Patents Examined by Li Zheng
  • Patent number: 7294711
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide molecules for regulating gene expression in plants. In particular, the present invention relates to promoters isolated from Brassica napus that are useful for regulating gene expression of heterologous polynucleotide molecules in plants. The present invention also relates to expression constructs and transgenic plants containing the heterologous polynucleotide molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Diane M. Ruezinsky, Crystal L. Hewitt, Wei Zheng
  • Patent number: 7291766
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of modulating seed mass and other traits in plants. The methods involve producing transgenic plants comprising a recombinant expression cassette containing an ADC nucleic acid linked to a plant promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: K. Diane Jofuku, Jack K. Okamuro
  • Patent number: 7279336
    Abstract: Methods and compositions to increase Agrobacterium transformation efficiency (frequencies) in both dicot and monocot host plants include adding histones to the host plant at most transiently, and using histones and L-cysteine at certain stages in monocot transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Inventors: Stanton B. Gelvin, Kirankumar S. Mysore, Kan Wang, Bronwyn R. Frame
  • Patent number: 7276370
    Abstract: A method of activating the rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) promoter in vivo is disclosed. The RTBV promoter is activated by exposure to at least one protein selected from the group consisting of Rf2a and Rf2b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
    Inventors: Roger N. Beachy, Silvana Petruccelli, Shunhong Dai
  • Patent number: 7276374
    Abstract: Adding at least one gene involved in plant host cell T-DNA integration enhances transformation by Agrobacterium. The histone H2A gene encoded by the Arabidopsis RAT5 gene increases transformation frequencies of plants, most likely by causing overexpression of a product needed for T-DNA integration. Agrobacterium tumefaciens genetically transforms plant cells by transferring a portion of the bacterial Ti-plasmid, designated the T-DNA, to the plant, and integrating the T-DNA into the plant genome. However, not all plants are transformable by Agrobacterium and transformation frequencies may be too low to be useful. Little is known about the T-DNA integration process, and no plant genes involved in integration have been identified prior to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Stanton B. Gelvin, Kirankumar S. Mysore
  • Patent number: 7273966
    Abstract: This present invention provides a method for increasing fatty acid synthase activity in a plant by expressing a transgenic multifunctional fatty acid synthase (mfFAS) within the plant, wherein the plant is not of the Brassica species. In one embodiment, the present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding mfFAS proteins from various sources for this purpose, and vectors containing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Toni A. Voelker, Dale L. Val, Thomas J. Savage
  • Patent number: 7271003
    Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for strongly expressing an exogenous gene specifically in plant tissue (particularly, tissue having active cell prolifaration) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsEF1?1 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing the promoter and an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: National Insitute of Agrobiological Sciences
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Yasunori Ban, Toshiaki Kayano, Makoto Matsuoka, Tomoaki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7238852
    Abstract: A non-hydrogenated canola oil having superior oxidative stability and fry stability useful for food applications is disclosed, as well as seeds, plant lines and progeny thereof from which the oil is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventor: Zhegong Fan
  • Patent number: 7238859
    Abstract: The field of the invention is inducible gene expression systems wherein expression is controlled by a novel ecdysone or ultraspiracle receptor or its derivatives. The field particularly relates to the isolation and characterization of nucleic acid and polypeptides for a novel ecdysone receptor and a novel ultraspiracle receptor. The nucleic acid and polypeptides are useful in novel gene expression systems inducible with ecdysone or derivative receptor agonists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc C. Albertsen, Catherine D. Brooke, Carl W. Garnaat, Bradley Allen Roth
  • Patent number: 7211658
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: E.I. duPont deNemours and Company
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, Clement W. K. Waine
  • Patent number: 7205455
    Abstract: The field of the invention is inducible gene expression systems wherein expression is controlled by a novel ecdysone or ultraspiracle receptor or its derivatives. The field particularly relates to the isolation and characterization of nucleic acid and polypeptides for a novel ecdysone receptor and a novel ultraspiracle receptor. The nucleic acid and polypeptides are useful in novel gene expression systems inducible with ecdysone or derivative receptor agonists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc C. Albertsen, Catherine D. Brooke, Carl W. Garnaat, Bradley Allen Roth
  • Patent number: 7205454
    Abstract: The invention relates to the isolation of promoters from corn capable of directing transcription of an operably linked foreign DNA sequence preferentially, selectively or exclusively in the roots of plants, such as corn plants. The invention also relates to the use of chimeric genes for the preferential or selective expression of biologically active RNA of interest in the roots of plants, such as corn plants. Plants, such as corn plants, comprising corn root preferential or selective promoters operably linked to a foreign DNA sequence which, upon transcription, yield biologically active RNA preferentially or selectively in the roots of plants are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Bayer BioScience N.V.
