# Patent

## Title
Plants having enhanced yield-related traits and a method for making the same

## Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Harpin-associated Factor G polypeptide (hereinafter termed HpaG′′). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs comprising HpaG-encoding nucleic acids, useful in performing the methods of the invention. The present invention also provides a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, by modulating (preferably increasing) expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWITCH 2/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING 2 (SWI2/SNF2) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in performing the methods of the invention.

## Background
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national stage application (under 35 U.S.C. §371) of PCT/EP2008/052450, filed Feb. 28, 2008, which claims benefit of European Application 07103271.8, filed Feb. 28, 2007, European Application 07104197.4 filed on Mar. 15, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application 60/896,050 filed on Mar. 21, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Application 60/909,510 filed on Apr. 2, 2007.
SUBMISSION OF SEQUENCE LISTING
The Sequence Listing associated with this application is filed in electronic format via EFS-Web and hereby incorporated by reference into the specification in its entirety. The name of the text file containing the Sequence Listing is Sequence_Listing—14546 —00051_US. The size of the text file is 509 KB, and the text file was created on Aug. 26, 2009.


The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Harpin-associated Factor G polypeptide (hereinafter termed “HpaG”). The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs comprising HpaG-encoding nucleic acids, useful in performing the methods of the invention. The present invention also provides a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, by modulating (preferably increasing) expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWITCH 2/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING 2 (SWI2/SNF2) polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide, which plants have enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in performing the methods of the invention.
The ever-increasing world population and the dwindling supply of arable land available for agriculture fuels research towards increasing the efficiency of agriculture. Conventional means for crop and horticultural improvements utilise selective breeding techniques to identify plants having desirable characteristics. However, such selective breeding techniques have several drawbacks, namely that these techniques are typically labour intensive and result in plants that often contain heterogeneous genetic components that may not always result in the desirable trait being passed on from parent plants. Advances in molecular biology have allowed mankind to modify the germplasm of animals and plants. Genetic engineering of plants entails the isolation and manipulation of genetic material (typically in the form of DNA or RNA) and the subsequent introduction of that genetic material into a plant. Such technology has the capacity to deliver crops or plants having various improved economic, agronomic or horticultural traits.
A trait of particular economic interest is increased yield. Yield is normally defined as the measurable produce of economic value from a crop. This may be defined in terms of quantity and/or quality. Yield is directly dependent on several factors, for example, the number and size of the organs, plant architecture (for example, the number of branches), seed production, leaf senescence and more. Root development, nutrient uptake, stress tolerance and early vigour may also be important factors in determining yield. Optimizing the above-mentioned factors may therefore contribute to increasing crop yield.
Seed yield is a particularly important trait, since the seeds of many plants are important for human and animal nutrition. Crops such as, corn, rice, wheat, canola and soybean account for over half the total human caloric intake, whether through direct consumption of the seeds themselves or through consumption of meat products raised on processed seeds. They are also a source of sugars, oils and many kinds of metabolites used in industrial processes. Seeds contain an embryo (the source of new shoots and roots) and an endosperm (the source of nutrients for embryo growth during germination and during early growth of seedlings). The development of a seed involves many genes, and requires the transfer of metabolites from the roots, leaves and stems into the growing seed. The endosperm, in particular, assimilates the metabolic precursors of carbohydrates, oils and proteins and synthesizes them into storage macromolecules to fill out the grain.
Harvest index, the ratio of seed yield to aboveground dry weight, is relatively stable under many environmental conditions and so a robust correlation between plant size and grain yield can often be obtained (e.g. Rebetzke et al. (2002) Crop Science 42:739). These processes are intrinsically linked because the majority of grain biomass is dependent on current or stored photosynthetic productivity by the leaves and stem of the plant (Gardener et al. (1985) Physiology of Crop Plants. Iowa State University Press, pp 68-73). Therefore, selecting for plant size, even at early stages of development, has been used as an indicator for future potential yield (e.g. Tittonell et al. (2005) Agric Ecosys & Environ 105: 213). When testing for the impact of genetic differences on stress tolerance, the ability to standardize soil properties, temperature, water and nutrient availability and light intensity is an intrinsic advantage of greenhouse or plant growth chamber environments compared to the field. However, artificial limitations on yield due to poor pollination due to the absence of wind or insects, or insufficient space for mature root or canopy growth, can restrict the use of these controlled environments for testing yield differences. Therefore, measurements of plant size in early development, under standardized conditions in a growth chamber or greenhouse, are standard practices to provide indication of potential genetic yield advantages.
Another trait of particular economic interest is that of enhanced yield-related traits of plants grown under abiotic stress conditions. Abiotic stress is a primary cause of crop loss worldwide, reducing average yields for most major crop plants by more than 50% (Wang et al., Planta (2003) 218: 1-14). Abiotic stresses may be caused by drought, salinity, temperature extremes, chemical toxicity and oxidative stress. The ability to enhance yield-related traits in plants grown under abiotic stress conditions would be of great economic advantage to farmers worldwide and would allow for the cultivation of crops during adverse conditions and in territories where cultivation of crops may not otherwise be possible.
The ability to increase plant yield would have many applications in areas such as agriculture, including in the production of ornamental plants, arboriculture, horticulture and forestry. Increasing yield may also find use in the production of algae for use in bioreactors (for the biotechnological production of substances such as pharmaceuticals, antibodies or vaccines, or for the bioconversion of organic waste) and other such areas.
BACKGROUND
I. Harpin
The Type III Secretion System (TTSS) is an exporting machinery specific for Gram-negative bacteria and is found among plant and animal pathogens, but also in endosymbiotic Rhizobia. TTSS is postulated to deliver proteins into the host cell to which the bacterium is associated. In plant pathogenic bacteria, the TTSS is a cluster of hypersensitive response and pathogenicity genes comprising about 20 genes, the Hrp cluster. Nine of these genes (the harpin conserved or hrc) are conserved among both plant and animal pathogens, eight of them share homology with genes encoding the flagella apparatus (Bogdanove et al., Mol. Microbiol. 20, 681-683, 1996), the ninth, hrcC, is homologous to the GSP outer membrane secretins (Deng and Huang, J. Bacteriol. 180, 4523-4531, 1999). The hpa (hrp-associated) genes contribute to pathogenicity and to the induction of the hypersensitive response (HR) in nonhost plants, but are not essential for the pathogenic interactions of bacteria with plants. The flagella apparatus and the TTSS are postulated to be evolved from a common origin (Gophna et al., Gene 312, 151-163, 2003); the TTSS has furthermore spread among evolutionary distant bacterial species via multiple horizontal-transfer events (Nguyen et al., J. Mol. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2, 125-144, 2000).
Many gram-negative plant-pathogenic bacteria possess two sets of genes that modulate their interactions with plants. The avirulence genes determine host specificity based on gene—for gene interactions, and the hrp (hypersensitive reaction and pathogenicity) genes are involved in pathogenicity and the induction of hypersensitive responses (HR) in nonhost plants. The HR is a highly localized plant cell death that occurs when non-host plants or resistant cultivars of host plants are infiltrated with the plant pathogen or HR elicitor molecules, such as Avr proteins and harpins. The HR is thought be a resistance reaction of plants to microbial pathogens.
Harpins are a group of HR elicitors that are secreted by the type III secretion pathway (TTSS) and elicit HR when infiltrated into the apoplast of leaves of non-host plants. Unlike Avr proteins, which must be delivered inside the cell to exert their functions, harpins can elicit HR when delivered to the intercellular space of plant cells. Since the first harpin, HrpN, was identified from Erwinia amylovora, many harpins have been reported from various species, including Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and Xanthomonas. Harpins are glycine-rich, heat stable proteins, lacking cysteine, and are postulated to be present in all plant pathogenic bacteria having a TTSS (Alfano and Colmer, Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 42, 385-414, 2004). The biochemical mechanism of HR elicitation by harpins in non-host plants remains unclear. HrpZ of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae associates with the cell walls rather than the membranes of plant cells, and the protein elicits no response from protoplasts, which lack walls (Hoyos et al. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 9, 608-616, 1996). However, HrpZ of P. syringae pv. phaseolicola binds to lipid bilayers and forms an ion-conducting pore (Lee et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 289-294, 2001). The N-terminal 109 amino acids and the C-terminal 216 amino acids of HrpZ are able to elicit HR to a level similar to full-length HrpZ (Alfano et al., Mol. Microbiol. 19, 715-728, 1996). Kim et al. and Charkowski et al. showed that the HrpW harpins of E. amylovora and P. syringae pv. tomato are composed of two domains—the N-terminal harpin domain and C-terminal Pel (pectate lyase) domain—and proposed that HrpW acts in the cell wall (Charkowski et al., J. Bacteriol. 180, 5211-5217, 1998; Kim and Beer, J. Bacteriol. 180, 5203-5210, 1998).
Besides harpins, the TTSS cluster in bacteria may also include genes encoding Harpin associated Factors. HpaG polypeptides are smaller than harpins, and they share little sequence homology. These sequence differences with harpins are postulated to contribute to the difference in the ability to elicit HR in plants between HpaG polypeptides and harpins (Kim et al., J. Bacteriol. 186, 6239-6247, 2004)
Korean patent application KR20030068302 discloses the Xanthomonas HpaG protein, which, when applied to plants or plant seeds, confers disease resistance, in particular resistance to Xanthomonas axonopodis infection. Harpin associated Factors have been used to confer disease resistance in plants; and as a result of this biotic stress resistance, plants had better yield compared to the control plants under biotic stress conditions.
Surprisingly it has now been found that modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Harpin-associated Factor G polypeptide (HpaG) give plants enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plant. These enhanced yield-related traits were obtained in plants that were not exposed to stress.
II. SNF2
The present invention concerns a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWITCH 2/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING 2 (SWI2/SNF2) polypeptide.
Many chromosome-associated cellular processes, such as replication, transcription, DNA repair, or recombination, require accessible DNA. To deal with these events, cells possess activities that can remodel chromatin in eukaryotes or disrupt other DNA:protein complexes in both pro- and eukaryotes, using ATP hydrolysis. One of the best-studied examples of these activities is carried out by the SWI2/SNF2 family of ATPases, a large group of proteins implicated in many different remodeling-like processes.
SWI2/SNF2 family proteins are ubiquitous, as they are found in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. They have recently been classified into 24 distinct subfamilies, after multiple sequence alignment of the SWI2/SNF2 ATPase domain comprising the seven conserved sequence motifs (I, Ia, II, III, IV, V, and VI) (Flaus et al. (2006) Nucleic Acids Res. 2006; 34(10): 2887-2905). These subfamilies have traditionally taken the name of the archetypal member. One subfamily is named SSO1653, after the sole SWI2/SNF2 family member in archaeal Sulfolobus solfataricus (Flaus et al., supra; Duur et al. (2005) Cell 121(3): 363-373), the uniquely archaeal and eubacterial subfamily most similar to the eukaryotic SWI2/SNF2 proteins. The SSO1653 subfamily carries all the SWI2/SNF2 family sequence and structural hallmarks.
US patent application US2003/233670 describes polynucleotides and proteins encoded by the polynucleotides. SEQ ID NO: 125 is a polynucleotide sequence encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide of the SSO1653 subfamily from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. US patent application US2005/108791 describes 24149 nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences, among which a nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 57 encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide of the SSO1653 subfamily from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 396.
Surprisingly, it has now been found that increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide gives plants having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants.
DEFINITIONS
Polypeptide(s)/Protein(s)
The terms “polypeptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein and refer to amino acids in a polymeric form of any length.
Polynucleotide(s)/Nucleic acid(s)/Nucleic acid sequence(s)/nucleotide sequence(s)
The terms “polynucleotide(s)”, “nucleic acid sequence(s)”, “nucleotide sequence(s)” are used interchangeably herein and refer to nucleotides, either ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides or a combination of both, in a polymeric form of any length.
Control Plant(s)
The choice of suitable control plants is a routine part of an experimental setup and may include corresponding wild type plants or corresponding plants without the gene of interest. The control plant is typically of the same plant species or even of the same variety as the plant to be assessed. The control plant may also be a nullizygote of the plant to be assessed. A “control plant” as used herein refers not only to whole plants, but also to plant parts, including seeds and seed parts.
Homologue(s)
“Homologues” of a protein encompass peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides, proteins and enzymes having amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions relative to the unmodified protein in question and having similar biological and functional activity as the unmodified protein from which they are derived.
A deletion refers to removal of one or more amino acids from a protein.
An insertion refers to one or more amino acid residues being introduced into a predetermined site in a protein. Insertions may comprise N-terminal and/or C-terminal fusions as well as intra-sequence insertions of single or multiple amino acids. Generally, insertions within the amino acid sequence will be smaller than N- or C-terminal fusions, of the order of about 1 to 10 residues. Examples of N- or C-terminal fusion proteins or peptides include the binding domain or activation domain of a transcriptional activator as used in the yeast two-hybrid system, phage coat proteins, (histidine)-6-tag, glutathione S-transferase-tag, protein A, maltose-binding protein, dihydrofolate reductase, Tag•100 epitope, c-myc epitope, FLAG®-epitope, lacZ, CMP (calmodulin-binding peptide), HA epitope, protein C epitope and VSV epitope.
A substitution refers to replacement of amino acids of the protein with other amino acids having similar properties (such as similar hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, antigenicity, propensity to form or break α-helical structures or β-sheet structures). Amino acid substitutions are typically of single residues, but may be clustered depending upon functional constraints placed upon the polypeptide; insertions will usually be of the order of about 1 to 10 amino acid residues. The amino acid substitutions are preferably conservative amino acid substitutions. Conservative substitution tables are well known in the art (see for example Creighton (1984) Proteins. W. H. Freeman and Company and Table 1 below).







