# Patent

## Title
Inbred corn line LH284

## Abstract

DNA sequences comprising, as coding region, all or part of the nucleotide sequence coding for an mRNA coding for a cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR), or all or part of the complementary nucleotide sequence thereof and coding for an anti-sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the above-mentioned mRNA. The invention also concerns the use of said sequences for carrying out methods of regulation of plant lignin biosynthesis.

## Background
A subject of the present invention is the use of DNA sequences coding for a cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR) in plants, or any fragment of these sequences, or also any sequence derived from the latter, or their complementary sequences, within the scope of the implementation of processes for the regulation of the lignin level in plants.

Lignin is a complex heterogeneous aromatic polymer which waterproofs and reinforces the walls of certain plant cells.

Lignin is formed by the polymerization of free radicals derived from monolignols such as paracoumarylic, coniferylic and sinapylic alcohols (Higuchi, 1985, in Biosynthesis and degradation of wood components (T. Higuchi, ed), Academic Press, Orlando, Fla. pp. 141-160).

Lignins have a large variation in their relative monolignol levels, as a function of the species and the different tissues within the same plant.

This variation is probably due to and controlled by the different activities and specificities of substrates, of enzymes necessary for the biosynthesis of lignin monomers (Higuchi, 1985, mentioned above).

Beyond its role in the structure and development of plants, lignin represents a major component of the terrestrial biomass and assumes a great economic and ecological significance (Brown, 1985, J. Appl. Biochem. 7, 371-387; Whetten and Sederoff, 1991, Forest Ecology and Management, 43, 301-316).

With regard to the exploitation of the biomass, first and foremost it should be noted that lignin is a factor limiting the digestibility and nutritional yield of fodder crops. In fact, it is clearly demonstrated that the digestibility of fodder crops by ruminants, is inversely proportional to the lignin level of these plants, the nature of the lignins also being a determining factor in this phenomenon (Buxton and Roussel, 1988, Crop. Sci., 28, 553-558; Jung and Vogel, 1986, J. Anin. Sci., 62, 1703-1712).

Among the principle fodder crops in which it would be useful to reduce the level of lignins, there can be mentioned: alfalfa, fescue, maize, fodder used for silage . . . .

It should also be noted that high lignin levels are in part responsible for the limited quality of sunflower cakes intended for cattle food and the reduction in the viability of certain seeds in the horticultural domain.

It can also be emphasized that the intense lignification which occurs during the storage of plant organs after harvest, rapidly renders crops such as asparagus, yams, carrots, etc. unfit for consumption.

Moreover, it should also be noted that more than 50 million tons of lignins are extracted from ligneous material each year in the production of paper pulp in the paper industry. This extraction operation which is necessary to obtain cellulose is costly in terms of energy and secondarily polluting due to the chemical compounds employed in the extraction and which find their way into the environment (Dean & Eriksson, 1992, Holzforschung, 46, 135-147; Whetten and Sederoff, 1991, mentioned above).

To reduce the proportions of lignins (which depending on the species represent 20 to 30% of the dry material) to a few percent (2 to 5%) would represent an increase in yield, a substantial saving (chemical products) and would contribute to the improvement of the environment (reduction in pollution). Given the scale on which ligneous material is used, these effects would have extremely significant repercussions. In this case, the species concerned could be the poplar, the eucalyptus, Acacia mangium, the Casuarina genus and all the angiosperms and gymnosperms used in the production of paper pulp.

In the two fields considered, it is clear that the reduction of lignin levels must be moderate in order for the plant (or tree) to retain its characteristics of rigidity and its normal architecture, as the lignins which reinforce the cell walls play an important role in maintaining the upright habit of plants.

Natural variations in the levels of lignins observed in nature for the same species (difference which can range up to 6-8% of the dry mass between individuals) permit the reductions mentioned above.

The resistance to degradation of lignin, as well as the difficulties encountered in its extraction, are probably due to the complex structure of this polymer constituted by ether and carbon--carbon bonds between the monomers, as well as to the numerous chemical bonds existing between lignin and other components of the cell wall (Sarkanen and Ludwig, 1971, in Lignins: Occurrence, Formation, Structure and Reactions (K. V. Sarkanen and C. H. Ludwig eds) New York: Wiley--Interscience, pp. 1-18).

Starting from cinnamoyls-CoA, the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, is carried out in the following manner: ##STR1##

One approach, using the genetic engineering route, to try to reduce the level of lignins in plants, would consist of inhibiting the synthesis of one of the enzymes of the biosynthesis chain of these lignins indicated above.

A technique which is particularly appropriate within the scope of such an approach, is that of using anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for these enzymes, and as a consequence, of inhibiting, at least partially, the production of these enzymes from their corresponding mRNA.

Such an anti sense strategy, carried out using the gene coding for CAD in tobacco, was the subject of the European Patent Application No. 584 117, describing the use of anti sense mRNA capable of inhibiting the production of lignins in the plants by hybridizing with the mRNA coding for CAD in these plants.

The results at the level of the plants transformed in this way demonstrate a reduction in the activity of CAD, but paradoxically, the lignin levels show no change. Additional studies indicate that the lignins of the transformed plants are different from the control lignins, because the cinnamylic aldehydes are directly incorporated in the lignin polymer.

One of the aims of the present invention is precisely that of providing a process allowing the lignin levels in plants to be effectively regulated, either in the sense of an appreciable reduction in these levels relative to the normal levels in plants, or in the sense of an increase in these levels.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide the tools for the implementation of such a process, and more particularly usable constructions for the transformation of plants.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide genetically transformed plants, in particular fodder crops capable of being more digestible than untransformed plants, or also transformed plants or trees for the production of paper pulp, and from which the extraction of lignin would be easier and less polluting than in the case of untransformed trees.

Another aim of the present invention is that of providing transformed plants which are more resistant to attack from the environment, in particular parasitic attack, than untransformed plants are, or also transformed plants of a larger size, or of a smaller size (than that of untransformed plants).

A subject of the present invention is the use of recombinant nucleotide sequences containing one (or more) coding region(s) this (these) region(s) being constituted: itself coding for a cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR) in plants, or a fragment of the nucleotide sequence mentioned above, this fragment coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a fragment of a CCR in plants, this fragment of CCR having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence mentioned above, or derived from the fragment mentioned above, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a derived protein having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or sequence coding for an mRNA, or of a fragment of this sequence, or of the sequence derived from these last-named, as defined above, this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense nucleotide sequence (also called anti sense mRNA) capable of hybridizing with one of the mRNAs mentioned above, plants within which the biosynthesis of lignins is regulated either in the sense of an increase, or in the sense of a reduction in the lignin levels produced, relative to the normal lignin levels produced in the plants.

By the expression "derived nucleotide sequence", in what has gone before and in what follows, is meant any sequence having at least about 50% of nucleotides homologous with those of the sequence from which it is derived.

By "derived protein", in what has gone before and in what follows, is meant any protein having at least about 50% of amino acids homologous with those of the protein from which it is derived.

Among the nucleotide sequences capable of being used as coding regions in the recombinant nucleotide sequences, there can principally be mentioned: this mRNA itself coding for the CCR of eucalyptus represented by SEQ ID NO 2, this mRNA itself coding for the CCR of poplar represented by SEQ ID NO 4, this mRNA itself coding for the CCR of fescue represented by SEQ ID NO 6, this mRNA itself coding for the CCR of tobacco represented by SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 7, this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by sequences SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5 and SEQ ID NO 7 respectively, 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 7, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding either for an mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 6 or SEQ ID NO 8 respectively, or for a protein derived from these last-named and having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of said CCRs in plants, in particular the nucleotide sequence derived from sequence SEQ ID NO 1, and represented by SEQ ID NO 9, this latter coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10 derived from the eucalyptus CCR mentioned above, mentioned above, by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with one of the mRNAs mentioned above.

A more particular subject of the present invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, or for a CCR fragment represented by SEQ ID NO 2, this CCR fragment having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or 1 mentioned above, or from a fragment as described above of this sequence, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, or for a protein derived from the latter and having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of said CCR in plants, in particular the nucleotide sequence derived from the sequence SEQ ID NO 1, and represented by SEQ ID NO 9, this latter coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10 derived from the eucalyptus CCR mentioned above.

A more particular subject of the present invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 4, or for a CCR fragment represented by SEQ ID NO 4, this CCR fragment having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or 3 mentioned above, or from a fragment as described above of this sequence, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 4, or for a protein derived from the latter and having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the said CCR in plants.

A more particular subject of the present invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 6, or for a CCR fragment represented by SEQ ID NO 6, this CCR fragment having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or 5 mentioned above, or from a fragment as described above of this sequence, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 6, or for a protein derived from the latter and having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of said CCR in plants.

A more particular subject of the present invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 8, or for a CCR fragment represented by SEQ ID NO 8, this CCR fragment having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or 7 mentioned above, or from a fragment as described above of this sequence, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 8, or for a protein derived from the latter and having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of said CCR in plants.

By protein having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of CCR present in plants, and more particularly CCRs represented by SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 6 and SEQ ID NO 8, is meant any protein having a CCR activity as measured according to the method of Luderitz and Grisebach in Eur. J. Biochem. (1981), 119: 115-127.

By way of illustration, this method is carried out by spectrophotometric measurement of the reducing activity of the protein (CCR or derivative), by monitoring the disappearance of cinnamoyl CoA at 366 nm. The reaction takes place at 30.degree. C., for 2 to 10 minutes. The composition of the reaction medium is as follows: 100 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.25, 0.1 mM NADPH, 70 .mu.M Feruloyl CoA, 5 to 100 .mu.l of enzymatic extract in a total volume of 500 .mu.l.

Also a subject of the invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, namely the mRNA coded by the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 1, or coded by a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, or fragment coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, as defined above, or above, or from a fragment of this complementary sequence as described above, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA mentioned above, in particular the sequence complementary to that represented by SEQ ID NO 9.

A more particular subject of the invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 4, namely the mRNA coded by the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 3, or coded by a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, or fragment coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 4, as defined above, or above, or from a fragment of this complementary sequence as described above, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA mentioned above.

A more particular subject of the invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 6, namely the mRNA coded by the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 5, or coded by a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, or fragment coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 5, as defined above, or above, or from a fragment of this complementary sequence as described above, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA mentioned above.

A more particular subject of the invention is any DNA sequence, characterized in that it contains as coding region: this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 8, namely the mRNA coded by the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 7, or coded by a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, or fragment coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 7, as defined above, or above, or from a fragment of this complementary sequence as described above, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA mentioned above.

It will be understood that the sequences represented by SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 and SEQ ID NO 9, the complementary sequences, the derived sequences and the fragments of sequences of the invention mentioned above, must be taken into consideration as being represented in the 5'.fwdarw.3' direction.

Thus, the first nucleotide of a complementary sequence in the 5'.fwdarw.3' direction as described above, is the complement of the last nucleotide of the sequence in the 5'.fwdarw.3' direction coding for a CCR (or fragment of CCR or derived protein), the second nucleotide of this complementary sequence is the complement of the next-to-last nucleotide of the sequence coding for a CCR, and so on, up to the last nucleotide of said complementary sequence which is the complement of the first nucleotide of the sequence coding for a CCR.

The mRNA coded by the complementary sequence mentioned above is such that, when this mRNA is represented in the 5'.fwdarw.3' direction, its first nucleotide corresponds to the last nucleotide of the sequence coding for a CCR, and therefore hybridizes with the last nucleotide of the mRNA coded by the latter, while its last nucleotide corresponds to the first nucleotide of the sequence coding for a CCR, and therefore hybridizes with the first nucleotide of the mRNA coded by the latter.

In this way, by anti sense mRNA is meant in what has gone before and in what follows, any mRNA coded by foresaid complementary sequence and represented in the reverse direction (3'.fwdarw.5') to the direction in which the mRNA coded by the sequence coding for a CCR (or fragment of CCR or derived protein) is represented, this last-named mRNA still being called (5'.fwdarw.3') direction mRNA.

The term anti sense RNA therefore refers to an RNA sequence complementary to the sequence of bases of the messenger RNA, the term complementary having to be understood in this way that each base (or a majority of bases) of the anti sense sequence (read in the 3'.fwdarw.5' direction) is capable of pairing with the corresponding bases (G with C, A with U) of the messenger RNA (sequence read in the 5'.fwdarw.3' direction).

The anti sense RNA strategy, within the scope of the present invention, is a molecular approach particularly suitable to the objective of modifying the lignin levels of plants. The anti sense RNA is an RNA produced by the transcription of a non-coding DNA strand (non sense strand).

This anti sense strategy is more particularly described in the European Patent No. 240 208.

It is thought that the inhibition of the synthesis of a protein according to the anti sense strategy, of CCR in the present case, is the consequence of the formation of a duplex between the two complementary RNAs (sense and anti sense) thus inhibiting the production of the protein. However the mechanism remains unclear. The RNA--RNA complex may interfere either with a subsequent transcription, or with processing, transport or translation or even lead to degradation of the mRNA.

A combination of these effects is also possible.

