Methods and compositions for expression of transgenes in plants
View Patent ↗Methods and compositions for the expression of transgenes in monocot plants including maize are disclosed. In the invention, gene silencing is avoided by use of monocot-homeologous sequences from plants of the genus Coix for transformation. Included in these transgene sequences are Coix promoters, enhancers, coding sequences and terminators. Suitable alternatives to maize-derived transgenes are desirable for expression in maize in that homology-based gene silencing can limit or effectively eliminate transgene expression.
1. A DNA molecule that exhibits terminator activity comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 11; (b) a polynucleotide sequence comprising a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein said fragment exhibits terminator activity; and (c) a polynucleotide sequence fully complementary to (a) or (b); wherein the DNA molecule is operably linked to a heterologous transcribable polynucleotide.
2. The DNA molecule of claim 1 , wherein the fragment comprises at least 80 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11.
3. The DNA molecule of claim 2 , wherein the fragment comprises at least 200 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11.
4. The DNA molecule of claim 3 , wherein the fragment comprises at least 325 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11.
5. The DNA molecule of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises a polynucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:11.
6. A fertile transgenic plant comprising the DNA molecule of claim 1 .
7. The fertile transgenic plant of claim 6 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises a polynucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:11.
8. A progeny plant of any generation of the plant of claim 6 , wherein said progeny plant comprises said DNA molecule.
9. The fertile transgenic plant of claim 6 , wherein said plant is a monocot plant selected from the group consisting of rice, wheat, barley, rye, sorghum and maize.
10. The fertile transgenic plant of claim 9 , wherein the monocot is maize.
11. The fertile transgenic plant of claim 6 , wherein said plant is a dicot plant selected from the group consisting of tobacco, tomato, potato, soybean and cotton.
12. A method of plant breeding comprising crossing the fertile transgenic plant of claim 6 , or a transgenic progeny thereof, with itself or a second plant.