    Inventors: Greet Vanderkimpen, Gerben Van Eldik, Frank Meulewaeter
  • Patent number: 7195917
    Abstract: Methods and materials are disclosed for the inhibition and control of gibberellic acid levels. In particular, nucleic acid sequences of copalyl diphosphate synthase. 3-? hydroxylase, and 2-oxidase and additional nucleic acid sequences are disclosed. Gibberellic acid levels may be inhibited or controlled by preparation of a chimeric expression construct capable of expressing a RNA or protein product which suppresses the gibberellin biosynthetic pathway sequence, diverts substrates from the pathway or degrades pathway substrates or products. The sequence is preferably a copalyl diphosphate synthase sequence, a 3?-hydroxylase sequence, a 2-oxidase sequence, a phytoene synthase sequence, a C20-oxidase sequence, and a 2?,3?-hydroxylase sequence. Administration of a complementing agent, preferably a gibberellin or gibberellin precursor or intermediate restores bioactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Sherri M. Brown, Tedd D. Elich, Gregory R. Heck, Ganesh M. Kishore, Eugene W. Logusch, Sherry J. Logusch, Kenneth J. Piller, Sudabathula Rao, Joel E. Ream, Scott R. Baerson
  • Patent number: 7192775
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gDNA and corresponding cDNA sequence comprising pathogenesis related protein-10 (CbPR-10) gene in Capsicum baccatum. The polypeptide encoded by the DNA sequence has ribonuclease activity which makes the enzyme highly effective in inhibiting the growth of fungal pathogen. The use of the DNA sequence disclosed herein contains the gDNA, cDNA, protein and a genetic construct for the production of transgenic plants, especially genetically transformed pepper plants, with an enhanced resistance against fungal pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Soon Kim, Ae Ran Park, Moon Kyung Ko, Jae Bok Yoon, Hyo Guen Park, Pill-Soon Song
  • Patent number: 7189570
    Abstract: Putrescine-N-Methyltransferase promoters, particularly promoters isolated from tobacco, are disclosed, along with recombinant nucleic acids containing the same, expression vectors containing the same, and transgenic plants produced therewith. Methods of use thereof are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Mark Conkling, Yan Li
  • Patent number: 7164006
    Abstract: This invention provides methods and compositions for altering the growth, organization, and differentiation of plant tissues. The invention is based on the discovery that, in plants, genetically altering the levels of Retinoblastoma-related gene (RRB) activity produces dramatic effects on the growth, proliferation, organization, and differentiation of plant meristem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Tim Durfee, Heidi Feiler, Wilhelm Gruissem, Susan Jenkins, Judith Roe, Patricia Zambryski
  • Patent number: 7151168
    Abstract: The field of the invention is inducible gene expression systems wherein expression is controlled by a novel ecdysone or ultraspiracle receptor or its derivatives. The field particularly relates to the isolation and characterization of nucleic acid and polypeptides for a novel ecdysone receptor and a novel ultraspiracle receptor. The nucleic acid and polypeptides are useful in novel gene expression systems inducible with ecdysone or derivative receptor agonists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc C. Albertsen, Catherine D. Brooke, Carl W. Garnaat, Bradley Allen Roth