The invention also relates to any mRNA coded by a DNA sequence according to the invention, and more particularly: a fragment or a derived sequence as defined above, said mRNA being in turn capable of coding for the CCR present in eucalyptus, as represented by SEQ ID NO 2, or for a fragment of this CCR or a derived protein as defined above, in particular for the protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10, a fragment or a derived sequence as defined above, said mRNA being in turn capable of coding for the CCR present in poplar, as represented by SEQ ID NO 4, or for a fragment of this CCR or a derived protein as defined above, a fragment or a derived sequence as defined above, said mRNA being in turn capable of coding for the CCR present in fescue, as represented by SEQ ID NO 6, or for a fragment of this CCR or a derived protein as defined above, a fragment or a derived sequence as defined above, said mRNA being in turn capable of coding for the CCR present in tobacco, as represented by SEQ ID NO 8, or for a fragment of this CCR or a derived protein as defined above.

Also a subject of the invention is any anti sense mRNA, as defined above, characterized in that it contains complementary nucleotides of all or only part of the nucleotides constituting an mRNA as described above according to the invention, said anti sense mRNA being capable of hybridizing (or pairing) with the latter.

As such, a more particular subject of the invention is the anti sense mRNAs coded by DNA sequences according to the invention, containing at least one region of 50 bases homologous with those of a region of complementary sequences of the above-mentioned DNA sequences of the invention.

There is no upper size limit for the DNA sequences coding for an anti sense RNA according to the invention; they can be as long as those of the messenger normally produced in these cells, even as long as the genomic DNA sequence coding for the mRNA of the CCR.

Advantageously, such DNA sequences coding for an anti sense RNA according to the invention, contain between about 100 and about 1000 base pairs.

A more particular subject of the invention is any anti sense sequence containing one (or more) anti sense mRNAs as described above, or fragment(s) of this (these) anti sense mRNA(s), and one (or more) sequence(s) corresponding to one (or more) catalytic domain(s) for a ribozyme.

As such, a more particular subject of the invention is any anti sense sequence as described above, containing the catalytic domain for a ribozyme flanked on either side by arms of about 8 complementary bases of sequences bordering a GUX unit (X representing C, U or A) contained in one of the mRNAs of the invention described above (also called target RNAs) (Haseloff J., and Gerlach W. L., 1988, Nature, 334: 585-591).

The invention also relates to any DNA sequence capable of coding for an anti sense sequence as described above containing at least one catalytic domain for a ribozyme related to one or more anti sense mRNAs of the invention, or anti sense mRNA fragments (advantageously fragments of about 8 bases as described above).

A more particular subject of the invention is also any anti sense sequence containing: by the nucleotide sequence complementary to that represented by SEQ ID NO 1, said anti sense mRNA being capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by the DNA sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 1, by the nucleotide sequence complementary to that represented by SEQ ID NO 3, said anti sense mRNA being capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by the DNA sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 3, by the nucleotide sequence complementary to that represented by SEQ ID NO 5, said anti sense mRNA being capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by the DNA sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 5, by the nucleotide sequence complementary to that represented by SEQ ID NO 7, said anti sense mRNA being capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by the DNA sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 7, by the nucleotide sequence complementary to that represented by SEQ ID NO 9, said anti sense mRNA being capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by the DNA sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 9.

The invention also relates to the recombinant polypeptides coded the DNA sequences of the invention, said recombinant polypeptides having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCRs in plants, and more particularly the recombinant CCRs coded by the sequences represented by SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5 and SEQ ID NO 7, or by sequences derived from these last-named according to the invention, in particular by SEQ ID NO 9.

A more particular subject of the invention is the recombinant polypeptides, and in particular the recombinant CCRs, as obtained by transformation of plant cells by integrating in a stable fashion a recombinant nucleotide sequence as defined above, containing a DNA sequence according to the invention, in their genome, in particular using a vector as described hereafter.

By the expression "recombinant polypeptides", one must understand any molecule having a polypeptide chain capable of being produced by genetic engineering, by means of a transcription phase of the DNA of the corresponding gene, which leads to the obtaining of RNA which is then transformed into mRNA (by suppression of the introns), the latter then being translated by the ribosomes, in the form of proteins, all of this being carried out under the control of appropriate regulation elements inside a host cell. Consequently, the expression "recombinant polypeptides" used does not exclude the possibility that said polypeptides contain other groups, such as glycosylated groups.

Of course, the term "recombinant" indicates that the polypeptide was produced by genetic engineering, as it results from the expression, in an appropriate host cell, of the corresponding nucleotide sequence which has been introduced beforehand into an expression vector used to transform said host cell. However, this term "recombinant" does not exclude the possibility that the polypeptide was produced by a different process, for example by standard chemical synthesis according to known methods used for the synthesis of proteins, or by proteolytic cleavage of much larger molecules.

More particularly the invention relates to CCR such as is present in eucalyptus cells and represented by SEQ ID NO 2, the CCR such as is present in poplar cells and represented by SEQ ID NO 4, CCR such as is present in tall fescue cells and represented by SEQ ID NO 6, or CCR such as is present in tobacco cells and represented by SEQ ID NO 8, or any protein derived from these last-named, in particular by addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more amino acids, in particular the protein derived from eucalyptus CCR and represented by SEQ ID NO 10, or any fragment originating from said CCRs or from their derived sequences, said fragments and derived sequences being capable of having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCRs mentioned above.

Also a subject of the invention is the nucleotide sequences coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 8 or SEQ ID NO 10, or any derived sequence or fragment of these last-named, as defined above, said nucleotide sequences being characterized in that they correspond to all or part of the sequences represented by SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 or SEQ ID NO 9 respectively, or to any sequence derived from these last-named by degeneration of the genetic code, and nevertheless being capable of coding for the CCRs or derived sequence or fragment of these last-named, as defined above.

A subject of the invention is also the complexes formed between the anti sense mRNAs, as described above, and the mRNAs according to the invention, capable of coding for all or part of a CCR in plants.

A more particular subject of the invention is the complex formed between the mRNA coded by the sequence SEQ ID NO 1 and the anti sense mRNA coded by the sequence complementary to the sequence SEQ ID NO 1, the mRNA coded by the sequence SEQ ID NO 3 and the anti sense mRNA coded by the sequence complementary to the sequence SEQ ID NO 3, the mRNA coded by the sequence SEQ ID NO 5 and the anti sense mRNA coded by the sequence complementary to the sequence SEQ ID NO 5, the mRNA coded by the sequence SEQ ID NO 7 and the anti sense mRNA coded by the sequence complementary to the sequence SEQ ID NO 7, the mRNA coded by the sequence SEQ ID NO 9 and the anti sense mRNA coded by the sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO 9.

Also a subject of the invention is any recombinant nucleotide sequence containing one (or more) coding region(s), this (these) coding region(s) being constituted: CCR in plants, or a fragment of the nucleotide sequence mentioned above, this fragment coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a fragment of a CCR in plants, this fragment of CCR having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence mentioned above, or derived from the fragment mentioned above, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a derived protein having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or sequence coding for an mRNA, or of the fragment of this sequence, or of the sequence derived from these last-named, as defined above, this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with one of the mRNAs mentioned above.

A more particular subject of the invention is any recombinant nucleotide sequence (or recombinant DNA), characterized in that it contains at least one DNA sequence according to the invention, chosen from those described above, said DNA sequence being inserted in a heterologous sequence.

More particularly the invention relates to any recombinant nucleotide sequence as described above, containing, as coding region, the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 1, or by SEQ ID NO 3, or by SEQ ID NO 5, or by SEQ ID NO 7, or any fragment or a nucleotide sequence derived from the last-named, as defined above, said nucleotide sequences or said fragment being inserted in a heterologous sequence, and being capable of coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, or by SEQ ID NO 4, or by SEQ ID NO 6 or by SEQ ID NO 8 respectively, or for a fragment of these CCRs, or for a protein derived from these last-named, as defined above.

More particularly still the invention relates to any recombinant nucleotide sequence containing, as coding region, a nucleotide sequence complementary to that represented by SEQ ID NO 1, or by SEQ ID NO 3, or by SEQ ID NO 5, or by SEQ ID NO 7, or any fragment or any nucleotide sequence derived from this complementary sequence, as defined above, said complementary sequences or said fragment being inserted in a heterologous sequence, and being capable of coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with all or part of the mRNA coding for a CCR in plants, and more particularly with all or part of the mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, or by SEQ ID NO 4, or by SEQ ID NO 6, or by SEQ ID NO 8 respectively.

The recombinant DNAs according to the invention are further characterized in that they contain the elements necessary to regulate the expression of the nucleotide sequence coding for a CCR, or of its complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA according to the invention, in particular a promoter and a terminator of the transcription of these sequences.

Among the different promoters which are capable of being used in the construction of recombinant DNAs according to the invention, there can be mentioned: particular the promoter situated upstream from the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 1 in eucalyptus, or (described in Benfey et al. (1990), EMBO J., 9 (6), 1677-1684), EF1alpha (promoter of a gene with an elongation factor in the protein synthesis described by Curie et al. (1991), Nucl. Acids Res., 19, 1305-1310), examples: CAD promoter (described by Feuillet C. (1993), University of Toulouse III Thesis), promoter GRP 1-8 (described by Keller and Baumgartner, (1991), Plant Cell., 3, 1051-1061) for expression in specific vascular tissues.

The invention also relates to any recombinant nucleotide sequence as described above, and also containing as coding region at least one nucleotide sequence coding for all or part of an mRNA itself coding for an enzyme other than CCR, which is implicated in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular the mRNA coding for cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), or also containing as coding region at least one nucleotide sequence coding for all or part of an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA mentioned above, in particular with the mRNA coding for CAD.

The recombinant nucleotide sequences of the invention mentioned above are advantageously obtained from vectors in which the DNA sequences coding for an enzyme necessary for the biosynthesis of lignins in plants are inserted.

By way of illustration, a more particular subject of the invention is the vector called pEUCCR, containing the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 1 cloned in the Bluescript vector, and deposited in culture in cells of E. Coli DH5alpha at the Collection Nationale de Culture de Micro-organisms (CNCM) at the Institut Pasteur in Paris (France), on Mar. 17, 1994 under No. I-1405.

The vectors mentioned above are digested using appropriate restriction enzymes in order to recover said DNA sequences which are inserted in them.

The last-named are then inserted downstream from an appropriate promoter, and upstream from an appropriate terminator for the expression, in the recombinant DNAs according to the invention.

More particularly a subject of the invention is the recombinant DNAs containing the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 1, coding for the mRNA itself coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, as obtained by digestion of the pEUCCR vector mentioned above, recovery of the DNA sequence of the invention and insertion of the latter in the 5'.fwdarw.3' direction, in a heterologous DNA sequence containing a promoter and a terminator of the expression of said sequence.

A more particular subject of the invention is also the recombinant DNAs containing the sequence complementary to the sequence SEQ ID NO 1, coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, as obtained by digestion of the pEUCCR vector mentioned above, recovery of the DNA sequence of the invention, and insertion of the latter in the reverse direction, that is to say in the 3'.fwdarw.5' direction, in a heterologous DNA sequence containing a promoter and a terminator of the expression of the complementary sequence.

As an example of a terminator which can be used in such constructions, there can be mentioned the 3' end of the gene of the nopaline synthase of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Therefore, in a general manner, the recombinant nucleotide sequences according to the invention, containing a DNA sequence coding for a CCR (or a CCR fragment or derived protein), and/or other enzymes necessary for the biosynthesis of lignins, are obtained by recovery of said DNA sequence from the vectors mentioned above, and insertion of this sequence in the heterologous sequence, while the recombinant nucleotide sequences containing a DNA sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA according to the invention, are obtained by recovery of the DNA sequence mentioned above and insertion of the latter in the reverse direction in said heterologous sequence.

By way of illustration, there can be used all or part of the complementary DNA (cDNA) represented by SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 or SEQ ID NO 9, for the construction of the recombinant DNAs mentioned above, or all or part of the genomic clone corresponding to a CCR (which corresponds to the cDNAs mentioned above + possible introns). This genomic clone can be obtained using the cDNAs as probes to screen a gene library, the latter being itself obtained according to the method described by Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis, Molecular Cloning Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory Press, 1989.

A subject of the invention is also any recombinant vector, which can be used for the transformation of plants, characterized in that it contains a recombinant nucleotide sequence chosen from those described above, according to the invention, integrated in one of the sites of its genome which is not essential for its replication.

Among the recombinant vectors mentioned above which can be used for the transformation of plants, there can be mentioned: the binary vectors derived from pBIN 19 (Bevan et al., (1984), Nucl. Acids Res., 12(22), 8711-8721).

Examples of the construction of recombinant vectors according to the invention are described in the detailed description of the invention which follows.

Also a subject of the present invention is a process for the regulation of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, either by reducing, or by increasing the quantities of lignin produced, relative to the normal quantities of lignins produced in these plants, said process containing a transformation stage of the cells of these plants using a vector containing: in plants, or a fragment of the nucleotide sequence mentioned above, this fragment coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a fragment of a CCR in the plants, this CCR fragment having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence mentioned above, or derived from the fragment mentioned above, in particular by mutation and/or addition, and/or suppression, and/or substitution of one or more nucleotides, this derived sequence coding for an mRNA, this mRNA itself coding for a derived protein having an enzymatic activity equivalent to that of the CCR mentioned above, or sequence coding for an mRNA, or of a fragment of this sequence, or of the sequence derived from these last-named, as defined above, this complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with one of the mRNAs mentioned above,

said transformation being carried out in particular using a vector as described above.