TABLE 1







Examples of conserved amino acid substitutions










Residue
Conservative Substitutions







Ala
Ser



Arg
Lys



Asn
Gln; His



Asp
Glu



Gln
Asn



Cys
Ser



Glu
Asp



Gly
Pro



His
Asn; Gln



Ile
Leu, Val



Leu
Ile; Val



Lys
Arg; Gln



Met
Leu; Ile



Phe
Met; Leu; Tyr



Ser
Thr; Gly



Thr
Ser; Val



Trp
Tyr



Tyr
Trp; Phe



Val
Ile; Leu










Amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions may readily be made using peptide synthetic techniques well known in the art, such as solid phase peptide synthesis and the like, or by recombinant DNA manipulation. Methods for the manipulation of DNA sequences to produce substitution, insertion or deletion variants of a protein are well known in the art. For example, techniques for making substitution mutations at predetermined sites in DNA are well known to those skilled in the art and include M13 mutagenesis, T7-Gen in vitro mutagenesis (USB, Cleveland, Ohio), QuickChange Site Directed mutagenesis (Stratagene, San Diego, Calif.), PCR-mediated site-directed mutagenesis or other site-directed mutagenesis protocols.
Derivatives
“Derivatives” include peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides which may, compared to the amino acid sequence of the naturally-occurring form of the protein, such as the one presented in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprise substitutions of amino acids with non-naturally occurring amino acid residues, or additions of non-naturally occurring amino acid residues. “Derivatives” of a protein also encompass peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides which comprise naturally occurring altered (glycosylated, acylated, prenylated, phosphorylated, myristoylated, sulphated etc.) or non-naturally altered amino acid residues compared to the amino acid sequence of a naturally-occurring form of the polypeptide. A derivative may also comprise one or more non-amino acid substituents or additions compared to the amino acid sequence from which it is derived, for example a reporter molecule or other ligand, covalently or non-covalently bound to the amino acid sequence, such as a reporter molecule which is bound to facilitate its detection, and non-naturally occurring amino acid residues relative to the amino acid sequence of a naturally-occurring protein.
Orthologue(s)/Paralogue(s)
Orthologues and paralogues encompass evolutionary concepts used to describe the ancestral relationships of genes. Paralogues are genes within the same species that have originated through duplication of an ancestral gene and orthologues are genes from different organisms that have originated through speciation.
Domain
The term “domain” refers to a set of amino acids conserved at specific positions along an alignment of sequences of evolutionarily related proteins. While amino acids at other positions can vary between homologues, amino acids that are highly conserved at specific positions indicate amino acids that are likely essential in the structure, stability or activity of a protein. Identified by their high degree of conservation in aligned sequences of a family of protein homologues, they can be used as identifiers to determine if any polypeptide in question belongs to a previously identified polypeptide family.
Motif/Consensus Sequence/Signature
The term “motif” or “consensus sequence” or “signature” refers to a short conserved region in the sequence of evolutionarily related proteins. Motifs are frequently highly conserved parts of domains, but may also include only part of the domain, or be located outside of conserved domain (if all of the amino acids of the motif fall outside of a defined domain).
Hybridisation
The term “hybridisation” as defined herein is a process wherein substantially homologous complementary nucleotide sequences anneal to each other. The hybridisation process can occur entirely in solution, i.e. both complementary nucleic acids are in solution. The hybridisation process can also occur with one of the complementary nucleic acids immobilised to a matrix such as magnetic beads, Sepharose beads or any other resin. The hybridisation process can furthermore occur with one of the complementary nucleic acids immobilised to a solid support such as a nitro-cellulose or nylon membrane or immobilised by e.g. photolithography to, for example, a siliceous glass support (the latter known as nucleic acid arrays or microarrays or as nucleic acid chips). In order to allow hybridisation to occur, the nucleic acid molecules are generally thermally or chemically denatured to melt a double strand into two single strands and/or to remove hairpins or other secondary structures from single stranded nucleic acids.
The term “stringency” refers to the conditions under which a hybridisation takes place. The stringency of hybridisation is influenced by conditions such as temperature, salt concentration, ionic strength and hybridisation buffer composition. Generally, low stringency conditions are selected to be about 30° C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. Medium stringency conditions are when the temperature is 20° C. below Tm, and high stringency conditions are when the temperature is 10° C. below Tm. High stringency hybridisation conditions are typically used for isolating hybridising sequences that have high sequence similarity to the target nucleic acid sequence. However, nucleic acids may deviate in sequence and still encode a substantially identical polypeptide, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. Therefore medium stringency hybridisation conditions may sometimes be needed to identify such nucleic acid molecules.
The Tm is the temperature under defined ionic strength and pH, at which 50% of the target sequence hybridises to a perfectly matched probe. The Tm is dependent upon the solution conditions and the base composition and length of the probe. For example, longer sequences hybridise specifically at higher temperatures. The maximum rate of hybridisation is obtained from about 16° C. up to 32° C. below Tm. The presence of monovalent cations in the hybridisation solution reduce the electrostatic repulsion between the two nucleic acid strands thereby promoting hybrid formation; this effect is visible for sodium concentrations of up to 0.4M (for higher concentrations, this effect may be ignored). Formamide reduces the melting temperature of DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA duplexes with 0.6 to 0.7° C. for each percent formamide, and addition of 50% formamide allows hybridisation to be performed at 30 to 45° C., though the rate of hybridisation will be lowered. Base pair mismatches reduce the hybridisation rate and the thermal stability of the duplexes. On average and for large probes, the Tm decreases about 1° C. per % base mismatch. The Tm may be calculated using the following equations, depending on the types of hybrids:

