Granted Patent
B2
US 12,344,852 · App. 18/062,394 · Granted Jul 1, 2025
Control of phenotype in plants
Inventors:
Sekhar Boddupalli (Davis, CA); Andrey Boukharov (Melrose, MA); Rio Stamler (Davis, CA); Zhongsen Li (Hockessin, DE); Arianne Tremblay (Davis, CA); Stephen Schauer (Rockville, MD); Shiv B. Tiwari (San Jose, CA); John Salmeron (Hillsborough, NC)
Assignee:
GREENVENUS, LLC
C12N15/8217C12N15/8218C12N15/825C12N15/827C12N15/8273C12N15/8274C12N15/8281C12N15/8282C12N15/8283C12N15/8286
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Abstract
The invention provides a compositions and methods for controlling phenotypic traits in plants. Genes of interest are placed under the control of a gene switch to allow inducible control or expression of a gene of interest “on-demand” by treatment of the plant with a chemical ligand.
Claims (25)
1. One or more vectors or polynucleotides comprising:
(a) a polynucleotide encoding a VGEvy gene switch, comprising:
(i) a transactivation domain;
(ii) a DNA-binding domain; and
(iii) a ligand-binding domain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;
(b) a nucleic acid encoding a protein or an RNA that inhibits a fungus; and
(c) a regulatory element operably connected 5′ of (b)
wherein the VGEvy gene switch induces expression of (b) in the presence of a chemical ligand.
2. The one or more vectors or polynucleotides of claim 1 wherein said protein or RNA that inhibits a fungus is a defensin family protein.
3. The one or more vectors or polynucleotides of claim 2 wherein said defensin family protein comprises one or more of Defensins, Snakins, Heveins, Thionins, Lipid Transfer Proteins, Cyclotides, Shepherins, MBP-1, Vicilin-like peptides, Impatiens family peptides, Beta-Barrelin or Knottins family proteins.
4. The one or more vectors or polynucleotides of claim 1 wherein said fungus comprises one or more of Alternaria, Botrytis, Fusarium, Pyricularia, Verticillium, Aspergillus, Saccharomyces, Trichophyton, Cercospora, Cladosporium, Leptosphaeria, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Septoria; Plectosphaerella, Colletotrichum, Bipolaris, Ascochyta, Phytophthora, Gibberella, Mycosphaerella, Neurospora, Phoma, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Helinthosporium, Geotrichum, Sclerotinia, Clavibacter, Pyrenopkora, Nectria; Candida; Cryptococcus, Ceratocystis, Chalara , or Venturia.
5. The one or more vectors or polynucleotides of claim 4 wherein said fungus is Botrytis cinerea.
6. The one or more vectors or polynucleotides of claim 1 wherein said RNA is an RNA molecule having a first portion comprising a first nucleotide sequence that has sufficient homology to a second nucleotide sequence on a second portion so said first portion and said second portion hybridize to form a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).
7. A plant comprising all or a portion of the one or more vectors or polynucleotides of claim 1 .
8. The plant of claim 7 , wherein all or a portion of the one or more vectors or polynucleotides is integrated into the plant genome.
9. The plant of claim 8 , wherein said plant is a dicot.
10. The plant of claim 8 , wherein said plant is a monocot.
11. A method of inhibiting fungal infection in a plant, wherein said method comprises:
introducing one or more vectors or polynucleotides of claim 1 into said plant.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
contacting said plant with a non-steroidal chemical ligand, wherein said chemical ligand is diacylhydrazine or methoxyfenozide.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said chemical ligand is a diacylhydrazine.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said chemical ligand is methoxyfenozide.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said plant is a dicot.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said plant is a monocot.
Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME
Recorded Jan 21, 2026
From: GREENVENUS, LLC
To: KENDRED, LLC
Reel/Frame 074461/0951 →
Continuity (5)
Division
16316783
Provisional Application
62467958
· Mar 7, 2017
Provisional Application
62468012
· Mar 7, 2017
Provisional Application
62366402
· Jul 25, 2016
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