A more particular subject of the invention is a process for the reduction of the quantity of lignins produced by biosynthesis in plants, this process being carried out by the transformation of the genome of these plants, by incorporating in it: coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with all or part of the mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 6 or SEQ ID NO 8, or for a protein derived from these last-named as defined above, in particular for the protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10, mRNA capable of hybridizing with an mRNA coding for an enzyme other than CCR, which is implicated in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular the mRNA coding for CAD,

said transformation being carried out: sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for CCR or for a derived protein, as defined above, and if appropriate, containing one or more DNA sequence(s) coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with an mRNA coding for an enzyme other than CCR as defined above, sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for CCR or for a derived protein, as defined above, while the other recombinant vector(s) contain(s) a DNA sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with an mRNA coding for an enzyme other than CCR, as defined above.

Another process for reducing the quantity of lignins produced by biosynthesis in plants, is that carried out by transformation of the genome of these plants, by incorporating in it: NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 7, or a fragment or a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, in particular the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 9, enzyme other than CCR, which is implicated in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular a DNA sequence coding for all or part of CAD,

said transformation being carried out: sequence according to the invention mentioned above, or a fragment or a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, and, if appropriate, containing one or more DNA sequence(s) coding for all or part of an enzyme other than CCR, as defined above, sequence according to the invention mentioned above, or a fragment or a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, while the other recombinant vector(s) contain(s) a DNA sequence coding for all or part of an enzyme other than CCR as defined above.

This last method requires a co-suppression mechanism. Co-suppression was observed when copies of the endogenous gene were introduced into the genome. Whilst the co-suppression mechanism is at present unknown, one of the most frequently accepted hypotheses is that the negative regulation of the expression of the gene may result from the production a small quantity of anti sense RNA derived from a transgene through a reading of the "wrong" strand of the transgene (Grierson et al., Trends Biotech., 9: 122-123).

A subject of the invention is also a process for the reduction of the quantity of lignins produced by biosynthesis in plants, this process being carried out by transformation of the genome of these plants by incorporating in it a DNA sequence as described above according to the invention, coding for an anti sense sequence containing one or (more) catalytic domain(s) for a ribozyme related to one (more) anti sense mRNAs, or anti sense mRNA fragments of the invention, said transformation being carried out using a recombinant vector containing a recombinant nucleotide sequence according to the invention itself containing the DNA sequence mentioned above.

It is important to note that the methods mentioned above allow transformed plants to be produced having different level of reduction in the CCR activity (according to the level of insertion of the DNA sequence coding for the anti sense mRNA, the number of copies of this DNA sequence integrated in the genome . . . ) and therefore the lignin levels.

The choice of transformants will therefore allow a controlled modulation of the lignin levels compatible with a normal development of the plant.

In a general manner, if one considers that the normal average level of lignins of a plant varies between about 15% and about 35% by weight of dry matter, the reduction in the level of lignins resulting from the implementation of one of the processes mentioned above, is advantageously such that the plants transformed in this way have an average level of lignins varying between about 10% and about 30%, or also between about 12% and about 32%.

By way of illustration, the lignin level of a plant can be measured according to a variant of the method of Johnson et al., (1961), T.A.P.P.I., 44, 793-798, which is described in detail in Alibert and Boudet (1979), Physiol., Veg., 17 (1), 67-74, and the principal stages of which are the following: after obtaining a benzene alcohol powder containing lignins of plant material, the lignins are solubilized with acetyl bromide and analyzed as a function of their absorption in the ultraviolet.

A more particular subject of the invention is the use of the processes mentioned above for the reduction of lignin levels in plants, for obtaining genetically-transformed fodder crops, having lignin levels which are reduced relative to the normal lignin levels in these plants, and in this way the digestibility of which is improved relative to the same untransformed plants.

Among the main fodder crops capable of being transformed within the scope of the present invention, there can be mentioned: alfalfa, fescue, maize used for silage, etc . . . .

The invention also relates to the use of the processes mentioned above for the reduction of the lignin levels in plants, for obtaining genetically-transformed plants, and more particularly trees, having lignin levels which are reduced relative to the normal lignin levels in these plants, these plants or trees being particularly advantageous for use within the scope of the production of paper pulp.

A third potential field of use of the processes mentioned above for the negative regulation of the expression of the CCR gene relates to the stimulation of the growth of transformed plants. Various arguments emphasize (Sauter and Kende, 1992, Plant and Cell Physiology, 33 (8):1089), that early and rapid lignification acts as a brake on cell enlargement and therefore on the growth of plants. Thus the implementation of the processes mentioned above is capable of allowing plants transformed in this way with reduced lignification better growth and therefore better yields.

The invention also relates to a process for increasing the quantity of lignins produced by biosynthesis in plants, this process being carried out by transformation of the genome of these plants, by incorporating in it: NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5 or SEQ ID NO 7, or a fragment or a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, in particular the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 9, enzyme other than CCR, which is implicated in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular a DNA sequence coding for all or part of CAD,

said transformation being carried out: sequence according to the invention mentioned above, or a fragment or a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, and, if appropriate, containing one or more DNA sequence(s) coding for all or part of an enzyme other than CCR, as defined above, sequence according to the invention mentioned above, or a fragment or a sequence derived from the latter, as defined above, while the other recombinant vector(s) contain(s) a DNA sequence coding for all or part of an enzyme other than CCR as defined above.

In a general manner, still if one considers that the normal average lignin level of a plant varies between about 15% and about 35% by weight of dry matter, the increase in the lignin level resulting from the implementation of the process mentioned above, is advantageously such that the plants transformed in this way have an average lignin level varying between about 20% and about 40%, between about 18% and about 38%.

A more particular subject of the invention is the use of the process mentioned above for the increase in lignin levels in plants (also called process for the overexpression of the CCR gene), to obtain genetically transformed plants, having increased lignin levels relative to the normal lignin levels in plants, and of which the resistance properties to environmental attacks, in particular to parasite attacks, are thus improved relative to the same untransformed plants. It is particularly advantageous in this last case to use in combination with the CCR gene, or a derived sequence, in the vectors mentioned above, specific promoters particularly expressed in the surface tissues and/or in response to injury.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to the use of the process mentioned above for the overexpression of the CCR gene, to improve the growth of plants genetically transformed in this way, in particular in certain fields such as horticulture or arboriculture, where the obtaining of small plants is desired.

Finally, the benzene rings in lignin have higher intrinsic energy than the aliphatic chains of the glucose residues of cellulose. Therefore, the increase in the proportion of lignins in plants used as fuels, according to the process of the invention mentioned above, allows improvement of the potential energy of these fuel plants transformed in this way.

In the two cases of negative regulation or overexpression of CCR, it is quite conceivable that the modulation of this activity has repercussions on the lignin levels of the transformed plants. In fact, the CCR, the activity level of which is very low in the plant, appears to constitute the regulating enzyme for the synthesis of lignins.

Regarding the transformation techniques used for the implementation of one of the process described above of the invention, the following techniques will be advantageously used:

A) The technique of transformation using plasmid Ti of Agrobacterium tumefaciens described by Bevan (1984) Nucleic Acid Research, 12: 8711-8721. It essentially uses the co-culture method, and brings into play a co-transformation with a selection gene in order to be able to locate the transformants.

It is particularly applicable to dicotyledons, ex.: tobacco, alfalfa, oilseed rape.

B) The technique of direct transfer of genes by biological ballistics described in detail by (Zumbrum et al., 1989, Technique 1, 204-216; Sanford et al., 1991, Technique 3, 3-16).

This technique involves the combination of the recombinant DNA according to the invention with microparticles of gold or tungsten which are propelled using a gene gun onto the tissue to be transformed. It will be particularly applied to the transformation of refractory species to agrobacteria.

In the two cases mentioned above, verification of the presence of the recombinant DNA according to the invention will be carried out using southern type hybridization and genetic amplification (polymerase chain reaction) tests, using oligonucleotide probes and primers originating in particular from the sequence SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 or SEQ ID NO 9.

The invention also relates to the plant cells transformed by a vector according to the invention, in particular using the techniques described above, and containing a DNA sequence according to the invention integrated in a stable fashion in their genome.

Also a subject of the invention is the transformed plants as obtained by culturing the transformed cells mentioned above.

The transformed plants can then be propagated by sexual route or by vegetative route in vitro or in natura.

A subject of the invention is also the fragments of plants, in particular fruits, seeds, pollen, transformed by incorporation in their genome of a DNA sequence according to the invention, using the recombinant vectors mentioned above.

The invention also relates to the antibodies directed against the recombinant polypeptides of the invention, and more particularly those directed against the recombinant CCRs mentioned above.

Such antibodies can be obtained by the immunization of an animal with these polypeptides followed by recovery of the antibodies formed.

It will be understood that this production is not limited to polyclonal antibodies.

It also applies to any monoclonal antibody produced by any hybridoma capable of being formed, by standard methods, from the splenic cells of an animal, in particular mice or rats, immunized against one of the purified polypeptides of the invention on the one hand, and cells of an appropriate myeloma on the other hand, and of being selected, by its capacity to produce monoclonal antibodies recognising the polypeptide mentioned above initially used for the immunization of the animals.

Also a subject of the invention is the use of antibodies mentioned above directed against the recombinant polypeptides of the invention, for the implementation of a detection or analysis method of CCRs in plants, starting from samples taken from these last-named.

More details of the invention will be given in the description which follows for the obtaining of CCR in purified form from the eucalyptus, and of the cDNA coding for CCR of the eucalyptus, poplar, tall fescue and tobacco.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all of the alternatives and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

All references cited through the disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference.

A) Obtaining purified eucalyptus CCR and the cDNA coding for a eucalyptus CCR.

I Purification of eucalyptus CCR.

CCR has been the subject of a number of very restricted studies. Among the few publications relating to it, there can be mentioned:

Wengenmayer H., Ebel J., Grisebach H., 1976--Enzymatic synthesis of lignin precursors, purification and properties of a cinnamoyl CoA: NaDPH reductase from cell suspension cultures from soyabean (Glycine max), Eur. J. Biochem., 65: 529-536.

Luderitz T., Grisebach H., 1981--Enzymatic synthesis of lignin precursors, comparison of cinnamoyl: CoA reductase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase: NADP dehydrogenase from spruce (Picea abies L.) and soyabean (Glycine max L.), Eur. J. Biochem., 119: 115-127.

Sarni F., Grand C., Boudet A. M., 1984--Purification and properties of cinnamoyl: CoA reductase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase from poplar stems (Populus x euramericana). Eur. J. Biochem., 139: 259-265.

The work described hereafter has contributed to the definition of a protocol for the original, simple and rapid purification of eucalyptus CCR. This protocol is also more effective than those described previously in the literature. In fact, it has allowed for the first time, quantities of homogeneous purified enzyme to be obtained which are sufficient to obtain internal peptide sequences and eventually lead to the cloning of the corresponding cDNA.

All the purification stages of the CCR were carried out at 4.degree. C.

1. Obtaining a crude extract of eucalyptus xylem.

The plant matter was obtained by "scraping" a xylem-enriched tissue fraction from branches of 5-year-old Eucalyptus gunnii.

300 g of xylem frozen beforehand in liquid nitrogen was reduced to powder using a coffee mill. The homogenate thus obtained was homogenized in one liter of extraction buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 2% PEG 6000, 5 mM DTT, 2% PVPP), filtered through two thicknesses of Miracloth, and brought to 30% saturation with ammonium sulphate. After centrifuging for 30 minutes at 15000.times. g, the pellet obtained is resuspended in 60 ml of buffer 1 [20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 5 mM DTT (dithiothreitol), 5% ethylene glycol]. The extract thus obtained is "clarified" by a 15 minute centrifugation at 10000.times. g, then desalted by passage through a Sephadex G25 equilibrated with buffer 1.

2. Affinity chromatography on Red Sepharose.

The crude desalted extract is applied to a "Red Sepharose" affinity column (1.5.times.19 cm, Pharmacia), equilibrated with buffer 1. After an initial rinsing of the column with 50 ml of buffer 1, the proteins are eluted with a linear gradient of Tris from 20 mM to 1.5 M Tris-HCl pH 7.5, containing 5 mM DTT, 5% ethylene glycol. The total volume of the gradient is 200 ml and the flow rate is 36 ml/hr. The fractions having a CCR activity are collected and desalted by passage through a Sephadex G25 column, equilibrated with buffer 1.

3. Anion exchange chromatography on MonoQ.

The fractions collected and desalted in this way are chromatographed on a MonoQ anion exchange column (HR 5/5, Pharmacia). Elution of the proteins is carried out by the application of a linear gradient of 20 to 300 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, containing 5% ethylene glycol and 5 mM DTT. The total volume of the gradient is 50 ml and the flow rate is 1 ml/min. As with the previous stage, the fractions containing the active CCR enzyme are collected and desalted, but in this case the equilibration buffer for the Sephadex G25 columns is a 20 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.6, containing 5 mM DTT (buffer 2).

4. Affinity chromatography on "Mimetic Red".

The group of CCR fractions obtained in this way is applied to a Mimetic Red 2 A6XL column (ACL, Cambridge). The column is washed beforehand with 30 ml of buffer 2 containing 8 mM of NAD. The object of this washing is to eliminate enzymes functioning specifically with NAD as a co-factor, such as the malate dehydrogenase which copurifies with the CCR in the previous stages. The specific elution of CCR is obtained by application of a gradient (15 ml) of NADP 0-8 mM in buffer 2. The fractions containing the pure and active CCR are stored at -80.degree. C. after the addition of a stabiliser (ethylene glycol at a final concentration of 5%).

The purified enzyme thus obtained has a specific activity of 451 nKat/mg of protein, using feruloyl CoA as substrate. The yield obtained (36 .mu.g of pure protein for 300 g of initial plant matter) does not reflect the proportion of CCR in planta, in fact due to a major concern to eliminate the maximum amount of contaminants at each purification stage, only the fractions having a very strong CCR activity are treated in the following stage. The purification factor obtained with this protocol is 282.

II Characterisation of the CCR.

The eucalyptus CCR is a monomer of 38 kD as witnessed by the convergent results obtained for the size of the native enzyme by exclusion chromatography on Superose 6 (Pharmacia), and for the size of the monomer sub-unit on denaturing electrophoresis gel. The isoelectric point, estimated by chromatography on MonoP (Pharmacia) is close to 7.

Research into the pH and optimum buffer shows that the measurement of CCR activity as it was initially described (Luderitz and Grisebach, 1981), is perfectly adapted to the measurement of the eucalyptus CCR activity (100 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.25).

The purity of the CCR, present in the state of a single band on one-dimensional electrophoresis gel (SDS PAGE) was confirmed by the obtaining of a single spot after two-dimensional electrophoresis and staining with silver salts.

III Obtaining the cDNA coding for eucalyptus CCR

In order to avoid a possible problem of non-detectable residual contamination, the pure enzyme was subjected to a preparative electrophoresis under semi-denaturing conditions and digested in situ in the gel. The digestion was carried out using endolysine C which specifically cuts the proteins after the lysine residues, allowing relatively long peptides to be obtained. The peptides resulting from the digestion were separated by reversed phase HPLC and sone of them were sequenced using a protein microsequencer (Applied Biosystems 470). The sequences of these internal peptides are shown below: (a)  Asn-Trp-Tyr-Cys-Tyr-Gly-Lys (b)  His-Leu-Pro-Val-Pro-X-Pro-Pro-Glu-Asp Ser-Val-Arg X representing any amino acid peptide 10 Thr-Tyr-Ala-Asn-Ser-Val-Gln-Ala-Tyr-Val-His- Val-Lys peptide 13 Gly-Cys-Asp-Gly-Val-Val-His-Thr-Ala-Ser-Pro- Val-Thr-Asp-Asp #peptide 17 Leu-Arg-Asp-Leu-Gly-Leu-Glu-Phe-Thr-Pro-Val- Lys peptide 18 Gly-Asp-Leu-Met-Asp-Tyr-Gly-Ser-Leu-Glu-Glu- Ala-Ile-Lys

The cDNA coding for the CCR was obtained by screening using oligonucleotides from a cDNA library constructed in the .lambda.ZAPII phage (commercially available vector, Stratagene) from messenger extracts of xylem of Eucalyptus gunnii. 600,000 phages were screened using a group of degenerate oligonucleotides labelled at the 3' end with phosphorus 32, using a terminal transferase. The sequences of the oligonucleotides used for the screening were determined from the internal peptide sequences mentioned above. These peptides having been generated by cutting with endolysine C, a lysine was again added in first position in order to allow the production of oligonucleotides with the least degeneration. In fact, this amino acid which can only be coded by two codons, is part of the amino acids whose code is least degenerate and as a consequence is quite suitable for the production of oligonucleotides from peptide sequences.

The sequences of oligonucleotides used for the screening of the eucalyptus cDNA library derived from the underlined amino acids (I-inosine) are indicated hereafter: Lys-Asn-Trp-Cys-Tyr-Gly-Lys oligonucleotide 8 AA(A/G)AA(C/T)TGGTA(C/T)TG(C/T)TA(T/C)GG IAA peptide 13  Lys-Gly-Cys-Asp-Gly-Val-Val-His-Thr-Ala- Ser-Pro-Val-Thr-Asp-Asp oligonucleotide 13 AA(G/A)GGITG(C/T)GA(C/T)GGIGTIGTICA peptide 17  Lys-Leu-Arg-Asp-Leu-Gly-Leu-Glu-Phe-Thr Pro-Val-Lys oligonucleotide 17 GA(G/A)TT(C/T)ACICCIGTIAA peptide 18  Lys-Gly-Asp-Leu-Met-Asp-Tyr-Gly-Ser-Leu- Glu-Glu-Ala-Ile-Lys oligonucleotide 18 AA(G/A)GGIGA(C/T)(C/T)TIATGGA(C/T)TA (C/T)GG

The hybridization conditions used for the screening are as follows: the pre-hybridization is carried out for 6 to 7 hours in 5.times. SSPE, 0.25% skimmed milk powder, 0.05% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) at 42.degree. C. The hybridization is carried out in the same solution, in the presence of 4 oligonucleotides labelled at the 3' end with ddATP.alpha..sup.32 P, for 24 hours at 42.degree. C. At the end of these 24 hours of hybridization, the filters are washed three times for 15 minutes in 2.times. SSC, 0.1% SDS then put in contact with an autoradiographic film for 24 hours at -80.degree. C. The phages hybridizing with the group of oligonucleotides were purified by two additional screening rounds (plaque purification). Once purified the six positive clones were tested with each of the oligonucleotides taken independently. One phage reacted positively with the 4 oligonucleotides, it was treated in such a manner as to "excise" the recombinant Bluescript plasmid by following the manufacturer's instructions (Stratagene). The restriction map of the insert (coding for CCR) contained in this plasmid is schematized in FIG. 1.

IV Characterisation and identification of the cDNA of CCR

The amino acid sequence (represented by SEQ ID NO 2) derived from the nucleotide sequence (represented by SEQ ID NO 1) codes for a protein of 335 amino acids the molecular weight of which is 36.5 kD and the isoelectric point of which is about 5.8. It is important to emphasize that all the peptide sequences obtained from the purified CCR are found again in the peptide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA.

Searches for homologies with clones which already exist were carried out using BLAST and FASTA programs in all available protein and nucleic libraries. One significant homology was found with another reductase of the metabolism of phenol compounds, dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR). The identity is about 40% and the similarity close to 20% between the peptide sequence derived from the cDNA of the CCR and the sequences of the various dihydroflavonol reductase itemized in the libraries, which confirms that the identified clone is different from a clone coding for a DFR.

V Production of active recombinant CCR in E. Coli.

In order to proceed further with the identification of the cDNA of CCR, the recombinant protein was produced in E. Coli and its enzymatic activity was researched. The experimental details of this approach are described hereafter.

1--Introduction of the cDNA in expression vector pT7-7.

In order to be able to clone the cDNA in the expression vector pT7-7 (commercially available), under the control of a promoter of T7 polymerase, we had to introduce a Ndel site in the ATG position of the cDNA. This was carried out using a Taq polymerase during a gene amplification reaction by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) between a mutated oligonucleotide and a commercial primer, T7, situated on Blue script downstream from the 3' end of the cDNA. The amplification product obtained is digested by Kpnl, this site is then repaired using a klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I before subjecting the fragment to digestion by Ndel, then the fragment obtained containing an Ndel site in the 5' position and a blunt end in the 3' position is inserted using a DNA T4 ligase in the vector pT7-7 which has been opened beforehand by Ndel and Smal.

The sequence of the mutated oligonucleotide mentioned above is indicated hereafter.

The underlined and italicized bases were modified relative to the initial sequence allowing the creation of a Ndel site (CATATG):

2. Overexpression of CCR in E. Coli BL21

The construction thus obtained is introduced into the strain E. Coli BL21 (commercially available) which carries on its chromosome the gene of the T7 polymerase under the control of promoter lac UV5, a promoter inducible by IPTG. The recombinant culture is cultivated at 37.degree. C. until an OD measured at 1 to 600 nm is obtained, then the production of CCR is induced by the addition of IPTG (0.25% final) into the culture medium. Samples are removed at different times after the induction and the cells are lyzed according to the protocol described by Grima-Pettenati et al. (1993). After centrifuging, the supernatant containing the soluble proteins is used to measure the CCR activity and to show the production of CCR after electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. In FIG. 2, the appearance of a polypeptide of about 38 kD should be noted, the intensity of which increases with post-induction time and which does not exist in the negative controls (strain BL21 containing only the vector pT7-7 without insert). Moreover, the final proof of the identity of the CCR clone is provided by measurement of the CCR activity (about 7 nKat/ml of culture after 3 hours of induction at 37.degree. C.) in the protein extracts originating from BL21 strains containing pT7-7+CCR cDNA only.

Annotations of figures:

FIG. 1: restriction map of cDNA coding for eucalyptus CCR.

FIG. 2: disclosure of an electrophoresis gel with Coomassie blue under denaturing conditions (SDS-PAGE) of total protein extracts of E. Coli BL21 containing the vector pT7-7 without insert (track 6 at time 0 of the induction by IPTG; 7, 3 hours after induction) and the vector pT7-7 containing the cDNA of the CCR (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, respectively, time 0 of the induction, 30 min, 1, 2, 3 hours after induction), the arrow designates the CCR monomer.

FIG. 3: schematic representation of plasmid pEUCCR containing the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 1 (and identified by CCR in the plasmid pEUCCR)

FIG. 4: schematic representation of the construction of a vector containing a DNA sequence coding for eucalyptus CCR according to the invention (or sense CCR vector).

FIG. 5: schematic representation of the construction of a vector containing a DNA sequence coding for an anti sense RNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for eucalyptus CCR according to the invention (or anti sense CCR vector).

Regarding the DNA source used for the construction of an anti sense (or sense) vector

The anti sense RNA is preferably derived from the sequence contained in the clone pEUCCR. This sequence can be obtained in different ways: appropriate restriction enzymes, defined so as to synthesis the desired DNA fragment.

The DNA fragment thus obtained is cloned in a plant expression vector downstream from a promoter and upstream from a terminator. The cloning is carried out in such a way that the DNA fragment is inserted in the reverse orientation to the promoter. In this new vector, the strand which was initially the template strand becomes the coding strand and vice versa.

The new vector codes for an RNA the sequence of which is complementary to the sequence of the messenger RNA derived from the sequence contained in pEUCCR.

Therefore the 2 RNAs are complementary not only by their sequence but also by their orientation (5'-3')

As a source of the DNA for the transcription of the anti sense RNA it is practical to use a cDNA clone such as that contained in pEUCCR.

Example of cloning (cf. FIG. 5)

The cDNA of CCR is obtained by a double digestion (BamHI and KpnI) from the vector pEUCCR. The DNA fragment thus released is physically separated from the cloning vector by agarose gel electrophoresis (Bluescript).

The part of the gel containing this DNA fragment is cut out and treated in such a way as to obtain the purified DNA (several methods may be used such as "Low melting Agarose", described in Sambrook et al. mentioned above, the Gene Clean, the kit of which is commercially available).

The fragment carrying the BamHI and KpnI ends is "ligated" with an expression vector of plants digested beforehand by these same enzymes chosen in such a way that the cDNA is inserted in the reverse orientation relative to the 35S promoter. The strand which will be transcribed in the plants will in this case be the non-coding strand.

Example of sense cloning (cf. FIG. 4)

In this case "practical" restriction sites do not exist to carry out translational fusion with the .sup.35 S promoter of the expression vector. New more convenient sites were inserted using the gene amplification technique (PCR). Two oligonucleotides were defined in position 5' and 3' of the cDNAs to which the sequences of sites recognised by KpnI and BamHI were added (NB.: these are the same sites which were used for the anti sense cloning mentioned above, but positioned differently relative to the 5'-3' orientation).

The gene amplification leads to a fragment being obtained containing all the sequence coding for the cDNA flanked by 2 restriction sites. The rest of the procedure is identical to that described for the anti sense construction.

But, in this case, a fusion of the promoter in phase with the ATG of the CCR is carried out which must lead to an overexpression of messenger RNA and therefore of CCR protein.

B) Obtaining the cDNA coding for poplar CCR.

The cDNA was obtained by screening a cDNA library constructed in the .lambda.ZAPII phage (Stratagene) from messenger extracts of xylem of 2-year-old poplars (Populus trichocarpa). The phages were screened using cDNA isolated from Eucalyptus gunnii (fragment Xhol of 804 bp of pEUCCR) labelled by random priming with dCTP.alpha..sup.32 P.

The hybridization conditions used for the screening are as follows:

the pre-hybridization is carried out for one night at 68.degree. C. in 6.times. SSC, 5.times. Denhardt, 0.5% SDS, 100 .mu.g of salmon sperm DNA. The hybridization is carried out in the same buffer without the addition of the Denhardt reagent, for one night at 60.degree. C. The membranes are then washed twice for 30 minutes in 0.1.times. SSC, 0.5% SDS at 60.degree. C.

One clone containing the complete cDNA was purified, sub-cloned and sequenced in both directions. The cDNA sequence is that represented by SEQ ID NO 3 and the derived amino acid sequence of the latter is that represented by SEQ ID NO 4.

Comparison between the amino acid sequences of the eucalyptus CCR and that of the poplar show an identity of 83% and a homology of 93% between these two sequences.

C) Obtaining the cDNA coding for fescue CCR.

The cDNA was obtained by screening a cDNA library constructed in the .lambda.ZAPII phage (Stratagene) from messenger extracts of the leaves of Fetusca arundinacea. 500,000 phages were screened using cDNA isolated from Eucalyptus gunnii (fragment Xhol of 804 bp of pEUCCR) labelled by random priming with dCTP.alpha..sup.32 P.