    1) DNA-DNA hybrids (Meinkoth and Wahl, Anal. Biochem., 138: 267-284, 1984):
    Tm=81.5° C.+16.6×log 10[Na+]a+0.41×%[G/Cb]−500×[Lc]−1−0.61×% formamide
    2) DNA-RNA or RNA-RNA hybrids:
    Tm=79.8+18.5(log10 [Na+]a)+0.58(% G/Cb)+11.8(% G/Cb)2−820/Lc 
    3) oligo-DNA or oligo-RNAd hybrids:
    For <20 nucleotides: Tm=2 (ln)
    For 20-35 nucleotides: Tm=22+1.46 (ln)
    
        a or for other monovalent cation, but only accurate in the 0.01-0.4 M range.
        b only accurate for % GC in the 30% to 75% range.
        c L=length of duplex in base pairs.
        d Oligo, oligonucleotide; ln, effective length of primer=2×(no. of G/C)+(no. of A/T).
    
    


Non-specific binding may be controlled using any one of a number of known techniques such as, for example, blocking the membrane with protein containing solutions, additions of heterologous RNA, DNA, and SDS to the hybridisation buffer, and treatment with Rnase. For non-homologous probes, a series of hybridizations may be performed by varying one of (i) progressively lowering the annealing temperature (for example from 68° C. to 42° C.) or (ii) progressively lowering the formamide concentration (for example from 50% to 0%). The skilled artisan is aware of various parameters which may be altered during hybridisation and which will either maintain or change the stringency conditions.
Besides the hybridisation conditions, specificity of hybridisation typically also depends on the function of post-hybridisation washes. To remove background resulting from non-specific hybridisation, samples are washed with dilute salt solutions. Critical factors of such washes include the ionic strength and temperature of the final wash solution: the lower the salt concentration and the higher the wash temperature, the higher the stringency of the wash. Wash conditions are typically performed at or below hybridisation stringency. A positive hybridisation gives a signal that is at least twice of that of the background. Generally, suitable stringent conditions for nucleic acid hybridisation assays or gene amplification detection procedures are as set forth above. More or less stringent conditions may also be selected. The skilled artisan is aware of various parameters which may be altered during washing and which will either maintain or change the stringency conditions.
For example, typical high stringency hybridisation conditions for DNA hybrids longer than 50 nucleotides encompass hybridisation at 65° C. in 1×SSC or at 42° C. in 1×SSC and 50% formamide, followed by washing at 65° C. in 0.3×SSC. Examples of medium stringency hybridisation conditions for DNA hybrids longer than 50 nucleotides encompass hybridisation at 50° C. in 4×SSC or at 40° C. in 6×SSC and 50% formamide, followed by washing at 50° C. in 2×SSC. The length of the hybrid is the anticipated length for the hybridising nucleic acid. When nucleic acids of known sequence are hybridised, the hybrid length may be determined by aligning the sequences and identifying the conserved regions described herein. 1×SSC is 0.15M NaCl and 15 mM sodium citrate; the hybridisation solution and wash solutions may additionally include 5×Denhardt's reagent, 0.5-1.0% SDS, 100 μg/ml denatured, fragmented salmon sperm DNA, 0.5% sodium pyrophosphate.
For the purposes of defining the level of stringency, reference can be made to Sambrook et al. (2001) Molecular Cloning: a laboratory manual, 3rd Edition Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, CSH, New York or to Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989 and yearly updates).
Gene Shuffling/Directed Evolution
Gene shuffling or directed evolution consists of iterations of DNA shuffling followed by appropriate screening and/or selection to generate variants of nucleic acids or portions thereof encoding proteins having a modified biological activity (Castle et al., (2004) Science 304(5674): 1151-4; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,811,238 and 6,395,547).
Regulatory Element/Control Sequence/Promoter
The terms “regulatory element”, “control sequence” and “promoter” are all used interchangeably herein and are to be taken in a broad context to refer to regulatory nucleic acid sequences capable of effecting expression of the sequences to which they are ligated. The term “promoter” typically refers to a nucleic acid control sequence located upstream from the transcriptional start of a gene and which is involved in recognising and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins, thereby directing transcription of an operably linked nucleic acid. Encompassed by the aforementioned terms are transcriptional regulatory sequences derived from a classical eukaryotic genomic gene (including the TATA box which is required for accurate transcription initiation, with or without a CCAAT box sequence) and additional regulatory elements (i.e. upstream activating sequences, enhancers and silencers) which alter gene expression in response to developmental and/or external stimuli, or in a tissue-specific manner. Also included within the term is a transcriptional regulatory sequence of a classical prokaryotic gene, in which case it may include a −35 box sequence and/or −10 box transcriptional regulatory sequences. The term “regulatory element” also encompasses a synthetic fusion molecule or derivative that confers, activates or enhances expression of a nucleic acid molecule in a cell, tissue or organ.
A “plant promoter” comprises regulatory elements, which mediate the expression of a coding sequence segment in plant cells. Accordingly, a plant promoter need not be of plant origin, but may originate from viruses or micro-organisms, for example from viruses which attack plant cells. The “plant promoter” can also originate from a plant cell, e.g. from the plant which is transformed with the nucleic acid sequence to be expressed in the inventive process and described herein. This also applies to other “plant” regulatory signals, such as “plant” terminators. The promoters upstream of the nucleotide sequences useful in the methods of the present invention can be modified by one or more nucleotide substitution(s), insertion(s) and/or deletion(s) without interfering with the functionality or activity of either the promoters, the open reading frame (ORF) or the 3′-regulatory region such as terminators or other 3′ regulatory regions which are located away from the ORF. It is furthermore possible that the activity of the promoters is increased by modification of their sequence, or that they are replaced completely by more active promoters, even promoters from heterologous organisms. For expression in plants, the nucleic acid molecule must, as described above, be linked operably to or comprise a suitable promoter which expresses the gene at the right point in time and with the required spatial expression pattern.
Operably Linked
The term “operably linked” as used herein refers to a functional linkage between the promoter sequence and the gene of interest, such that the promoter sequence is able to initiate transcription of the gene of interest.
Constitutive Promoter
A “constitutive promoter” refers to a promoter that is transcriptionally active during most, but not necessarily all, phases of growth and development and under most environmental conditions, in at least one cell, tissue or organ. Table 2a below gives examples of constitutive promoters.







