. The novel media of the invention include primary callus growth medium, secondary callus growth medium, embryo development medium, primary embryo conversion medium, secondary embryo conversion medium and plant regeneration medium.

Inventors: Guiltinan; Mark J. (State College, PA), Li; Zhijian (Tabares, FL), Traore; Abdoulaye (State College, PA), Maximova; Siela (State College, PA)

Assignee:The Penn State Research Foundation (University Park, PA)

Appl. No.: 09/105,648

Filed: June 26, 1998

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United States Patent: 6,150,587

Guiltinan, M. et al. November 21, 2000

Method and tissue culture media for inducing somatic embryogenesis, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and efficient regeneration of cacao plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved methods of transforming cacao tissues with Agrobacterium vectors and regenerating transgenic plants. The invention further relates to transgenic cacao somatic embryos and plants obtained according to the methods of the invention. Novel tissue culture media adapted for use in the above-identified methods are also within the scope of the invention. The novel media of the invention include primary callus growth medium, secondary callus growth medium, embryo development medium, primary embryo conversion medium, secondary embryo conversion medium and plant regeneration medium.

Inventors: Guiltinan; Mark J. (State College, PA), Li; Zhijian (Tabares, FL), Traore; Abdoulaye (State College, PA), Maximova; Siela (State College, PA)

Assignee:The Penn State Research Foundation (University Park, PA)

Appl. No.: 09/105,617

Filed:June 26, 1998

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United States Patent: 5,959,082

Cosgrove , et al. September 28, 1999

Proteins catalyzing the extension of plant cell walls

Abstract

A new class of proteins and methods related thereto are presented. The proteins, which can be characterized as catalysts of the extension of plant cell walls and the weakening of the hydrogen bonds in pure cellulose, are referred to as expansins. Two proteins have been isolated by fractionation techniques from washed wall fragments of cucumber hypocotyls, referred to as "cucumber expansin-29" and "cucumber expansin-30" (abbreviated cEx-29 and cEx-30, with respect to their apparent relative masses as determined by SDS-PAGE). Moreover, three peptide fragments from the purified cEx-29 protein were sequenced, then oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a portion of the expansin cDNA using polymerase chain reaction with a cDNA template derived from cucumber seedlings, and then the PCR fragment was used to screen a cDNA library to identify full length clones. Another expansin protein has been isolated from oat coleoptiles (oat expansin oEx-29), while three additional expansin sequences have been identified in Arabidopsis and an additional two in rice. Expansins appear to be broadly distributed throughout the plant kingdom and can be identified in stem and leaf vegetables (i.e., broccoli, cabbage), fruit and seed vegetables (i.e., tomato), fiber crops and cereals (i.e., corn), and forest and ornamental crops (i.e., cotton). An expansin, generally, is a protein which has at least about 60% sequence similarity with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ. ID. NO:1, and preferably has at least about 70% sequence similarity with SEQ. ID. NO:1.

Inventors: Cosgrove; Daniel J. (State College, PA), McQueen-Mason; Simon (York, GB), Guiltinan; Mark (State College, PA), Shcherban; Tatyana (State College, PA), Shi; Jun (State College, PA)

Assignee:The Penn State Research Foundation (University Park, PA)

Appl. No.: 08/440,517

Filed:May 12, 1995

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