The hybridization conditions used for the screening are as follows:

the pre-hybridization is carried out for 6 hours in 5.times. SSPE, SDS 0.5%, salmon sperm DNA 0.1 mg/ml, Ficoll type 400 1 mg/ml, polyvinylpyrrolidone 1 mg/ml, BSA 1 mg/ml at 60.degree. C. The hybridization is carried out in the same solution in the presence of the probe labelled with dCTP.alpha..sup.32 P, for 16 hours at 60.degree. C. The filters are then washed twice for 15 minutes in 2.times. SPPE, 0.1% SDS at 60.degree. C. then twice in 0.5.times. SSPE, 0.1% SDS at 60.degree. C. and finally put in contact with an autoradiographic film for 3 days at -80.degree. C. The phages were purified by 2 or 3 additional screening rounds.

Once purified, 3 clones were analyzed after the plasmid pBluescript had been excised according to the manufacturer's instructions (Stratagene).

The sequencing allowed one clone to be eliminated and the other 2 clones to be shown to be identical and to correspond to the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO 5 coding for the fescue CCR as represented by SEQ ID NO 6.

D) Obtaining the cDNA coding for tobacco CCR.

The cDNA was obtained by screening a cDNA library constructed in the .lambda.ZAPII phage (Stratagene) from messenger extracts of tobacco stems. The phages were screened using cDNA isolated from Eucalyptus gunnii (fragment Xhol of 804 bp of pEUCCR) labelled by random priming with dCTP.alpha..sup.32 P.

The hybridization conditions used for the screening are as follows:

the pre-hybridization is carried out in 0.25% Marvel, 5.times. SSPE, 0.05% SDS at 58.degree. C. The hybridization is carried out in the same buffer, in the presence of 50 ng of a probe labelled with dCT.alpha..sup.32 P, at 58.degree. C. The filters are then washed with 2.times. SSC/0.1% SDS for 20 minutes at ambient temperature, 2.times. SSC/0.1% SDS for 20 minutes at 58.degree. C., 1.times. SSC/0.1% SDS for 15 minutes at 58.degree. C.

The plasmid pBluescript SK.sup.-  containing the cDNA clone (cloned in the EcoR1 site, using EcoR1 adaptors), was excised in vivo.