TABLE 2a







Examples of constitutive promoters








Gene Source
Reference





Actin
McElroy et al, Plant Cell, 2: 163-171, 1990


HMGP
WO 2004/070039


CAMV 35S
Odell et al, Nature, 313: 810-812, 1985


CaMV 19S
Nilsson et al., Physiol. Plant. 100: 456-462, 1997


GOS2
de Pater et al, Plant J Nov; 2(6): 837-44, 1992, WO 2004/065596


Ubiquitin
Christensen et al, Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 675-689, 1992


Rice cyclophilin
Buchholz et al, Plant Mol Biol. 25(5): 837-43, 1994


Maize H3 histone
Lepetit et al, Mol. Gen. Genet. 231: 276-285, 1992


Alfalfa H3 histone
Wu et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 11: 641-649, 1988


Actin 2
An et al, Plant J. 10(1); 107-121, 1996


34S FMV
Sanger et al., Plant. Mol. Biol., 14, 1990: 433-443


Rubisco small subunit
U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,028


OCS
Leisner (1988) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85(5): 2553


SAD1
Jain et al., Crop Science, 39 (6), 1999: 1696


SAD2
Jain et al., Crop Science, 39 (6), 1999: 1696


Nos
Shaw et al. (1984) Nucleic Acids Res. 12(20): 7831-7846


V-ATPase
WO 01/14572


Super promoter
WO 95/14098


G-box proteins
WO 94/12015









Ubiquitous Promoter

A ubiquitous promoter is active in substantially all tissues or cells of an organism.
Developmentally-Regulated Promoter
A developmentally-regulated promoter is active during certain developmental stages or in parts of the plant that undergo developmental changes.
Inducible Promoter
An inducible promoter has induced or increased transcription initiation in response to a chemical (for a review see Gatz 1997, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol., 48:89-108), environmental or physical stimulus, or may be “stress-inducible”, i.e. activated when a plant is exposed to various stress conditions, or a “pathogen-inducible” i.e. activated when a plant is exposed to exposure to various pathogens.
Organ-Specific/Tissue-Specific Promoter
An organ-specific or tissue-specific promoter is one that is capable of preferentially initiating transcription in certain organs or tissues, such as the leaves, roots, seed tissue etc. For example, a “root-specific promoter” is a promoter that is transcriptionally active predominantly in plant roots, substantially to the exclusion of any other parts of a plant, whilst still allowing for any leaky expression in these other plant parts. Promoters able to initiate transcription in certain cells only are referred to herein as “cell-specific”.
Examples of root-specific promoters are listed in Table 2b below:







TABLE 2b







Examples of root-specific promoters








Gene Source
Reference





RCc3
Plant Mol Biol. 1995 January; 27(2): 237-48


Arabidopsis PHT1
Kovama et al., 2005;



Mudge et al. (2002, Plant J. 31: 341)


Medicago phosphate transporter
Xiao et al., 2006


Arabidopsis Pyk10
Nitz et al. (2001) Plant Sci 161(2): 337-346


root-expressible genes
Tingey et al., EMBO J. 6: 1, 1987.


tobacco auxin-inducible gene
Van der Zaal et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 16, 983, 1991.


β-tubulin
Oppenheimer, et al., Gene 63: 87, 1988.


tobacco root-specific genes
Conkling, et al., Plant Physiol. 93: 1203, 1990.


B. napus G1-3b gene
U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,836


SbPRP1
Suzuki et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 21: 109-119, 1993.


LRX1
Baumberger et al. 2001, Genes & Dev. 15: 1128


BTG-26 Brassica napus
US 20050044585


LeAMT1 (tomato)
Lauter et al. (1996, PNAS 3: 8139)


The LeNRT1-1 (tomato)
Lauter et al. (1996, PNAS 3: 8139)


class I patatin gene (potato)
Liu et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 153: 386-395, 1991.


KDC1 (Daucus carota)
Downey et al. (2000, J. Biol. Chem. 275: 39420)


TobRB7 gene
W Song (1997) PhD Thesis, North



Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA


OsRAB5a (rice)
Wang et al. 2002, Plant Sci. 163: 273


ALF5 (Arabidopsis)
Diener et al. (2001, Plant Cell 13: 1625)


NRT2; 1Np (N. plumbaginifolia)
Quesada et al. (1997, Plant Mol. Biol. 34: 265)









A seed-specific promoter is transcriptionally active predominantly in seed tissue, but not necessarily exclusively in seed tissue (in cases of leaky expression). The seed-specific promoter may be active during seed development and/or during germination. The seed specific promoter may be endosperm and/or aleurone and/or embryo specific. Examples of seed-specific promoters (endosperm/aleurone/embryo specific) are shown in Table 2c, d, e, f below. Further examples of seed-specific promoters are given in Qing Qu and Takaiwa (Plant Biotechnol. J. 2, 113-125, 2004), which disclosure is incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.







TABLE 2c







Examples of seed-specific promoters








Gene source
Reference





seed-specific genes
Simon et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 5: 191, 1985;



Scofield et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 12202, 1987.;



Baszczynski et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14: 633, 1990.


Brazil Nut albumin
Pearson et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 235-245, 1992.


Legumin
Ellis et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 10: 203-214, 1988.


glutelin (rice)
Takaiwa et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 208: 15-22, 1986;



Takaiwa et al., FEBS Letts. 221: 43-47, 1987.


Zein
Matzke et al Plant Mol Biol, 14(3): 323-32 1990


napA
Stalberg et al, Planta 199: 515-519, 1996.


wheat LMW and HMW glutenin-1
Mol Gen Genet 216: 81-90, 1989; NAR 17: 461-2, 1989


wheat SPA
Albani et al, Plant Cell, 9: 171-184, 1997


wheat α, β, γ-gliadins
EMBO J. 3: 1409-15, 1984


barley Itr1 promoter
Diaz et al. (1995) Mol Gen Genet 248(5): 592-8


barley B1, C, D, hordein
Theor Appl Gen 98: 1253-62, 1999; Plant J



4: 343-55, 1993; Mol Gen Genet 250: 750-60, 1996


barley DOF
Mena et al, The Plant Journal, 116(1): 53-62, 1998


blz2
EP99106056.7


synthetic promoter
Vicente-Carbajosa et al., Plant J. 13: 629-640, 1998.


rice prolamin NRP33
Wu et al, Plant Cell Physiology 39(8) 885-889, 1998


rice a-globulin Glb-1
Wu et al, Plant Cell Physiology 39(8) 885-889, 1998


rice OSH1
Sato et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:



8117-8122, 1996


rice α-globulin REB/OHP-1
Nakase et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 33: 513-522, 1997


rice ADP-glucose pyrophos-
Trans Res 6: 157-68, 1997


phorylase


maize ESR gene family
Plant J 12: 235-46, 1997


sorghum α-kafirin
DeRose et al., Plant Mol. Biol 32: 1029-35, 1996


KNOX
Postma-Haarsma et al, Plant Mol. Biol. 39: 257-71, 1999


rice oleosin
Wu et al, J. Biochem. 123: 386, 1998


sunflower oleosin
Cummins et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 19: 873-876, 1992


PRO0117, putative rice 40S
WO 2004/070039


ribosomal protein


PRO0136, rice alanine
unpublished


aminotransferase


PRO0147, trypsin inhibitor ITR1
unpublished


(barley)


PRO0151, rice WSI18
WO 2004/070039


PRO0175, rice RAB21
WO 2004/070039


PRO005
WO 2004/070039


PRO0095
WO 2004/070039


α-amylase (Amy32b)
Lanahan et al, Plant Cell 4: 203-211, 1992; Skriver et al,



Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88: 7266-7270, 1991


cathepsin β-like gene
Cejudo et al, Plant Mol Biol 20: 849-856, 1992


Barley Ltp2
Kalla et al., Plant J. 6: 849-60, 1994


Chi26
Leah et al., Plant J. 4: 579-89, 1994


Maize B-Peru
Selinger et al., Genetics 149; 1125-38,1998
















TABLE 2d







examples of endosperm-specific promoters








Gene source
Reference





glutelin (rice)
Takaiwa et al. (1986) Mol Gen Genet 208: 15-22;



Takaiwa et al. (1987) FEBS Letts. 221: 43-47


Zein
Matzke et al., (1990) Plant Mol Biol 14(3): 323-32


wheat LMW and HMW glutenin-1
Colot et al. (1989) Mol Gen Genet 216: 81-90,



Anderson et al. (1989) NAR 17: 461-2


wheat SPA
Albani et al. (1997) Plant Cell 9: 171-184


wheat gliadins
Rafalski et al. (1984) EMBO 3: 1409-15


barley Itr1 promoter
Diaz et al. (1995) Mol Gen Genet 248(5): 592-8


barley B1, C, D, hordein
Cho et al. (1999) Theor Appl Genet 98: 1253-62;



