Jianjun Yang

US Patent:

60181060, Jan 25, 2000

Filed:

Jul 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/116879

Inventors:

Arthur G. Hunt - Lexington KY
Jianjun Yang - Ithaca NY
Carol Von Lanken - Lexington KY

Assignee:

University of Kentucky Research Foundation - Lexington KY

International Classification:

A01H 500
C12N 514
C12N 1582

US Classification:

800301

Abstract:

Plants that accumulate the yeast polyadenylate binding protein (yPAB) display a range of abnormalities, including a characteristic chlorosis in leaves to a necrosis and pronounced inhibition of growth. The severity of these abnormalities reflects the levels of yeast PAB expression in the transgenic plants. In contrast, no obvious differences are seen in undifferentiated callus cultures that express the same range of yeast PAB. The expression of the yeast PAB1 gene in plants does not affect expression of the plant PAB gene family or alter poly(A) length in the total RNA population. It is proposed that the yeast PAB1 gene or its product interferes with as yet unidentified functions of PABs, which functions are manifest only in differentiated, developed plants. Surprisingly, transgenic plants expressing the yeast PAB1 gene are also observed to have a systemic acquired resistance (SAR) to bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens.