DNA encoding a plant deoxyhypusine synthase, a plant eukaryotic initiation factor 5A, transgenic plants and a method for controlling senescence programmed and cell death in plants
Regulation of expression of programmed cell death, including senescence, in plants is achieved by integration of a gene or gene fragment encoding senescence-induced deoxyhypusine synthase, senescence-induced elF-5A or both into the plant genome in antisense orientation. Plant genes encoding senescence-induced deoxyhypusine synthase and senescence-induced elF-5A are identified and the nucleotide sequences of each, alone and in combination are used to modify senescence in transgenic plants.
1. An isolated antisense polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:11 wherein said antisense polynucleotide inhibits expression of a senescence induced elF-5A gene comprising SEQ ID NO:11.
2. A vector for transformation of plant cells comprising
(1) the polynucleotide of claim 1 ; and
(2) regulatory sequences operatively linked to the polynucleotide such that the polynucleotide is transcribed in a plant cell into which it is transformed.
3. The polynucleotide according to claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide hybridizes to the 5′-non-coding region of SEQ ID NO:11.
4. The polynucleotide according to claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide hybridizes to the 3′-end of SEQ ID NO:11.
5. A bacterial cell transformed with the vector according to claim 2 .
6. A transgenic plant cell comprising the vector according to claim 2 .
7. A plant grown from the plant cell of claim 6 .
8. Progeny of the plant of claim 7 , wherein the progeny comprise the vector of claim 2 .
9. The vector according to claim 2 wherein the regulatory sequences comprise a constitutive promoter.
10. The vector according to claim 2 wherein the regulatory sequences comprise a tissue specific promoter active in the plant.
11. The vector according to claim 2 wherein the regulatory sequences comprise a senescence-induced promoter active in the plant.
12. A plasmid comprising (1) a replication system functional in a prokaryotic host and (2) the polynucleotide according to claim 1 .
13. A plasmid comprising a replication system functional in Agrobacterium and the polynucleotide according to claim 1 .
14. The plant of claim 7 wherein the plant is a tomato plant.
15. The plant of claim 7 wherein the plant is a flowering plant.