Muller et al. (1993) Plant J 4: 343-55;



Sorenson et al. (1996) Mol Gen Genet 250: 750-60


barley DOF
Mena et al, (1998) Plant J 116(1): 53-62


blz2
Onate et al. (1999) J Biol Chem 274(14): 9175-82


Synthetic promoter
Vicente-Carbajosa et al. (1998) Plant J 13: 629-640


rice prolamin NRP33
Wu et al, (1998) Plant Cell Physiol 39(8) 885-889


rice globulin Glb-1
Wu et al. (1998) Plant Cell Physiol 39(8) 885-889


rice globulin REB/OHP-1
Nakase et al. (1997) Plant Molec Biol 33: 513-522


rice ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase
Russell et al. (1997) Trans Res 6: 157-68


maize ESR gene family
Opsahl-Ferstad et al. (1997) Plant J 12: 235-46


Sorghum kafirin
DeRose et al. (1996) Plant Mol Biol 32: 1029-35
















TABLE 2e







Examples of embryo specific promoters:










Gene source
Reference







rice OSH1
Sato et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93:




8117-8122, 1996



KNOX
Postma-Haarsma et al, Plant Mol. Biol. 39:




257-71, 1999



PRO0151
WO 2004/070039



PRO0175
WO 2004/070039



PRO005
WO 2004/070039



PRO0095
WO 2004/070039

















TABLE 2f







Examples of aleurone-specific promoters:








Gene source
Reference





α-amylase (Amy32b)
Lanahan et al, Plant Cell 4: 203-211, 1992;



Skriver et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:



7266-7270, 1991


Cathepsin β-like gene
Cejudo et al, Plant Mol Biol 20: 849-856, 1992


Barley Ltp2
Kalla et al., Plant J. 6: 849-60, 1994


Chi26
Leah et al., Plant J. 4: 579-89, 1994


Maize B-Peru
Selinger et al., Genetics 149; 1125-38, 1998









A green tissue-specific promoter as defined herein is a promoter that is transcriptionally active predominantly in green tissue, substantially to the exclusion of any other parts of a plant, whilst still allowing for any leaky expression in these other plant parts.
Examples of green tissue-specific promoters which may be used to perform the methods of the invention are shown in Table 2g below.







TABLE 2g







Examples of green tissue-specific promoters









Gene
Expression
Reference





Maize Orthophosphate dikinase
Leaf specific
Fukavama et al., 2001


Maize Phosphoenolpyruvate
Leaf specific
Kausch et al.,2001


carboxylase


Rice Phosphoenolpyruvate
Leaf specific
Liu et al., 2003


carboxylase


Rice small subunit Rubisco
Leaf specific
Nomura et al., 2000


rice beta expansin EXBP9
Shoot specific
WO 2004/070039


Pigeonpea small subunit Rubisco
Leaf specific
Panguluri et al., 2005


Pea RBCS3A
Leaf specific









Another example of a tissue-specific promoter is a meristem-specific promoter, which is transcriptionally active predominantly in meristematic tissue, substantially to the exclusion of any other parts of a plant, whilst still allowing for any leaky expression in these other plant parts. Examples of green meristem-specific promoters which may be used to perform the methods of the invention are shown in Table 2h below.







TABLE 2h







Examples of meristem-specific promoters









Gene source
Expression pattern
Reference





rice OSH1
Shoot apical meristem, from
Sato et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad.



embryo globular stage to
Sci. USA, 93: 8117-8122



seedling stage


Rice metallothionein
Meristem specific
BAD87835.1


WAK1 & WAK2
Shoot and root apical
Wagner & Kohorn (2001) Plant Cell



meristems, and in expanding
13(2): 303-318



leaves and sepals









Terminator

The term “terminator” encompasses a control sequence which is a DNA sequence at the end of a transcriptional unit which signals 3′ processing and polyadenylation of a primary transcript and termination of transcription. The terminator can be derived from the natural gene, from a variety of other plant genes, or from T-DNA. The terminator to be added may be derived from, for example, the nopaline synthase or octopine synthase genes, or alternatively from another plant gene, or less preferably from any other eukaryotic gene.
Selectable Marker (Gene)/Reporter Gene
“Selectable marker”, “selectable marker gene” or “reporter gene” includes any gene that confers a phenotype on a cell in which it is expressed to facilitate the identification and/or selection of cells that are transfected or transformed with a nucleic acid construct of the invention. These marker genes enable the identification of a successful transfer of the nucleic acid molecules via a series of different principles. Suitable markers may be selected from markers that confer antibiotic or herbicide resistance, that introduce a new metabolic trait or that allow visual selection. Examples of selectable marker genes include genes conferring resistance to antibiotics (such as nptII that phosphorylates neomycin and kanamycin, or hpt, phosphorylating hygromycin, or genes conferring resistance to, for example, bleomycin, streptomycin, tetracyclin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, gentamycin, geneticin (G418), spectinomycin or blasticidin), to herbicides (for example bar which provides resistance to Basta®; aroA or gox providing resistance against glyphosate, or the genes conferring resistance to, for example, imidazolinone, phosphinothricin or sulfonylurea), or genes that provide a metabolic trait (such as manA that allows plants to use mannose as sole carbon source or xylose isomerase for the utilisation of xylose, or antinutritive markers such as the resistance to 2-deoxyglucose). Expression of visual marker genes results in the formation of colour (for example β-glucuronidase, GUS or β-galactosidase with its coloured substrates, for example X-Gal), luminescence (such as the luciferin/luciferase system) or fluorescence (Green Fluorescent Protein, GFP, and derivatives thereof). This list represents only a small number of possible markers. The skilled worker is familiar with such markers. Different markers are preferred, depending on the organism and the selection method.
Transgenic/Transgene/Recombinant
For the purposes of the invention, “transgenic”, “transgene” or “recombinant” means with regard to, for example, a nucleic acid sequence, an expression cassette, gene construct or a vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence or an organism transformed with the nucleic acid sequences, expression cassettes or vectors according to the invention, all those constructions brought about by recombinant methods in which either

    
    
        (a) the nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins useful in the methods of the invention, or
        (b) genetic control sequence(s) which is operably linked with the nucleic acid sequence according to the invention, for example a promoter, or
        (c) a) and b)

are not located in their natural genetic environment or have been modified by recombinant methods, it being possible for the modification to take the form of, for example, a substitution, addition, deletion, inversion or insertion of one or more nucleotide residues. The natural genetic environment is understood as meaning the natural genomic or chromosomal locus in the original plant or the presence in a genomic library. In the case of a genomic library, the natural genetic environment of the nucleic acid sequence is preferably retained, at least in part. The environment flanks the nucleic acid sequence at least on one side and has a sequence length of at least 50 bp, preferably at least 500 bp, especially preferably at least 1000 bp, most preferably at least 5000 bp. A naturally occurring expression cassette—for example the naturally occurring combination of the natural promoter of the nucleic acid sequences with the corresponding nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide useful in the methods of the present invention, as defined above—becomes a transgenic expression cassette when this expression cassette is modified by non-natural, synthetic (“artificial”) methods such as, for example, mutagenic treatment. Suitable methods are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350 or WO 00/15815.

    
    