The cDNA is represented by SEQ ID NO 7, and the derived amino acid sequence of this cDNA is represented by SEQ ID NO 8. #             SEQUENCE LISTING - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 10 - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1297 base (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO -     (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 136..1140 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1: - CGGCCGGGAC GACCCGTTCC TCTTCTTCCG GGTCACCGTC ACCATGTTAC AC - #AACATCTC 60 - CGGCTAAAAA AAAAAGGAAA AAAAGCGCAA CCTCCACCTC CTGAACCCCT CT - #CCCCCCTC 120 #GGT TCC GGC CAG ACC     171TC GAC GCC CTC CCC #Pro Val Asp Ala Leu Pro Gly Ser Gly Gln T - #hr #                10 - GTC TGC GTC ACC GGC GCC GGC GGG TTC ATC GC - #C TCC TGG ATT GTC AAG 219 Val Cys Val Thr Gly Ala Gly Gly Phe Ile Al - #a Ser Trp Ile Val Lys #         25 - CTT CTC CTC GAG CGA GGC TAC ACC GTG CGA GG - #A ACC GTC AGG AAC CCA 267 Leu Leu Leu Glu Arg Gly Tyr Thr Val Arg Gl - #y Thr Val Arg Asn Pro #     40 - GAC GAC CCG AAG AAT GGT CAT CTG AGA GAT CT - #G GAA GGA GCC AGC GAG 315 Asp Asp Pro Lys Asn Gly His Leu Arg Asp Le - #u Glu Gly Ala Ser Glu # 60 - AGG CTG ACG CTG TAC AAG GGT GAT CTG ATG GA - #C TAC GGG AGC TTG GAA 363 Arg Leu Thr Leu Tyr Lys Gly Asp Leu Met As - #p Tyr Gly Ser Leu Glu #                 75 - GAA GCC ATC AAG GGG TGC GAC GGC GTC GTC CA - #C ACC GCC TCT CCG GTC 411 Glu Ala Ile Lys Gly Cys Asp Gly Val Val Hi - #s Thr Ala Ser Pro Val #             90 - ACC GAC GAT CCT GAG CAA ATG GTG GAG CCA GC - #G GTG ATC GGG ACG AAA 459 Thr Asp Asp Pro Glu Gln Met Val Glu Pro Al - #a Val Ile Gly Thr Lys #        105 - AAT GTG ATC GTC GCA GCG GCG GAG GCC AAG GT - #C CGG CGG GTT GTG TTC 507 Asn Val Ile Val Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Lys Va - #l Arg Arg Val Val Phe #   120 - ACC TCC TCC ATC GGT GCA GTC ACC ATG GAC CC - #C AAC CGG GCA GAC GTT 555 Thr Ser Ser Ile Gly Ala Val Thr Met Asp Pr - #o Asn Arg Ala Asp Val 125                 1 - #30                 1 - #35                 1 - #40 - GTG GTG GAC GAG TCT TGT TGG AGC GAC CTC GA - #A TTT TGC AAG AGC ACT 603 Val Val Asp Glu Ser Cys Trp Ser Asp Leu Gl - #u Phe Cys Lys Ser Thr #               155 - AAG AAC TGG TAT TGC TAC GGC AAG GCA GTG GC - #G GAG AAG GCC GCT TGG 651 Lys Asn Trp Tyr Cys Tyr Gly Lys Ala Val Al - #a Glu Lys Ala Ala Trp #           170 - CCA GAG GGC AAG GAG AGA GGG GTT GAC CTC GT - #G GTG ATT AAC CCT GTG 699 Pro Glu Gly Lys Glu Arg Gly Val Asp Leu Va - #l Val Ile Asn Pro Val #       185 - CTC GTG CTT GGA CCG CTC CTT CAG TCG ACG AT - #C AAT GCG AGC ATC ATC 747 Leu Val Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu Gln Ser Thr Il - #e Asn Ala Ser Ile Ile #   200 - CAC ATC CTC AAG TAC TTG ACT GGC TCA GCC AA - #G ACC TAC GCC AAC TCG 795 His Ile Leu Lys Tyr Leu Thr Gly Ser Ala Ly - #s Thr Tyr Ala Asn Ser 205                 2 - #10                 2 - #15                 2 - #20 - GTC CAG GCG TAC GTG CAC GTC AAG GAC GTC GC - #G CTT GCC CAC GTC CTT 843 Val Gln Ala Tyr Val His Val Lys Asp Val Al - #a Leu Ala His Val Leu #               235 - GTC TTG GAG ACC CCA TCC GCC TCA GGC CGC TA - #T TTG TGC GCC GAG AGC 891 Val Leu Glu Thr Pro Ser Ala Ser Gly Arg Ty - #r Leu Cys Ala Glu Ser #           250 - GTC CTC CAC CGT GGC GAT GTG GTG GAA ATC CT - #T GCC AAG TTC TTC CCT 939 Val Leu His Arg Gly Asp Val Val Glu Ile Le - #u Ala Lys Phe Phe Pro #       265 - GAG TAT AAT GTA CCG ACC AAG TGC TCT GAT GA - #G GTG AAC CCA AGA GTA 987 Glu Tyr Asn Val Pro Thr Lys Cys Ser Asp Gl - #u Val Asn Pro Arg Val #   280 - AAA CCA TAC AAG TTC TCC AAC CAG AAG CTG AG - #A GAC TTG GGG CTC GAG 1035 Lys Pro Tyr Lys Phe Ser Asn Gln Lys Leu Ar - #g Asp Leu Gly Leu Glu 285                 2 - #90                 2 - #95                 3 - #00 - TTC ACC CCG GTG AAG CAG TGC CTG TAC GAA AC - #T GTC AAG AGC TTG CAG 1083 Phe Thr Pro Val Lys Gln Cys Leu Tyr Glu Th - #r Val Lys Ser Leu Gln #               315 - GAG AAA GGC CAC CTA CCA GTC CCC TCC CCG CC - #G GAA GAT TCG GTG CGT 1131 Glu Lys Gly His Leu Pro Val Pro Ser Pro Pr - #o Glu Asp Ser Val Arg #           330 - ATT CAG GGA TGATCTTAGA TCCATCACGG TGCGCATTTG AAATCCGGA - #G 1180 Ile Gln Gly 335 - AAATGAGAGA AACATGTGGG AATTTGTTTG TACTTTTCTA AGTCAAACCT GG - #AGATACCA 1240 - ACCCTGAGTT CTGCATTGGA ATGGAAGTTG TCAATTGTTC CAAAAAAAAA AA - #AAAAA 1297 - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #acids    (A) LENGTH: 335 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2: - Met Pro Val Asp Ala Leu Pro Gly Ser Gly Gl - #n Thr Val Cys Val Thr #                 15 - Gly Ala Gly Gly Phe Ile Ala Ser Trp Ile Va - #l Lys Leu Leu Leu Glu #             30 - Arg Gly Tyr Thr Val Arg Gly Thr Val Arg As - #n Pro Asp Asp Pro Lys #         45 - Asn Gly His Leu Arg Asp Leu Glu Gly Ala Se - #r Glu Arg Leu Thr Leu #     60 - Tyr Lys Gly Asp Leu Met Asp Tyr Gly Ser Le - #u Glu Glu Ala Ile Lys # 80 - Gly Cys Asp Gly Val Val His Thr Ala Ser Pr - #o Val Thr Asp Asp Pro #                 95 - Glu Gln Met Val Glu Pro Ala Val Ile Gly Th - #r Lys Asn Val Ile Val #           110 - Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Lys Val Arg Arg Val Va - #l Phe Thr Ser Ser Ile #       125 - Gly Ala Val Thr Met Asp Pro Asn Arg Ala As - #p Val Val Val Asp Glu #   140 - Ser Cys Trp Ser Asp Leu Glu Phe Cys Lys Se - #r Thr Lys Asn Trp Tyr 145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 - #60 - Cys Tyr Gly Lys Ala Val Ala Glu Lys Ala Al - #a Trp Pro Glu Gly Lys #               175 - Glu Arg Gly Val Asp Leu Val Val Ile Asn Pr - #o Val Leu Val Leu Gly #           190 - Pro Leu Leu Gln Ser Thr Ile Asn Ala Ser Il - #e Ile His Ile Leu Lys #       205 - Tyr Leu Thr Gly Ser Ala Lys Thr Tyr Ala As - #n Ser Val Gln Ala Tyr #   220 - Val His Val Lys Asp Val Ala Leu Ala His Va - #l Leu Val Leu Glu Thr 225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 - #40 - Pro Ser Ala Ser Gly Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ala Gl - #u Ser Val Leu His Arg #               255 - Gly Asp Val Val Glu Ile Leu Ala Lys Phe Ph - #e Pro Glu Tyr Asn Val #           270 - Pro Thr Lys Cys Ser Asp Glu Val Asn Pro Ar - #g Val Lys Pro Tyr Lys #       285 - Phe Ser Asn Gln Lys Leu Arg Asp Leu Gly Le - #u Glu Phe Thr Pro Val #   300 - Lys Gln Cys Leu Tyr Glu Thr Val Lys Ser Le - #u Gln Glu Lys Gly His 305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 - #20 - Leu Pro Val Pro Ser Pro Pro Glu Asp Ser Va - #l Arg Ile Gln Gly #               335 - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1376 base (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO -     (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 99..1112 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3: - GAAAACACAC CTCCTCTCTT CTTTGTCTCT GTCTGTTCTC CACTTTCCCA GT - #CACCAAAC 60 #GAT GCT        113ACAT TTATCTAAAT ATAACAAC ATG CCT GTT #      Met Pro Val Asp Ala #     5  1 - TCA TCA CTT TCA GGC CAA GGC CAA ACT ATC TG - #T GTC ACC GGG GGT GGT 161 Ser Ser Leu Ser Gly Gln Gly Gln Thr Ile Cy - #s Val Thr Gly Gly Gly #                 20 - GGT TTC ATT GCT TCT TGG ATG GTT AAA CTT CT - #T TTA GAT AAA GGT TAC 209 Gly Phe Ile Ala Ser Trp Met Val Lys Leu Le - #u Leu Asp Lys Gly Tyr #             35 - ACT GTT AGA GGA ACT GCG AGG AAC CCA GCT GA - #T CCC AAG AAT TCT CAT 257 Thr Val Arg Gly Thr Ala Arg Asn Pro Ala As - #p Pro Lys Asn Ser His #         50 - TTG AGG GAG CTT GAA GGA GCT GAA GAA AGA TT - #A ACT TTA TGC AAA GCT 305 Leu Arg Glu Leu Glu Gly Ala Glu Glu Arg Le - #u Thr Leu Cys Lys Ala #     65 - GAT CTT CTT GAT TAT GAG TCT CTT AAA GAG GG - #T ATT CAA GGG TGT GAT 353 Asp Leu Leu Asp Tyr Glu Ser Leu Lys Glu Gl - #y Ile Gln Gly Cys Asp # 85 - GGT GTT TTC CAC ACT GCT TCT CCT GTC ACA GA - #T GAT CCG GAA GAA ATG 401 Gly Val Phe His Thr Ala Ser Pro Val Thr As - #p Asp Pro Glu Glu Met #                100 - GTG GAG CCA GCA GTG AAC GGG ACC AAA AAT GT - #G ATA ATT GCG GCG GCT 449 Val Glu Pro Ala Val Asn Gly Thr Lys Asn Va - #l Ile Ile Ala Ala Ala #           115 - GAG GCC AAA GTC CGA CGA GTG GTG TTC ACG TC - #A TCA ATT GGC GCT GTG 497 Glu Ala Lys Val Arg Arg Val Val Phe Thr Se - #r Ser Ile Gly Ala Val #       130 - TAC ATG GAT CCC AAT AAG GGC CCA GAT GTT GT - #C ATT GAT GAG TCT TGC 545 Tyr Met Asp Pro Asn Lys Gly Pro Asp Val Va - #l Ile Asp Glu Ser Cys #   145 - TGG AGT GAT CTT GAA TTC TGC AAG AAC ACC AA - #G AAT TGG TAT TGC TAT 593 Trp Ser Asp Leu Glu Phe Cys Lys Asn Thr Ly - #s Asn Trp Tyr Cys Tyr 150                 1 - #55                 1 - #60                 1 - #65 - GGA AAG GCT GTG GCA GAA CAA GCT GCA TGG GA - #T ATG GCT AAG GAG AAA 641 Gly Lys Ala Val Ala Glu Gln Ala Ala Trp As - #p Met Ala Lys Glu Lys #               180 - GGG GTG GAC CTA GTG GTG GTT AAC CCA GTG CT - #G GTG CTT GGA CCA TTG 689 Gly Val Asp Leu Val Val Val Asn Pro Val Le - #u Val Leu Gly Pro Leu #           195 - TTG CAG CCC ACT GTC AAT GCT AGC ATC ACT CA - #C ATC CTC AAG TAC CTC 737 Leu Gln Pro Thr Val Asn Ala Ser Ile Thr Hi - #s Ile Leu Lys Tyr Leu #       210 - ACC GGC TCA GCC AAG ACA TAT GCT AAC TCT GT - #T CAA GCT TAT GTG CAT 785 Thr Gly Ser Ala Lys Thr Tyr Ala Asn Ser Va - #l Gln Ala Tyr Val His #   225 - GTT AGG GAT GTG GCA CTA GCC CAC ATT TTA GT - #C TTT GAG ACG CCT TCC 833 Val Arg Asp Val Ala Leu Ala His Ile Leu Va - #l Phe Glu Thr Pro Ser 230                 2 - #35                 2 - #40                 2 - #45 - GCC TCC GGC CGT TAC CTT TGC TCT GAG AGC GT - #T CTC CAC CGT GGA GAG 881 Ala Ser Gly Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ser Glu Ser Va - #l Leu His Arg Gly Glu #               260 - GTG GTG GAA ATC CTT GCA AAG TTC TTC CCT GA - #G TAC CCC ATC CCT ACC 929 Val Val Glu Ile Leu Ala Lys Phe Phe Pro Gl - #u Tyr Pro Ile Pro Thr #           275 - AAG TGC TCA GAT GAG AAG AAC CCA AGA AAA CA - #A CCT TAC AAG TTC TCA 977 Lys Cys Ser Asp Glu Lys Asn Pro Arg Lys Gl - #n Pro Tyr Lys Phe Ser #       290 - AAC CAG AAG CTA AGG GAT CTG GGT TTC GAA TT - #C ACC CCA GTA AAG CAG 1025 Asn Gln Lys Leu Arg Asp Leu Gly Phe Glu Ph - #e Thr Pro Val Lys Gln #   305 - TGT CTG TAT GAA ACT GTT AAG AGT TTG CAG GA - #A AAG GGT CAC CTT CCA 1073 Cys Leu Tyr Glu Thr Val Lys Ser Leu Gln Gl - #u Lys Gly His Leu Pro 310                 3 - #15                 3 - #20                 3 - #25 - ATC CCA AAA CAA GCT GCA GAA GAG TCT TTG AA - #A ATT CAA TAAGGCCTCT 1122 Ile Pro Lys Gln Ala Ala Glu Glu Ser Leu Ly - #s Ile Gln #               335 - TGGAACTATT TATTAGGATT GTTCCATACC CCAAGTTTGG ATCGCAAATG CT - #AGGGAAAG 1182 - GAGCATATTA AAGAATGCCA ATGTGCAGGT GTTTTAGTAT TTTACATGAA GA - #ACTCTGAT 1242 - TATCCTTGTG CTTATAATAA TTTTTTTCAA GTGAGTGTCT TCAAATGTTC AA - #CTTGTATT 1302 - TGTGGTTGTC TAACTTTATC CAGTTTCAAT ATAAAAGAGG AACGATTCTA TG - #TCTTAAAA 1362 #   1376 - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #acids    (A) LENGTH: 338 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4: - Met Pro Val Asp Ala Ser Ser Leu Ser Gly Gl - #n Gly Gln Thr Ile Cys #                 15 - Val Thr Gly Gly Gly Gly Phe Ile Ala Ser Tr - #p Met Val Lys Leu Leu #             30 - Leu Asp Lys Gly Tyr Thr Val Arg Gly Thr Al - #a Arg Asn Pro Ala Asp #         45 - Pro Lys Asn Ser His Leu Arg Glu Leu Glu Gl - #y Ala Glu Glu Arg Leu #     60 - Thr Leu Cys Lys Ala Asp Leu Leu Asp Tyr Gl - #u Ser Leu Lys Glu Gly # 80 - Ile Gln Gly Cys Asp Gly Val Phe His Thr Al - #a Ser Pro Val Thr Asp #                 95 - Asp Pro Glu Glu Met Val Glu Pro Ala Val As - #n Gly Thr Lys Asn Val #           110 - Ile Ile Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Lys Val Arg Ar - #g Val Val Phe Thr Ser #       125 - Ser Ile Gly Ala Val Tyr Met Asp Pro Asn Ly - #s Gly Pro Asp Val Val #   140 - Ile Asp Glu Ser Cys Trp Ser Asp Leu Glu Ph - #e Cys Lys Asn Thr Lys 145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 - #60 - Asn Trp Tyr Cys Tyr Gly Lys Ala Val Ala Gl - #u Gln Ala Ala Trp Asp #               175 - Met Ala Lys Glu Lys Gly Val Asp Leu Val Va - #l Val Asn Pro Val Leu #           190 - Val Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu Gln Pro Thr Val As - #n Ala Ser Ile Thr His #       205 - Ile Leu Lys Tyr Leu Thr Gly Ser Ala Lys Th - #r Tyr Ala Asn Ser Val #   220 - Gln Ala Tyr Val His Val Arg Asp Val Ala Le - #u Ala His Ile Leu Val 225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 - #40 - Phe Glu Thr Pro Ser Ala Ser Gly Arg Tyr Le - #u Cys Ser Glu Ser Val #               255 - Leu His Arg Gly Glu Val Val Glu Ile Leu Al - #a Lys Phe Phe Pro Glu #           270 - Tyr Pro Ile Pro Thr Lys Cys Ser Asp Glu Ly - #s Asn Pro Arg Lys Gln #       285 - Pro Tyr Lys Phe Ser Asn Gln Lys Leu Arg As - #p Leu Gly Phe Glu Phe #   300 - Thr Pro Val Lys Gln Cys Leu Tyr Glu Thr Va - #l Lys Ser Leu Gln Glu 305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 - #20 - Lys Gly His Leu Pro Ile Pro Lys Gln Ala Al - #a Glu Glu Ser Leu Lys #               335 - Ile Gln - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1273 base (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO -     (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 66..1091 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5: - TCGTAGCTCT TCCCTTTCAC CAACAAGCTA GTTTAGACAA GTACAGTGGT AC - #TGTAAGAG 60 #CAG CTG CCT GGC CAT        107 GCC GCG CCG #Ala Pro Gln Leu Pro Gly Hisa Ala #     10 - GGG CAG ACC GTG TGC GTC ACC GGC GCC GCG GG - #G TAC ATC GCG TCG GGG 155 Gly Gln Thr Val Cys Val Thr Gly Ala Ala Gl - #y Tyr Ile Ala Ser Gly # 30 - CTC GTC AAG CTG CTC CTG GAG AGA GGC TAC AC - #C GTG AAG GGC ACA GTG 203 Leu Val Lys Leu Leu Leu Glu Arg Gly Tyr Th - #r Val Lys Gly Thr Val #                 45 - AGG AAC CCA GAT GAT CCC AAG AAC GCC CAC CT - #G AAG GCG CTG GAC GGC 251 Arg Asn Pro Asp Asp Pro Lys Asn Ala His Le - #u Lys Ala Leu Asp Gly #             60 - GCC ACC AAG AGG CTG ATC CTC TGC AAA GCC GA - #C CTC CTC GAC TAC GAC 299 Ala Thr Lys Arg Leu Ile Leu Cys Lys Ala As - #p Leu Leu Asp Tyr Asp #         75 - GCC ATA TGC GCC GCC GTC GAG GGC TGC CAC GG - #C GTG TTC CAC ACC GCC 347 Ala Ile Cys Ala Ala Val Glu Gly Cys His Gl - #y Val Phe His Thr Ala #     90 - TCT CCA GTC ACC GAT GAT CCT GAG CAG ATG GT - #G GAG CCG GCG GTG CGG 395 Ser Pro Val Thr Asp Asp Pro Glu Gln Met Va - #l Glu Pro Ala Val Arg #110 - GGC ACG GAG TAC GTG ATC AAC GCG GCA GCG GA - #T GCG GGA ACG GTG CGC 443 Gly Thr Glu Tyr Val Ile Asn Ala Ala Ala As - #p Ala Gly Thr Val Arg #               125 - CGG GTG GTG TTC ACG TCG TCA ATC GGT GCC AT - #C ACC ATG GAC CCC AAC 491 Arg Val Val Phe Thr Ser Ser Ile Gly Ala Il - #e Thr Met Asp Pro Asn #           140 - CGC GGT CCT GAC GTA GTC GTC AAT GAG TCC TG - #C TGG AGC GAC CTC GAA 539 Arg Gly Pro Asp Val Val Val Asn Glu Ser Cy - #s Trp Ser Asp Leu Glu #       155 - TTC TGC AAG AAA ACC AAG AAC TGG TAC TGC TA - #C GGC AAG GCC GTG GCG 587 Phe Cys Lys Lys Thr Lys Asn Trp Tyr Cys Ty - #r Gly Lys Ala Val Ala #   170 - GAG CAG GCT GCG TGG GAG GCG GCC AGG AAG CG - #C GGC ATC GAC CTC GTC 635 Glu Gln Ala Ala Trp Glu Ala Ala Arg Lys Ar - #g Gly Ile Asp Leu Val 175                 1 - #80                 1 - #85                 1 - #90 - GTC GTG AAC CCT GTG CTC GTG GTA GGG CCG CT - #G CTG CAA CCA ACG GTG 683 Val Val Asn Pro Val Leu Val Val Gly Pro Le - #u Leu Gln Pro Thr Val #               205 - AAC GCT AGC GCC GCA CAC ATC CTC AAG TAC CT - #C GAC GGC TCG GCC AAG 731 Asn Ala Ser Ala Ala His Ile Leu Lys Tyr Le - #u Asp Gly Ser Ala Lys #           220 - AAG TAC GCC AAC GCT GTG CAG TCA TAC GTA GA - #C GTG CGT GAC GTA GCC 779 Lys Tyr Ala Asn Ala Val Gln Ser Tyr Val As - #p Val Arg Asp Val Ala #       235 - GGC GCG CAC ATC CGG GTG TTC GAG GCG CCT GA - #G GCG TCG GGC CGG TAC 827 Gly Ala His Ile Arg Val Phe Glu Ala Pro Gl - #u Ala Ser Gly Arg Tyr #   250 - CTC TGC GCC GAG CGC GTG CTG CAC CGT GGG GA - #C GTT GTC CAA ATC CTC 875 Leu Cys Ala Glu Arg Val Leu His Arg Gly As - #p Val Val Gln Ile Leu 