Kenneth Scott Gross

US Patent:

6872813, Mar 29, 2005

Filed:

Jun 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/701868

Inventors:

Kenneth C. Gross - Ellicott City MD, US
David L. Smith - Columbia MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture - Washington DC

International Classification:

C12N015/29
C12N015/63
C12N009/38

US Classification:

536 236, 435 9141, 4353201, 435 691, 424 931

Abstract:

Novel DNA sequences derived from a family of genes encoding β-galactosidases in tomato are disclosed. β-Galactosidase II has demonstrated enzyme activity in cell wall disassembly, leading to loss of tissue integrity and fruit softening. Modification of β-galactosidase II gene expression in plants transformed for expression in the antisense direction results in improvement of the quality of fruit texture and firmness.

US Patent:

20050014267, Jan 20, 2005

Filed:

Apr 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/836164

Inventors:

Kenneth Gross - Ellicott City MD, US
David Smith - Laurel MD, US

International Classification:

C12N015/82
C07H021/04
C12N015/87
A01H005/00
C12N015/09
C12N015/63
C07K014/00
C12N005/10

US Classification:

435468000, 536023600, 435320100, 800278000, 435419000, 530350000, 800295000, 800298000

Abstract:

A novel β-galactosidase gene family and DNA sequences derived from the cloning of cDNAs encoding products of these genes are provided, as exemplified by a β-galactosidase II protein which is encoded by a cDNA clone, pZBG2-1-4. A method for modifying cell wall metabolism which involves modifying the activity of at least one β-galactosidase, and thus modifying the quality of the fruit is also provided. Also provided by the present invention is a DNA construct including some or all of a β-galactosidase DNA sequence under control of a transcriptional initiation region operative in plants, so that the construct can generate RNA and, optionally, β-galactosidase polypeptide in plant cells. The present invention also relates to recombinant vectors, which include the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention, and to host cells containing the recombinant vectors, as well as to methods of making such vectors and host cells and for using them for production of β-galactosidase polypeptides or peptides by recombinant techniques. The present invention also provides plant cells containing DNA constructs of the present invention; plants derived therefrom having modified β-galactosidase gene expression; and seeds produced from such plants.