John B Littleton

US Patent:

7547520, Jun 16, 2009

Filed:

Dec 2, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/291995

Inventors:

Deane Louis Falcone - Lexington KY, US
John M. Littleton - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

University of Kentucky Research Foundation - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G01N 33/60

US Classification:

435 71

Abstract:

This invention provides materials and methods to manipulate the plant genome at the level of single plant cells in culture resulting in the ability to assign metabolic functionality to plant genes involved in the production of biologically active molecules and to create a means of product discovery based on the biosynthetic capacity of plants. The materials to create an activation mutagenesis include incorporation of enhancer sequences from a plant viral promoter at random places in the plant genome via mediated DNA transfer (T-DNA). The usefulness is that genes in the immediate vicinity of the incorporation were activated which allows for immediate screening of the mutagenized plant cells. Additionally, the usefulness includes relevant areas of the genome were flanked by the inserted T-DNA which allows recovery of this area by standard molecular biology techniques. The method includes a procedure for screening large numbers of mutagenized plant cell cultures for activation of a relevant gene on the basis of the desired protein product on the basis of radioligand binding displacement assay.

US Patent:

7737327, Jun 15, 2010

Filed:

Mar 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/795455

Inventors:

Deane Louis Falcone - Lexington KY, US
John M. Littleton - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

The University of Kentucky Research Foundation - Lexington KY

International Classification:

C12N 15/82
C12N 15/84
C12N 15/10
C12N 15/12
C12N 15/38
C12N 15/62

US Classification:

800288, 800282, 800294, 800306, 8003173, 435 6, 435 71, 435 8, 435 697, 435421, 4354301, 435468, 435469

Abstract:

Methods for screening mutations that affect the synthesis of plant small molecules or compounds capable of activating a mammalian nuclear receptor protein and systems for rapidly assigning functionality to genes that regulate plant secondary metabolism are provided.

US Patent:

6989236, Jan 24, 2006

Filed:

Jan 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/045677

Inventors:

Deane Louis Falcone - Lexington KY, US
John M. Littleton - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

University of Kentucky Research Foundation - Lexington KY

International Classification:

C12N 15/82
G01N 33/534

US Classification:

435 71, 435 6, 435468, 435469

Abstract:

This invention provides materials and methods to manipulate the plant genome at the level of single plant cells in culture resulting in the ability to assign metabolic functionality to plant genes involved in the production of biologically active molecules and to create a means of product discovery based on the biosynthetic capacity of plants. The materials to create an activation mutagenesis include incorporation of enhancer sequences from a plant viral promoter at random places in the plant genome via mediated DNA transfer (T-DNA). The usefulness is that genes in the immediate vicinity of the incorporation were activated which allows for immediate screening of the mutagenized plant cells. Additionally, the usefulness includes relevant areas of the genome were flanked by the inserted T-DNA which allows recovery of this area by standard molecular biology techniques. The method includes a procedure for screening large numbers of mutagenized plant cell cultures for activation of a relevant gene on the basis of the desired protein product on the basis of radioligand binding displacement assay.