Transgenic plant cells and plants having modified activity of the GBSSI and of the BE protein

1. A transgenic potato plant cell which is genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to a decrease in the activity of one or more granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) proteins occurring endogenously in the plant cell and to a decrease in the activity of one or more branching enzyme I (BEI) proteins occurring endogenously in the plant cell, in comparison to corresponding non genetically modified plant cells of wild type plants, wherein said genetic modification comprises the introduction of a foreign nucleic acid molecule which comprises DNA molecules selected from the group consisting of:

(a) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and BEI proteins;

(b) DNA molecules which lead, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and BEI proteins;

(c) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and which encode at least one sense RNA which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins; and

(d) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI and which encode at least one sense RNA which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI proteins;

wherein said DNA molecules contain a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein and a sequence with a homology of between about 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein.

2. A transgenic potato plant cell which is genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to a decrease in the activity of one or more granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) proteins occurring endogenously in the plant cell and to a decrease in the activity of one or more branching enzyme I (BEI) proteins occurring endogenously in the plant cell, in comparison to corresponding non genetically modified plant cells of wild type plants, wherein said genetic modification comprises the introduction of two foreign nucleic acid molecules, in which said two foreign nucleic acid molecules are selected from the group consisting of:

(a) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins;

(b) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which leads, via cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins;

(c) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one sense RNA and which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins; and

(d) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one sense RNA and which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI proteins.

3. The transgenic potato plant cell as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , which synthesizes a modified starch having an amylopectin content of at least 90% and having an increased phosphate content in comparison to starch from plant cells of corresponding potato plants of the waxy phenotype.

4. A process for the production of a transgenic potato plant cell which synthesizes a modified starch, in which a potato plant cell is genetically modified by the introduction of one foreign nucleic acid molecule, wherein the presence and/or expression of the foreign nucleic acid molecule leads to a decrease in the activity of at least one GBSSI protein and to a decrease in the activity of at least one BEI protein, in which said foreign nucleic acid molecule comprises DNA molecules selected from the group consisting of:

(a) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and BEI proteins;

(b) DNA molecules which lead, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and BEI proteins;

(c) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and which encode at least one sense RNA which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins; and

(d) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI and which encode at least one sense RNA which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI proteins;

wherein said DNA molecules contain a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein and a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein.

5. A process according to claim 4 , wherein the modified potato starch has an amylopectin content of at least 90% and an increased phosphate content in comparison to starch from corresponding potato plants of the waxy phenotype.

6. A process for the production of a transgenic potato plant which synthesizes a modified starch, wherein:

(a) a potato plant cell is genetically modified by the introduction of one foreign nucleic acid molecule wherein the presence and/or expression of the foreign nucleic acid molecule leads to a decrease in the activity of at least one GBSSI protein and to a decrease in the activity of at least one BEI protein; in which said nucleic acid molecule comprises DNA molecules selected from the group consisting of:

(i) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and BEI proteins;

(ii) DNA molecules which lead, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and BEI proteins;

(iii) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and which encode at least one sense RNA which leads via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins; and

(iv) DNA molecules which encode at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI and which encode at least one sense RNA which leads via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI proteins;

wherein said DNA molecules contain a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein and a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein;

(b) a potato plant is regenerated from the cell according to step a); and

(c) optionally, further potato plants are produced from the plants produced according to step b).

7. The process according to claim 6 , wherein the modified potato starch has an amylopectin content of at least 90% and an increased phosphate content in comparison to starch from corresponding potato plants of the waxy phenotype.

8. A transgenic potato plant comprising potato plant cells as claimed in claim 1 or 2 .

9. A reproductive material of a potato plant, wherein said reproductive material comprises potato plant cells as claimed in claim 1 or 2 .

10. A composition comprising at least one of the nucleic acid molecules as defined in claim 1 or 2 , which is suitable for the production of transgenic potato plant cells as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , the presence of said nucleic acid molecules in said potato plant cells leading to a decrease in the activity of GBSSI proteins occurring endogenously in the potato plant cell and to a decrease in the activity of BEI proteins occurring endogenously in the potato plant cell.

11. The composition as claimed in claim 10 , the nucleic acid molecule(s) being contained in a recombinant nucleic acid molecule.

12. A host cell containing a composition as claimed in claim 10 .

13. A transgenic potato plant cell containing a composition as claimed in claim 10 .

14. A process for the production of a modified potato starch from a transgenic potato plant, comprising extracting the starch from the potato plant according to claim 8 .

15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the modified potato starch has an amylopectin content of at least 90% and an increased phosphate content in comparison with starch from corresponding potato plants of the waxy phenotype.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the modified potato starch has a decreased gelatinization temperature in comparison with starch from corresponding potato plants of the waxy phenotype.

17. A process for the production of a transgenic potato plant cell which synthesizes a modified starch, in which a potato plant cell is genetically modified by the introduction of two foreign nucleic acid molecules, wherein the presence and/or expression of the foreign nucleic acid molecules lead to a decrease in the activity of at least one GBSSI protein and to a decrease in the activity of at least one BEI protein, in which said foreign nucleic acid molecules are selected from the group consisting of:

(a) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins;

(b) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein, which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins;

(c) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between about 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one sense RNA and which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins; and

(d) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between about 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one sense RNA and which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI proteins.

18. The process according to claim 17 , wherein the modified potato starch has an amylopectin content of at least 90% and an increased phosphate content in comparison to starch from corresponding potato plants of the waxy phenotype.

19. A process for the production of a transgenic potato plant which synthesizes a modified starch, in which:

(a) a potato plant cell is genetically modified by the introduction of two foreign nucleic acid molecules wherein the presence and/or expression of the foreign nucleic acid molecules lead to a decrease in the activity of at least one GBSSI protein and to a decrease in the activity of at least one BEI protein; in which said nucleic acid molecules are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins;

(ii) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein, which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins;

(iii) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one sense RNA and which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI proteins; and

(iv) one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding BEI protein which encodes at least one antisense RNA which brings about a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding BEI and one DNA molecule containing a sequence with a homology of between 95% and 100% to an endogenous gene encoding GBSSI protein which encodes at least one sense RNA and which leads, via a cosuppression effect, to a decrease in the expression of endogenous genes encoding GBSSI proteins;

(b) a potato plant is regenerated from the cell produced according to step a); and,

(c) optionally, further potato plants are produced from the plants produced according to step b).

20. A process according to claim 19 , wherein the modified potato starch has an amylopectin content of at least 90% and an increased phosphate content in comparison to starch from corresponding potato plants of the waxy phenotype.