255                 2 - #60                 2 - #65                 2 - #70 - AGC AAA CTC TTG CCT GAG TAC CCT GTG CCA AC - #A AGG TGC TCT GAT GAA 923 Ser Lys Leu Leu Pro Glu Tyr Pro Val Pro Th - #r Arg Cys Ser Asp Glu #               285 - GTG AAC CCA CGG AAG CAG CCT TAT AAG ATG TC - #C AAC CAG AAG CTG CAG 971 Val Asn Pro Arg Lys Gln Pro Tyr Lys Met Se - #r Asn Gln Lys Leu Gln #           300 - GAT CTT GGC CTC CAG TTC ACT CCT GTG AAC GA - #C TCT CTG TAT GAG ACC 1019 Asp Leu Gly Leu Gln Phe Thr Pro Val Asn As - #p Ser Leu Tyr Glu Thr #       315 - GTG AAG AGC CTC CAG GAG AAG GGA CAT CTC CT - #A GTA CCA AGC AAA CCC 1067 Val Lys Ser Leu Gln Glu Lys Gly His Leu Le - #u Val Pro Ser Lys Pro #   330 - GAG GGA TTA AAC GGT GTA ACG GCA TGATACTGCT AA - #AGAAGCAG CAGAGTTCAC 1121 Glu Gly Leu Asn Gly Val Thr Ala 335                 3 - #40 - GTGCTCCTGT AACATGGTCA AACATGAGTT GTTTTTCTGT ATAAATTCTA TC - #CAGTATCG 1181 - TGTTATTTAA GTGAACTAAG AGAACAGAAT ATTGTATCAT CTTCGATGTC CA - #ATACCTGG 1241 #        1273      CACC TAAAAAAAAA AA - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #acids    (A) LENGTH: 342 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6: - Met Thr Val Val Asp Ala Ala Ala Pro Gln Le - #u Pro Gly His Gly Gln #                 15 - Thr Val Cys Val Thr Gly Ala Ala Gly Tyr Il - #e Ala Ser Gly Leu Val #             30 - Lys Leu Leu Leu Glu Arg Gly Tyr Thr Val Ly - #s Gly Thr Val Arg Asn #         45 - Pro Asp Asp Pro Lys Asn Ala His Leu Lys Al - #a Leu Asp Gly Ala Thr #     60 - Lys Arg Leu Ile Leu Cys Lys Ala Asp Leu Le - #u Asp Tyr Asp Ala Ile # 80 - Cys Ala Ala Val Glu Gly Cys His Gly Val Ph - #e His Thr Ala Ser Pro #                 95 - Val Thr Asp Asp Pro Glu Gln Met Val Glu Pr - #o Ala Val Arg Gly Thr #           110 - Glu Tyr Val Ile Asn Ala Ala Ala Asp Ala Gl - #y Thr Val Arg Arg Val #       125 - Val Phe Thr Ser Ser Ile Gly Ala Ile Thr Me - #t Asp Pro Asn Arg Gly #   140 - Pro Asp Val Val Val Asn Glu Ser Cys Trp Se - #r Asp Leu Glu Phe Cys 145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 - #60 - Lys Lys Thr Lys Asn Trp Tyr Cys Tyr Gly Ly - #s Ala Val Ala Glu Gln #               175 - Ala Ala Trp Glu Ala Ala Arg Lys Arg Gly Il - #e Asp Leu Val Val Val #           190 - Asn Pro Val Leu Val Val Gly Pro Leu Leu Gl - #n Pro Thr Val Asn Ala #       205 - Ser Ala Ala His Ile Leu Lys Tyr Leu Asp Gl - #y Ser Ala Lys Lys Tyr #   220 - Ala Asn Ala Val Gln Ser Tyr Val Asp Val Ar - #g Asp Val Ala Gly Ala 225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 - #40 - His Ile Arg Val Phe Glu Ala Pro Glu Ala Se - #r Gly Arg Tyr Leu Cys #               255 - Ala Glu Arg Val Leu His Arg Gly Asp Val Va - #l Gln Ile Leu Ser Lys #           270 - Leu Leu Pro Glu Tyr Pro Val Pro Thr Arg Cy - #s Ser Asp Glu Val Asn #       285 - Pro Arg Lys Gln Pro Tyr Lys Met Ser Asn Gl - #n Lys Leu Gln Asp Leu #   300 - Gly Leu Gln Phe Thr Pro Val Asn Asp Ser Le - #u Tyr Glu Thr Val Lys 305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 - #20 - Ser Leu Gln Glu Lys Gly His Leu Leu Val Pr - #o Ser Lys Pro Glu Gly #               335 - Leu Asn Gly Val Thr Ala 340 - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1293 base (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO -     (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 95..1108 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7: - CCGAGCCTAT TTCTTCCCTA TATCCACTCA TCCTTGTCTT ATATCATCAT CA - #TCATCATC 60 - TACCTAAACC TGAGCTCAAC AGAAAAGTAA TACC ATG CCG TCA G - #TT TCC GGC 112 #  Met Pro Ser Val Ser Gly # 5  1 - CAA ATC GTT TGT GTT ACT GGC GCC GGA GGT TT - #C ATC GCC TCT TGG CTC 160 Gln Ile Val Cys Val Thr Gly Ala Gly Gly Ph - #e Ile Ala Ser Trp Leu #             20 - GTT AAA ATT CTT CTG GAA AAA GGC TAC ACT GT - #T AGA GGA ACA GTA CGA 208 Val Lys Ile Leu Leu Glu Lys Gly Tyr Thr Va - #l Arg Gly Thr Val Arg #         35 - AAT CCA GAT GAT CGA AAA AAT AGT CAT TTG AG - #G GAG CTT GAA CGA GCA 256 Asn Pro Asp Asp Arg Lys Asn Ser His Leu Ar - #g Glu Leu Glu Arg Ala #     50 - AAA GAG ACA TTG ACT CTG TGC AGA GCT GAT CT - #T CTT GAT TTT CAG AGT 304 Lys Glu Thr Leu Thr Leu Cys Arg Ala Asp Le - #u Leu Asp Phe Gln Ser # 70 - TTG CGA GAA GCA ATC AGC GGC TGT GAC GGA GT - #T TTC CAC ACA CGT TCT 352 Leu Arg Glu Ala Ile Ser Gly Cys Asp Gly Va - #l Phe His Thr Arg Ser #                 85 - CCT GTC ACT GAT GAT CCA GAA CAA ATG GTG GA - #G CCA GCA GTT ATT GGT 400 Pro Val Thr Asp Asp Pro Glu Gln Met Val Gl - #u Pro Ala Val Ile Gly #            100 - ACA AAG AAT GTG ATA ACG GCA GCA GCA GAG GC - #C AAG GTG CGA CGT GTG 448 Thr Lys Asn Val Ile Thr Ala Ala Ala Glu Al - #a Lys Val Arg Arg Val #       115 - GTG TTC ACT TCG TCA ATT GGT GCT GTG TAT AT - #G GAC CCA AAC AGG GAC 496 Val Phe Thr Ser Ser Ile Gly Ala Val Tyr Me - #t Asp Pro Asn Arg Asp #   130 - CCT GAT AAG GTT GTC GAC GAG ACT TGT TGG AG - #T GAT CCT GAC TTC TGC 544 Pro Asp Lys Val Val Asp Glu Thr Cys Trp Se - #r Asp Pro Asp Phe Cys 135                 1 - #40                 1 - #45                 1 - #50 - AAA AAC ACC AAG AAT TGG TAT TGT TAT GGG AA - #G ATG GTG GCA GAA CAA 592 Lys Asn Thr Lys Asn Trp Tyr Cys Tyr Gly Ly - #s Met Val Ala Glu Gln #               165 - GCA GCA TGG GAC GAA GCA AGG GAG AAA GGA GT - #C GAT TTG GTG GCA ATC 640 Ala Ala Trp Asp Glu Ala Arg Glu Lys Gly Va - #l Asp Leu Val Ala Ile #           180 - AAC CCA GTG TTG GTG CTT GGA CCA CTG CTC CA - #A CAG AAT GTG AAT GCC 688 Asn Pro Val Leu Val Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu Gl - #n Gln Asn Val Asn Ala #       195 - AGT GTT CTT CAC ATC CAC AAG TAC CTA ACT GG - #C TCT GCT AAA ACA TAT 736 Ser Val Leu His Ile His Lys Tyr Leu Thr Gl - #y Ser Ala Lys Thr Tyr #   210 - ACG TCC AAT TCA CTT CAG GCA TAT GTT CAT GT - #T AGG GAT GTG GCT TTA 784 Thr Ser Asn Ser Leu Gln Ala Tyr Val His Va - #l Arg Asp Val Ala Leu 215                 2 - #20                 2 - #25                 2 - #30 - CGT CAC ATA CTT GTG TAC GAG ACA CCT TCT GC - #A TCT GGC CGT TAT CTC 832 Arg His Ile Leu Val Tyr Glu Thr Pro Ser Al - #a Ser Gly Arg Tyr Leu #               245 - TGT GCC GAG AGT GTG CTG CAT CGC TGC GAT GT - #G GTT GAA ATT CTC GCC 880 Cys Ala Glu Ser Val Leu His Arg Cys Asp Va - #l Val Glu Ile Leu Ala #           260 - AAA TTC TTC CCG GAG TAT CCT ATC CCC ACC AA - #G TGT TCA GAT GTG ACG 928 Lys Phe Phe Pro Glu Tyr Pro Ile Pro Thr Ly - #s Cys Ser Asp Val Thr #       275 - AAG CCA AGG GTA AAA CCG TAC AAA TTC TCA AA - #C CAA AAG CTA AAG GAT 976 Lys Pro Arg Val Lys Pro Tyr Lys Phe Ser As - #n Gln Lys Leu Lys Asp #   290 - TTG GGT CTG GAG TTT ACA CCA GTA CAA TGC TT - #A TAT GAA ACG GTG AAG 1024 Leu Gly Leu Glu Phe Thr Pro Val Gln Cys Le - #u Tyr Glu Thr Val Lys 295                 3 - #00                 3 - #05                 3 - #10 - AGT CTA CAA GAG AAA GGT CAC CTT CCA ATT CC - #T ACT CAA AAG GAT GAG 1072 Ser Leu Gln Glu Lys Gly His Leu Pro Ile Pr - #o Thr Gln Lys Asp Glu #               325 - ATT ATT CGA ATT CAG TCT GAG AAA TTC AGA AG - #C TCT TAGCATGTAT 1118 Ile Ile Arg Ile Gln Ser Glu Lys Phe Arg Se - #r Ser #           335 - TGAGGAAAAG GGATCAATGG TTAAAGTTGA CCATGGCGTT GTCCCTTTAT GT - #ACCAAGAC 1178 - CAAATGCACC TAGAAATTTA CTTGTCTACT CTGTTGTACT TTTACTTGTC AT - #GGAAATGT 1238 - TTTTAGTGTT TTCATTGTTA TGAGATATAT TTTGGTGTAA AAAAAAAAAA AA - #AAA 1293 - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #acids    (A) LENGTH: 338 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8: - Met Pro Ser Val Ser Gly Gln Ile Val Cys Va - #l Thr Gly Ala Gly Gly #                 15 - Phe Ile Ala Ser Trp Leu Val Lys Ile Leu Le - #u Glu Lys Gly Tyr Thr #             30 - Val Arg Gly Thr Val Arg Asn Pro Asp Asp Ar - #g Lys Asn Ser His Leu #         45 - Arg Glu Leu Glu Arg Ala Lys Glu Thr Leu Th - #r Leu Cys Arg Ala Asp #     60 - Leu Leu Asp Phe Gln Ser Leu Arg Glu Ala Il - #e Ser Gly Cys Asp Gly # 80 - Val Phe His Thr Arg Ser Pro Val Thr Asp As - #p Pro Glu Gln Met Val #                 95 - Glu Pro Ala Val Ile Gly Thr Lys Asn Val Il - #e Thr Ala Ala Ala Glu #           110 - Ala Lys Val Arg Arg Val Val Phe Thr Ser Se - #r Ile Gly Ala Val Tyr #       125 - Met Asp Pro Asn Arg Asp Pro Asp Lys Val Va - #l Asp Glu Thr Cys Trp #   140 - Ser Asp Pro Asp Phe Cys Lys Asn Thr Lys As - #n Trp Tyr Cys Tyr Gly 145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 - #60 - Lys Met Val Ala Glu Gln Ala Ala Trp Asp Gl - #u Ala Arg Glu Lys Gly #               175 - Val Asp Leu Val Ala Ile Asn Pro Val Leu Va - #l Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu #           190 - Gln Gln Asn Val Asn Ala Ser Val Leu His Il - #e His Lys Tyr Leu Thr #       205 - Gly Ser Ala Lys Thr Tyr Thr Ser Asn Ser Le - #u Gln Ala Tyr Val His #   220 - Val Arg Asp Val Ala Leu Arg His Ile Leu Va - #l Tyr Glu Thr Pro Ser 225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 - #40 - Ala Ser Gly Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ala Glu Ser Va - #l Leu His Arg Cys Asp #               255 - Val Val Glu Ile Leu Ala Lys Phe Phe Pro Gl - #u Tyr Pro Ile Pro Thr #           270 - Lys Cys Ser Asp Val Thr Lys Pro Arg Val Ly - #s Pro Tyr Lys Phe Ser #       285 - Asn Gln Lys Leu Lys Asp Leu Gly Leu Glu Ph - #e Thr Pro Val Gln Cys #   300 - Leu Tyr Glu Thr Val Lys Ser Leu Gln Glu Ly - #s Gly His Leu Pro Ile 305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 - #20 - Pro Thr Gln Lys Asp Glu Ile Ile Arg Ile Gl - #n Ser Glu Lys Phe Arg #               335 - Ser Ser - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1297 base (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO -     (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO -     (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 136..1140 -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9: - CGGCCGGGAC GACCCGTTCC TCTTCTTCCG GGTCACCGTC ACCATGTTAC AC - #AACATCTC 60 - CGGCTAAAAA AAAAAGGAAA AAAAGCGCAA CCTCCACCTC CTGAACCCCT CT - #CCCCCCTC 120 #GGT TCC GGC CAG ACC     171TC GAC GCC CTC CCC #Pro Val Asp Ala Leu Pro Gly Ser Gly Gln T - #hr #                10 - GTC TGC GTC ACC GGC GCC GGC GGG TTC ATC GC - #C TCC TGG ATT GTC AAG 219 Val Cys Val Thr Gly Ala Gly Gly Phe Ile Al - #a Ser Trp Ile Val Lys #         25 - CTT CTC CTC GAG CGA GGC TAC ACC GTG CGA GG - #A ACC GTC AGG AAC CCA 267 Leu Leu Leu Glu Arg Gly Tyr Thr Val Arg Gl - #y Thr Val Arg Asn Pro #     40 - GAC GAC CCG AAG AAT GGT CAT CTG AGA GAT CT - #G GAA GGA GCC AGC GAG 315 Asp Asp Pro Lys Asn Gly His Leu Arg Asp Le - #u Glu Gly Ala Ser Glu # 60 - AGG CTG ACG CTG TAC AAG GGT GAT CTG ATG GA - #C GAC GGG AGC TTG GAA 363 Arg Leu Thr Leu Tyr Lys Gly Asp Leu Met As - #p Asp Gly Ser Leu Glu #                 75 - GAA GCC ATC AAG GGG TGC GAC GGC GTC GTC CA - #C ACC GCC TCT CCG GTC 411 Glu Ala Ile Lys Gly Cys Asp Gly Val Val Hi - #s Thr Ala Ser Pro Val #             90 - ACC GAC GAT CCT GAG CAA ATG GTG GAG CCA GC - #G GTG ATC GGG ACG AAA 459 Thr Asp Asp Pro Glu Gln Met Val Glu Pro Al - #a Val Ile Gly Thr Lys #        105 - AAT GTG ATC GTC GCA GCG GCG GAG GCC AAG GT - #C CGG CGG GTT GTG TTC 507 Asn Val Ile Val Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Lys Va - #l Arg Arg Val Val Phe #   120 - ACC TCC TCC ATC GGT GCA GTC ACC ATG GAC CC - #C AAC CGG GCA GAC GTT 555 Thr Ser Ser Ile Gly Ala Val Thr Met Asp Pr - #o Asn Arg Ala Asp Val 125                 1 - #30                 1 - #35                 1 - #40 - GTG GTG GAC GAG TCT TGT TGG AGC GAC CTC GA - #A TTT TGC AAG AGC ACT 603 Val Val Asp Glu Ser Cys Trp Ser Asp Leu Gl - #u Phe Cys Lys Ser Thr #               155 - AAG AAC TGG TAT TGC TAC GGC AAG GCA GTG GC - #G GAG AAG GCC GCT TGG 651 Lys Asn Trp Tyr Cys Tyr Gly Lys Ala Val Al - #a Glu Lys Ala Ala Trp #           170 - CCA GAG GGC AAG GAG AGA GGG GTT GAC CTC GT - #G GTG ATT AAC CCT GTG 699 Pro Glu Gly Lys Glu Arg Gly Val Asp Leu Va - #l Val Ile Asn Pro Val #       185 - CTC GTG CTT GGA CCG CTC CTT CAG TCG ACG AT - #C AAT GCG AGC ATC ATC 747 Leu Val Leu Gly Pro Leu Leu Gln Ser Thr Il - #e Asn Ala Ser Ile Ile #   200 - CAC ATC CTC AAG TAC TTG ACT GGC TCA GCC AA - #G ACC TAC GCC AAC TCG 795 His Ile Leu Lys Tyr Leu Thr Gly Ser Ala Ly - #s Thr Tyr Ala Asn Ser 205                 2 - #10                 2 - #15                 2 - #20 - GTC CAG GCG TAC GTG CAC GTC AAG GAC GTC GC - #G CTT GCC CAC GTC CTT 843 Val Gln Ala Tyr Val His Val Lys Asp Val Al - #a Leu Ala His Val Leu #               235 - GTC TTG GAG ACC CCA TCC GCC TCA GGC CGC TA - #T TTG TGC GCC GAG AGC 891 Val Leu Glu Thr Pro Ser Ala Ser Gly Arg Ty - #r Leu Cys Ala Glu Ser #           250 - GTC CTC CAC CGT GGC GAT GTG GTG GAA ATC CT - #T GCC AAG TTC TTC CCT 939 Val Leu His Arg Gly Asp Val Val Glu Ile Le - #u Ala Lys Phe Phe Pro #       265 - GAG TAT AAT GTA CCG ACC AAG TGC TCT GAT GA - #G GTG AAC CCA AGA GTA 987 Glu Tyr Asn Val Pro Thr Lys Cys Ser Asp Gl - #u Val Asn Pro Arg Val #   280 - AAA CCA TAC AAG TTC TCC AAC CAG AAG CTG AG - #A GAC TTG GGG CTC GAG 1035 Lys Pro Tyr Lys Phe Ser Asn Gln Lys Leu Ar - #g Asp Leu Gly Leu Glu 285                 2 - #90                 2 - #95                 3 - #00 - TTC ACC CCG GTG AAG CAG TGC CTG TAC GAA AC - #T GTC AAG AGC TTG CAG 1083 Phe Thr Pro Val Lys Gln Cys Leu Tyr Glu Th - #r Val Lys Ser Leu Gln #               315 - GAG AAA GGC CAC CTA CCA GTC CCC TCC CCG CC - #G GAA GAT TCG GTG CGT 1131 Glu Lys Gly His Leu Pro Val Pro Ser Pro Pr - #o Glu Asp Ser Val Arg #           330 - ATT CAG GGA TGATCTTAGA TCCATCACGG TGCGCATTTG TAATCCGGA - #G 1180 Ile Gln Gly 335 - AAATGAGAGA AACATGTGGG AATTTGTTTG TACTTTTCTA AGTCAAACCT GG - #AGATACCA 1240 - ACCCTGAGTT CTGCATTGGA ATGGAAGTTG TCAATTGTTC CAAAAAAAAA AA - #AAAAA 1297 - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10: -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: #acids    (A) LENGTH: 335 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10: - Met Pro Val Asp Ala Leu Pro Gly Ser Gly Gl - #n Thr Val Cys Val Thr #                 15 - Gly Ala Gly Gly Phe Ile Ala Ser Trp Ile Va - #l Lys Leu Leu Leu Glu #             30 - Arg Gly Tyr Thr Val Arg Gly Thr Val Arg As - #n Pro Asp Asp Pro Lys #         45 - Asn Gly His Leu Arg Asp Leu Glu Gly Ala Se - #r Glu Arg Leu Thr Leu #     60 - Tyr Lys Gly Asp Leu Met Asp Asp Gly Ser Le - #u Glu Glu Ala Ile Lys # 80 - Gly Cys Asp Gly Val Val His Thr Ala Ser Pr - #o Val Thr Asp Asp Pro #                 95 - Glu Gln Met Val Glu Pro Ala Val Ile Gly Th - #r Lys Asn Val Ile Val #           110 - Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Lys Val Arg Arg Val Va - #l Phe Thr Ser Ser Ile #       125 - Gly Ala Val Thr Met Asp Pro Asn Arg Ala As - #p Val Val Val Asp Glu #   140 - Ser Cys Trp Ser Asp Leu Glu Phe Cys Lys Se - #r Thr Lys Asn Trp Tyr 145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 - #60 - Cys Tyr Gly Lys Ala Val Ala Glu Lys Ala Al - #a Trp Pro Glu Gly Lys #               175 - Glu Arg Gly Val Asp Leu Val Val Ile Asn Pr - #o Val Leu Val Leu Gly #           190 - Pro Leu Leu Gln Ser Thr Ile Asn Ala Ser Il - #e Ile His Ile Leu Lys #       205 - Tyr Leu Thr Gly Ser Ala Lys Thr Tyr Ala As - #n Ser Val Gln Ala Tyr #   220 - Val His Val Lys Asp Val Ala Leu Ala His Va - #l Leu Val Leu Glu Thr 225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 - #40 - Pro Ser Ala Ser Gly Arg Tyr Leu Cys Ala Gl - #u Ser Val Leu His Arg #               255 - Gly Asp Val Val Glu Ile Leu Ala Lys Phe Ph - #e Pro Glu Tyr Asn Val #           270 - Pro Thr Lys Cys Ser Asp Glu Val Asn Pro Ar - #g Val Lys Pro Tyr Lys #       285 - Phe Ser Asn Gln Lys Leu Arg Asp Leu Gly Le - #u Glu Phe Thr Pro Val #   300 - Lys Gln Cys Leu Tyr Glu Thr Val Lys Ser Le - #u Gln Glu Lys Gly His 305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 - #20 - Leu Pro Val Pro Ser Pro Pro Glu Asp Ser Va - #l Arg Ile Gln Gly #               335 __________________________________________________________________________