A transgenic plant for the purposes of the invention is thus understood as meaning, as above, that the nucleic acids used in the method of the invention are not at their natural locus in the genome of said plant, it being possible for the nucleic acids to be expressed homologously or heterologously. However, as mentioned, transgenic also means that, while the nucleic acids according to the invention or used in the inventive method are at their natural position in the genome of a plant, the sequence has been modified with regard to the natural sequence, and/or that the regulatory sequences of the natural sequences have been modified. Transgenic is preferably understood as meaning the expression of the nucleic acids according to the invention at an unnatural locus in the genome, i.e. homologous or, preferably, heterologous expression of the nucleic acids takes place. Preferred transgenic plants are mentioned herein.
Transformation
The term “introduction” or “transformation” as referred to herein encompasses the transfer of an exogenous polynucleotide into a host cell, irrespective of the method used for transfer. Plant tissue capable of subsequent clonal propagation, whether by organogenesis or embryogenesis, may be transformed with a genetic construct of the present invention and a whole plant regenerated there from. The particular tissue chosen will vary depending on the clonal propagation systems available for, and best suited to, the particular species being transformed. Exemplary tissue targets include leaf disks, pollen, embryos, cotyledons, hypocotyls, megagametophytes, callus tissue, existing meristematic tissue (e.g., apical meristem, axillary buds, and root meristems), and induced meristem tissue (e.g., cotyledon meristem and hypocotyl meristem). The polynucleotide may be transiently or stably introduced into a host cell and may be maintained non-integrated, for example, as a plasmid. Alternatively, it may be integrated into the host genome. The resulting transformed plant cell may then be used to regenerate a transformed plant in a manner known to persons skilled in the art.
The transfer of foreign genes into the genome of a plant is called transformation. Transformation of plant species is now a fairly routine technique. Advantageously, any of several transformation methods may be used to introduce the gene of interest into a suitable ancestor cell. The methods described for the transformation and regeneration of plants from plant tissues or plant cells may be utilized for transient or for stable transformation. Transformation methods include the use of liposomes, electroporation, chemicals that increase free DNA uptake, injection of the DNA directly into the plant, particle gun bombardment, transformation using viruses or pollen and microprojection. Methods may be selected from the calcium/polyethylene glycol method for protoplasts (Krens, F. A. et al., (1982) Nature 296, 72-74; Negrutiu I et al. (1987) Plant Mol Biol 8: 363-373); electroporation of protoplasts (Shillito R. D. et al. (1985) Bio/Technol 3, 1099-1102); microinjection into plant material (Crossway A et al., (1986) Mol. Gen Genet 202: 179-185); DNA or RNA-coated particle bombardment (Klein T M et al., (1987) Nature 327: 70) infection with (non-integrative) viruses and the like. Transgenic plants, including transgenic crop plants, are preferably produced via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. An advantageous transformation method is the transformation in planta. To this end, it is possible, for example, to allow the agrobacteria to act on plant seeds or to inoculate the plant meristem with agrobacteria. It has proved particularly expedient in accordance with the invention to allow a suspension of transformed agrobacteria to act on the intact plant or at least on the flower primordia. The plant is subsequently grown on until the seeds of the treated plant are obtained (Clough and Bent, Plant J. (1998) 16, 735-743). Methods for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of rice include well known methods for rice transformation, such as those described in any of the following: European patent application EP 1198985 A1, Aldemita and Hodges (Planta 199: 612-617, 1996); Chan et al. (Plant Mol Biol 22 (3): 491-506, 1993), Hiei et al. (Plant J 6 (2): 271-282, 1994), which disclosures are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. In the case of corn transformation, the preferred method is as described in either Ishida et al. (Nat. Biotechnol 14(6): 745-50, 1996) or Frame et al. (Plant Physiol 129(1): 13-22, 2002), which disclosures are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. Said methods are further described by way of example in B. Jenes et al., Techniques for Gene Transfer, in: Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, eds. S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press (1993) 128-143 and in Potrykus Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Molec. Biol. 42 (1991) 205-225). The nucleic acids or the construct to be expressed is preferably cloned into a vector, which is suitable for transforming Agrobacterium tumefaciens, for example pBin19 (Bevan et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 12 (1984) 8711). Agrobacteria transformed by such a vector can then be used in known manner for the transformation of plants, such as plants used as a model, like Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana is within the scope of the present invention not considered as a crop plant), or crop plants such as, by way of example, tobacco plants, for example by immersing bruised leaves or chopped leaves in an agrobacterial solution and then culturing them in suitable media. The transformation of plants by means of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is described, for example, by Höfgen and Willmitzer in Nucl. Acid Res. (1988) 16, 9877 or is known inter alia from F. F. White, Vectors for Gene Transfer in Higher Plants; in Transgenic Plants, Vol. 1, Engineering and Utilization, eds. S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Academic Press, 1993, pp. 15-38.
In addition to the transformation of somatic cells, which then have to be regenerated into intact plants, it is also possible to transform the cells of plant meristems and in particular those cells which develop into gametes. In this case, the transformed gametes follow the natural plant development, giving rise to transgenic plants. Thus, for example, seeds of Arabidopsis are treated with agrobacteria and seeds are obtained from the developing plants of which a certain proportion is transformed and thus transgenic [Feldman, K A and Marks M D (1987). Mol Gen Genet 208:274-289; Feldmann K (1992). In: C Koncz, N-H Chua and J Shell, eds, Methods in Arabidopsis Research. Word Scientific, Singapore, pp. 274-289]. Alternative methods are based on the repeated removal of the inflorescences and incubation of the excision site in the center of the rosette with transformed agrobacteria, whereby transformed seeds can likewise be obtained at a later point in time (Chang (1994). Plant J. 5: 551-558; Katavic (1994). Mol Gen Genet, 245: 363-370). However, an especially effective method is the vacuum infiltration method with its modifications such as the “floral dip” method. In the case of vacuum infiltration of Arabidopsis, intact plants under reduced pressure are treated with an agrobacterial suspension [Bechthold, N (1993). C R Acad Sci Paris Life Sci, 316: 1194-1199], while in the case of the “floral dip” method the developing floral tissue is incubated briefly with a surfactant-treated agrobacterial suspension [Clough, S J and Bent, A F (1998). The Plant J. 16, 735-743]. A certain proportion of transgenic seeds are harvested in both cases, and these seeds can be distinguished from non-transgenic seeds by growing under the above-described selective conditions. In addition the stable transformation of plastids is of advantages because plastids are inherited maternally is most crops reducing or eliminating the risk of transgene flow through pollen. The transformation of the chloroplast genome is generally achieved by a process which has been schematically displayed in Klaus et al., 2004 [Nature Biotechnology 22 (2), 225-229]. Briefly the sequences to be transformed are cloned together with a selectable marker gene between flanking sequences homologous to the chloroplast genome. These homologous flanking sequences direct site specific integration into the plastome. Plastidal transformation has been described for many different plant species and an overview is given in Bock (2001) Transgenic plastids in basic research and plant biotechnology. J Mol Biol. 2001 Sep. 21; 312 (3):425-38 or Maliga, P (2003) Progress towards commercialization of plastid transformation technology. Trends Biotechnol. 21, 20-28. Further biotechnological progress has recently been reported in form of marker free plastid transformants, which can be produced by a transient co-integrated maker gene (Klaus et al., 2004, Nature Biotechnology 22(2), 225-229).
TILLING
TILLING (Targeted Induced Local Lesions In Genomes) is a mutagenesis technology useful to generate and/or identify nucleic acids encoding proteins with modified expression and/or activity. TILLING also allows selection of plants carrying such mutant variants. These mutant variants may exhibit modified expression, either in strength or in location or in timing (if the mutations affect the promoter for example). These mutant variants may exhibit higher activity than that exhibited by the gene in its natural form. TILLING combines high-density mutagenesis with high-throughput screening methods. The steps typically followed in TILLING are: (a) EMS mutagenesis (Redei GP and Koncz C (1992) In Methods in Arabidopsis Research, Koncz C, Chua N H, Schell J, eds. Singapore, World Scientific Publishing Co, pp. 16-82; Feldmann et al., (1994) In Meyerowitz E M, Somerville C R, eds, Arabidopsis. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., pp 137-172; Lightner J and Caspar T (1998) In J Martinez-Zapater, J Salinas, eds, Methods on Molecular Biology, Vol. 82. Humana Press, Totowa, N.J., pp 91-104); (b) DNA preparation and pooling of individuals; (c) PCR amplification of a region of interest; (d) denaturation and annealing to allow formation of heteroduplexes; (e) DHPLC, where the presence of a heteroduplex in a pool is detected as an extra peak in the chromatogram; (f) identification of the mutant individual; and (g) sequencing of the mutant PCR product. Methods for TILLING are well known in the art (McCallum et al., (2000) Nat Biotechnol 18: 455-457; reviewed by Stemple (2004) Nat Rev Genet 5(2): 145-50).
Yield
The term “yield” in general means a measurable produce of economic value, typically related to a specified crop, to an area, and to a period of time. Individual plant parts directly contribute to yield based on their number, size and/or weight, or the actual yield is the yield per acre for a crop and year, which is determined by dividing total production (includes both harvested and appraised production) by planted acres.
Increase/Improve/Enhance
The terms “increase”, “improve” or “enhance” are interchangeable and shall mean in the sense of the application at least a 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9% or 10%, preferably at least 15% or 20%, more preferably 25%, 30%, 35% or 40% more yield and/or growth in comparison to control plants as defined herein.
Seed Yield
Increased seed yield may manifest itself as one or more of the following: a) an increase in seed biomass (total seed weight) which may be on an individual seed basis and/or per plant and/or per hectare or acre; b) increased number of flowers per plant; c) increased number of (filled) seeds; d) increased seed filling rate (which is expressed as the ratio between the number of filled seeds divided by the total number of seeds); e) increased harvest index, which is expressed as a ratio of the yield of harvestable parts, such as seeds, divided by the total biomass; and f) increased thousand kernel weight (TKW), which is extrapolated from the number of filled seeds counted and their total weight. An increased TKW may result from an increased seed size and/or seed weight, and may also result from an increase in embryo and/or endosperm size.
An increase in seed yield may also be manifested as an increase in seed size and/or seed volume. Furthermore, an increase in seed yield may also manifest itself as an increase in seed area and/or seed length and/or seed width and/or seed perimeter. Increased yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.
Plant
The term “plant” as used herein encompasses whole plants, ancestors and progeny of the plants and plant parts, including seeds, shoots, stems, leaves, roots (including tubers), flowers, and tissues and organs, wherein each of the aforementioned comprise the gene/nucleic acid of interest. The term “plant” also encompasses plant cells, suspension cultures, callus tissue, embryos, meristematic regions, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen and microspores, again wherein each of the aforementioned comprises the gene/nucleic acid of interest.
Plants that are particularly useful in the methods of the invention include all plants which belong to the superfamily Viridiplantae, in particular monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants including fodder or forage legumes, ornamental plants, food crops, trees or shrubs selected from the list comprising Acer spp., Actinidia spp., Abelmoschus spp., Agave sisalana, Agropyron spp., Agrostis stolonifera, Allium spp., Amaranthus spp., Ammophila arenaria, Ananas comosus, Annona spp., Apium graveolens, Arachis spp, Artocarpus spp., Asparagus officinalis, Avena spp. (e.g. Avena sativa, Avena fatua, Avena byzantina, Avena fatua var. sativa, Avena hybrida), Averrhoa carambola, Bambusa sp., Benincasa hispida, Bertholletia excelsea, Beta vulgaris, Brassica spp. (e.g. Brassica napus, Brassica rapa ssp. [canola, oilseed rape, turnip rape]), Cadaba farinosa, Camellia sinensis, Canna indica, Cannabis sativa, Capsicum spp., Carex elata, Carica papaya, Carissa macrocarpa, Carya spp., Carthamus tinctorius, Castanea spp., Ceiba pentandra, Cichorium endivia, Cinnamomum spp., Citrullus lanatus, Citrus spp., Cocos spp., Coffea spp., Colocasia esculenta, Cola spp., Corchorus sp., Coriandrum sativum, Corylus spp., Crataegus spp., Crocus sativus, Cucurbita spp., Cucumis spp., Cynara spp., Daucus carota, Desmodium spp., Dimocarpus longan, Dioscorea spp., Diospyros spp., Echinochloa spp., Elaeis (e.g. Elaeis guineensis, Elaeis oleifera), Eleusine coracana, Erianthus sp., Eriobotrya japonica, Eucalyptus sp., Eugenia uniflora, Fagopyrum spp., Fagus spp., Festuca arundinacea, Ficus carica, Fortunella spp., Fragaria spp., Ginkgo biloba, Glycine spp. (e.g. Glycine max, Soja hispida or Soja max), Gossypium hirsutum, Helianthus spp. (e.g. Helianthus annuus), Hemerocallis fulva, Hibiscus spp., Hordeum spp. (e.g. Hordeum vulgare), Ipomoea batatas, Juglans spp., Lactuca sativa, Lathyrus spp., Lens culinaris, Linum usitatissimum, Litchi chinensis, Lotus spp., Luffa acutangula, Lupinus spp., Luzula sylvatica, Lycopersicon spp. (e.g. Lycopersicon esculentum, Lycopersicon lycopersicum, Lycopersicon pyriforme), Macrotyloma spp., Malus spp., Malpighia emarginata, Mammea americana, Mangifera indica, Manihot spp., Manilkara zapota, Medicago sativa, Melilotus spp., Mentha spp., Miscanthus sinensis, Momordica spp., Morus nigra, Musa spp., Nicotiana spp., Olea spp., Opuntia spp., Ornithopus spp., Oryza spp. (e.g. Oryza sativa, Oryza latifolia), Panicum miliaceum, Panicum virgatum, Passiflora edulis, Pastinaca sativa, Pennisetum sp., Persea spp., Petroselinum crispum, Phalaris arundinacea, Phaseolus spp., Phleum pratense, Phoenix spp., Phragmites australis, Physalis spp., Pinus spp., Pistacia vera, Pisum spp., Poa spp., Populus spp., Prosopis spp., Prunus spp., Psidium spp., Punica granatum, Pyrus communis, Quercus spp., Raphanus sativus, Rheum rhabarbarum, Ribes spp., Ricinus communis, Rubus spp., Saccharum spp., Salix sp., Sambucus spp., Secale cereale, Sesamum spp., Sinapis sp., Solanum spp. (e.g. Solanum tuberosum, Solanum integrifolium or Solanum lycopersicum), Sorghum bicolor, Spinacia spp., Syzygium spp., Tagetes spp., Tamarindus indica, Theobroma cacao, Trifolium spp., Triticosecale rimpaui, Triticum spp. (e.g. Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum, Triticum turgidum, Triticum hybernum, Triticum macha, Triticum sativum or Triticum vulgare), Tropaeolum minus, Tropaeolum majus, Vaccinium spp., Vicia spp., Vigna spp., Viola odorata, Vitis spp., Zea mays, Zizania palustris, Ziziphus spp., amongst others.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
I. Harpin
According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a Harpin-associated Factor G (hereinafter termed “HpaG”) polypeptide.
A preferred method for modulating (preferably, increasing) expression of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide is by introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide.
Any reference hereinafter to a “protein useful in the methods of the invention” is taken to mean an HpaG polypeptide as defined herein. Any reference hereinafter to a “nucleic acid useful in the methods of the invention” is taken to mean a nucleic acid capable of encoding such an HpaG polypeptide. The nucleic acid to be introduced into a plant (and therefore useful in performing the methods of the invention) is any nucleic acid encoding the type of protein which will now be described, hereafter also named “HpaG nucleic acid” or “HpaG gene”.
An HpaG polypeptide as defined herein comprises any polypeptide having the following features:

    
    
        (i) in increasing order of preference, at least 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or more sequence identity to the HpaG polypeptide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2; and
        (ii) an amino acid composition wherein the glycine content ranges from between about 13% and about 25%, the glutamine content ranges from between about 13% and about 20%, the cysteine content ranges from between about 0% and about 1%, the histidine content ranges from between about 0% and about 1%, and wherein tryptophan is absent.
    
    


Preferably, the length of the HpaG polypeptide ranges between about 121 and about 143 amino acids.
Preferably, the HpaG protein also comprises the conserved motif 1 (SEQ ID NO: 3)









G(G/E/D)(N/E)X(Q/R/P)Q(A/S)GX(N/D)G






wherein X on position 4 may be any amino acid, preferably one of S, N, P, R, or Q, and wherein X on position 9 may be any amino acid, preferably one of Q, E, S, or P; and/or the conserved motif 2 (SEQ ID NO: 4)










(P/A/V)S(P/Q/A)(F/L/Y)TQ(M/A)LM(H/N/Q)IV(G/M)



(E/D/Q)






Optionally, the HpaG protein also has the conserved motif 3:









QGISEKQLDQLL 



(found within SEQ ID NO: 2)






And/or the conserved motif 4:









ILQAQN



(found within SEQ ID NO: 2)