## Claims

1. A method of producing transgenic plants within which the biosynthesis of lignins is regulated either in the sense of an increase, or in the sense of a reduction of the lignin levels produced, relative to the normal lignin levels produced in plants comprising: one or more coding regions, wherein said coding regions are selected from the group consisting of: mRNA coding for the CCR of eucalyptus represented by SEQ ID NO 2, mRNA coding for the CCR of poplar represented by SEQ ID NO 4, mRNA coding for the CCR of fescue represented by SEQ ID NO 6, mRNA coding for the CCR of tobacco represented by SEQ ID NO 8, mRNA coding for a protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10, derived from the eucalyptus CCR, and SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 or SEQ ID NO 9, said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by sequences SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 and SEQ ID NO 9, respectively.

2. A DNA sequence comprising: mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, or mRNA coding for a protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10 derived from the eucalyptus CCR, or mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 4, or mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 6, or mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 8.

3. A DNA sequence comprising: said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with a mRNA which codes for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 2, or said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with a mRNA which codes for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 10, or said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 4, or said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 6, or said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coding for the CCR represented by SEQ ID NO 8.

4. A mRNA selected from the group consisting of:

5. An anti sense mRNA comprising nucleotides complementary to a mRNA according to claim 4, said anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with said mRNA.

6. A recombinant CCR from eucalyptus, poplar, tall fescue or tobacco comprising SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 6 or SEQ ID NO 8, respectively.

7. A complex formed between an anti sense mRNA according to claim 5, and a CCR mRNA.

8. A recombinant nucleotide sequence comprising at least one DNA sequence according to claim 2, said sequence inserted in a heterologous sequence.

9. A recombinant nucleotide sequence, comprising at least one complementary DNA sequence according to claim 3, inserted in a heterologous sequence.

10. A recombinant nucleotide sequence according to claim 8 comprising the necessary elements to regulate the expression of the nucleotide sequence said necessary elements comprising a promoter or a terminator of transcription and if appropriate, at least one DNA sequence coding for all or part of an enzyme other than CCR which is involved in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular the mRNA coding for cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), or at least one sequence coding for all or part of the anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with said mRNA, in particular with the mRNA coding for CAD.

11. A recombinant vector comprising a recombinant nucleotide sequence according to claim 10, integrated in one of its sites of its genome which is non essential for its replication.

12. A process for the regulation of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, either by reducing, or by increasing the levels of lignin produced, relative to the normal levels of lignins produced in these plants, said process comprising a transformation stage of cells of these plants using a vector containing: plants, or said mRNA, said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with said mRNA.

13. A process for the reduction of the biosynthesis of lignin in plants and therefore the reduction of the levels of lignins produced relative to the normal levels of lignins produced in plants, comprising the transformation of the genome of said plants, by incorporating: anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with a mRNA coding for an enzyme other than CCR, which is implicated in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular the mRNA coding for CAD.

14. A process for the reduction of the biosynthesis of lignin in plants and therefore the reduction of the levels of lignins produced relative to the normal levels of lignins produced in plants, comprising the transformation of the genome of said plants, by incorporating: enzyme other than CCR, which is implicated in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular a DNA sequence coding for all or part of CAD.

15. A process for increasing the biosynthesis of lignin in plants, and therefore increasing the levels of lignins produced in plants relative to the normal lignin levels produced in plants, comprising the transformation of the genome of these plants, by incorporating: than CCR, which is implicated in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular a DNA sequence coding for CAD.

16. A plant, plant fragment, cell, fruit, seed, or pollen, transformed by incorporation of at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: mRNA coding for the CCR of eucalyptus represented by SEQ ID NO 2, mRNA coding for the CCR of poplar represented by SEQ ID NO 4, mRNA coding for the CCR of fescue represented by SEQ ID NO 6, mRNA coding for the CCR of tobacco represented by SEQ ID NO 8, mRNA coding for a protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10 derived from the eucalyptus CCR, and SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 or SEQ ID NO 9, said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by sequences SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 and SEQ ID NO 9, respectively.

17. A recombinant polypeptide, comprising SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 6 or SEQ ID NO 8, obtained by transformation of plant cells by integrating a recombinant nucleotide sequence.

18. The process of claim 12, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of: mRNA coding for the CCR of eucalyptus represented by SEQ ID NO 2, mRNA coding for the CCR of poplar represented by SEQ ID NO 4, mRNA coding for the CCR of fescue represented by SEQ ID NO 6, mRNA coding for the CCR of tobacco represented by SEQ ID NO 8, mRNA coding for a protein represented by SEQ ID NO 10 derived from the eucalyptus CCR, and SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 or SEQ ID NO 9, said complementary sequence coding for an anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with the mRNA coded by sequences SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3, SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 7 and SEQ ID NO 9, respectively.

19. A recombinant nucleotide sequence according to claim 9 comprising the necessary elements to regulate the expression of the nucleotide sequence said necessary elements comprising a promoter or a terminator of transcription and if appropriate, at least one DNA sequence coding for all or part of an enzyme other than CCR which is involved in a stage of the biosynthesis of lignins in plants, in particular the mRNA coding for cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), or at least one sequence coding for all or part of the anti sense mRNA capable of hybridizing with said mRNA, in particular with the mRNA coding for CAD.

20. A recombinant vector comprising a recombinant nucleotide sequence according to claim 19, integrated in one of its sites of its genome which is non essential for its replication.