Furthermore, HpaG polypeptides (at least in their native form) elicit a hypersensitive response in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Cvi-0 (Kim et al., J. Bacteriol. 185, 3155-3166, 2003).
Alternatively, the homologue of a HpaG protein has in increasing order of preference at least 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% overall sequence identity to the amino acid represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, provided that the homologous protein comprises the conserved motifs as outlined above. The overall sequence identity is determined using a global alignment algorithm, such as the Needleman Wunsch algorithm in the program GAP (GCG Wisconsin Package, Accelrys), preferably with default parameters. Compared to overall sequence identity, the sequence identity will generally be higher when only conserved domains or motifs are considered.
The term “domain” and “motif” is as defined in the “definitions” section herein. Specialist databases exist for the identification of domains, for example, SMART (Schultz et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 5857-5864; Letunic et al. (2002) Nucleic Acids Res 30, 242-244, InterPro (Mulder et al., (2003) Nucl. Acids. Res. 31, 315-318, Prosite (Bucher and Bairoch (1994), A generalized profile syntax for biomolecular sequences motifs and its function in automatic sequence interpretation. (ln) ISMB-94; Proceedings 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology. Altman R., Brutlag D., Karp P., Lathrop R., Searls D., Eds., pp 53-61, AAAIPress, Menlo Park; Hulo et al., Nucl. Acids. Res. 32:D134-D137, (2004), or Pfam (Bateman et al., Nucleic Acids Research 30(1): 276-280 (2002). A set of tools for in silico analysis of protein sequences is available on the ExPASY proteomics server (hosted by the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (Gasteiger et al., ExPASy: the proteomics server for in-depth protein knowledge and analysis, Nucleic Acids Res. 31:3784-3788 (2003)). Domains may also be identified using routine techniques, such as by sequence alignment.
Methods for the alignment of sequences for comparison are well known in the art, such methods include GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA and TFASTA. GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch ((1970) J Mol Biol 48: 443-453) to find the global (i.e. spanning the complete sequences) alignment of two sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps. The BLAST algorithm (Altschul et al. (1990) J Mol Biol 215: 403-10) calculates percent sequence identity and performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between the two sequences. The software for performing BLAST analysis is publicly available through the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Homologues may readily be identified using, for example, the ClustalW multiple sequence alignment algorithm (version 1.83), with the default pairwise alignment parameters, and a scoring method in percentage. Global percentages of similarity and identity may also be determined using one of the methods available in the MatGAT software package (Campanella et al., BMC Bioinformatics. 2003 Jul. 10; 4:29. MatGAT: an application that generates similarity/identity matrices using protein or DNA sequences.). Minor manual editing may be performed to optimise alignment between conserved motifs, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, instead of using full-length sequences for the identification of homologues, specific domains may also be used. The sequence identity values may be determined over the entire nucleic acid or amino acid sequence or over selected domains or conserved motif(s), using the programs mentioned above using the default parameters.
The present invention is illustrated by transforming plants with the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, encoding the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. However, performance of the invention is not restricted to these sequences; the methods of the invention may advantageously be performed using any HpaG-encoding nucleic acid or HpaG-like polypeptide as defined herein.
Examples of nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides are given in Table A of Example 1 herein. Such nucleic acids are useful in performing the methods of the invention. The amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1 are example sequences of orthologues and paralogues of the HpaG polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, the terms “orthologues” and “paralogues” being as defined herein. Further orthologues and paralogues may readily be identified by performing a so-called reciprocal blast search. Typically, this involves a first BLAST involving BLASTing a query sequence (for example using any of the sequences listed in Table A of Example 1) against any sequence database, such as the publicly available NCBI database. BLASTN or TBLASTX (using standard default values) are generally used when starting from a nucleotide sequence, and BLASTP or TBLASTN (using standard default values) when starting from a protein sequence. The BLAST results may optionally be filtered. The full-length sequences of either the filtered results or non-filtered results are then BLASTed back (second BLAST) against sequences from the organism from which the query sequence is derived (where the query sequence is SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, the second BLAST would therefore be against Xanthomonas sequences). The results of the first and second BLASTs are then compared. A paralogue is identified if a high-ranking hit from the first blast is from the same species as from which the query sequence is derived, a BLAST back then ideally results in the query sequence amongst the highest hits; an orthologue is identified if a high-ranking hit in the first BLAST is not from the same species as from which the query sequence is derived, and preferably results upon BLAST back in the query sequence being among the highest hits.
High-ranking hits are those having a low E-value. The lower the E-value, the more significant the score (or in other words the lower the chance that the hit was found by chance). Computation of the E-value is well known in the art. In addition to E-values, comparisons are also scored by percentage identity. Percentage identity refers to the number of identical nucleotides (or amino acids) between the two compared nucleic acid (or polypeptide) sequences over a particular length. In the case of large families, ClustalW may be used, followed by a neighbour joining tree, to help visualize clustering of related genes and to identify orthologues and paralogues.
Nucleic acid variants may also be useful in practising the methods of the invention. Examples of such variants include nucleic acids encoding homologues and derivatives of any one of the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1, the terms “homologue” and “derivative” being as defined herein. Also useful in the methods of the invention are nucleic acids encoding homologues and derivatives of orthologues or paralogues of any one of the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1. Homologues and derivatives useful in the methods of the present invention have substantially the same biological and functional activity as the unmodified protein from which they are derived.
Further nucleic acid variants useful in practising the methods of the invention include portions of nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides, nucleic acids hybridising to nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides, and variants of nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides obtained by gene shuffling. The terms hybridising sequence, and gene shuffling are as described herein.
Nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides need not be full-length nucleic acids, since performance of the methods of the invention does not rely on the use of full-length nucleic acid sequences. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a portion of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1, or a portion of a nucleic acid encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1.
A portion of a nucleic acid may be prepared, for example, by making one or more deletions to the nucleic acid. The portions may be used in isolated form or they may be fused to other coding (or non-coding) sequences in order to, for example, produce a protein that combines several activities. When fused to other coding sequences, the resultant polypeptide produced upon translation may be bigger than that predicted for the protein portion.
Portions useful in the methods of the invention, encode an HpaG polypeptide as defined herein, and have substantially the same biological activity as the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1. Preferably, the portion is a portion of any one of the nucleic acids given in Table A of Example 1, or is a portion of a nucleic acid encoding an orthologue or paralogue of any one of the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1. Preferably the portion is, in increasing order of preference at least 70, 90, 110, 130 consecutive nucleotides in length, the consecutive nucleotides being of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1, or of a nucleic acid encoding an orthologue or paralogue of any one of the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1. Most preferably the portion is a portion of the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1. Preferably, the portion encodes an amino acid sequence which when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 2, tends to cluster with the group of HpaG polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 rather than with any other group.
Another nucleic acid variant useful in the methods of the invention is a nucleic acid capable of hybridising, under reduced stringency conditions, preferably under stringent conditions, with a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined herein, or with a portion as defined herein.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing to any one of the nucleic acids given in Table A of Example 1, or comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid capable of hybridising to a nucleic acid encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1.
Hybridising sequences useful in the methods of the invention encode an HpaG polypeptide as defined herein, and have substantially the same biological activity as the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1. Preferably, the hybridising sequence is capable of hybridising to any one of the nucleic acids given in Table A of Example 1, or to a portion of any of these sequences, a portion being as defined above, or wherein the hybridising sequence is capable of hybridising to a nucleic acid encoding an orthologue or paralogue of any one of the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1. Most preferably, the hybridising sequence is capable of hybridising to a nucleic acid as represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or to a portion thereof.
Preferably, the hybridising sequence encodes an amino acid sequence which when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 2, tends to cluster with the group of HpaG polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 rather than with any other group.
Gene shuffling or directed evolution may also be used to generate variants of nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides as defined above; the term “gene shuffling” being as defined herein.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a variant of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1, or comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a variant of a nucleic acid encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the amino acid sequences given in Table A of Example 1, which variant nucleic acid is obtained by gene shuffling.
Preferably, the amino acid sequence encoded by the variant nucleic acid obtained by gene shuffling, when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree such as the one depicted in FIG. 2, tends to cluster with the group of HpaG polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 rather than with any other group.
Furthermore, nucleic acid variants may also be obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. Several methods are available to achieve site-directed mutagenesis, the most common being PCR based methods (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. Wiley Eds.).
Nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides may be derived from any natural or artificial source. The nucleic acid may be modified from its native form in composition and/or genomic environment through deliberate human manipulation. Preferably the HpaG polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid is of prokaryotic origin, preferably from a Gram-negative bacterium possessing a TTSS, further preferably from a plant pathogenic bacterium possessing a TTSS, more preferably from the family of Pseudomonaceae, furthermore preferably from the genus Xanthomonas, most preferably the nucleic acid is from Xanthomonas axonopodis. 
Performance of the methods of the invention gives plants having enhanced yield-related traits. In particular performance of the methods of the invention gives plants having increased yield, especially increased biomass and/or increased seed yield relative to control plants. The terms “yield” and “seed yield” are described in more detail in the “definitions” section herein.
Reference herein to enhanced yield-related traits is taken to mean an increase in biomass (weight) of one or more parts of a plant, which may include aboveground (harvestable) parts and/or (harvestable) parts below ground. In particular, such harvestable parts are seeds, and performance of the methods of the invention results in plants having increased seed yield relative to the seed yield of suitable control plants.
Taking corn as an example, a yield increase may be manifested as one or more of the following: increase in the number of plants established per hectare or acre, an increase in the number of ears per plant, an increase in the number of rows, number of kernels per row, kernel weight, thousand kernel weight, ear length/diameter, increase in the seed filling rate (which is the number of filled seeds divided by the total number of seeds and multiplied by 100), among others. Taking rice as an example, a yield increase may manifest itself as an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per hectare or acre, number of panicles per plant, number of spikelets per panicle, number of flowers (florets) per panicle (which is expressed as a ratio of the number of filled seeds over the number of primary panicles), increase in the seed filling rate (which is the number of filled seeds divided by the total number of seeds and multiplied by 100), increase in thousand kernel weight, among others.
The present invention provides a method for increasing yield, especially biomass and/or seed yield of plants, relative to control plants, which method comprises modulating expression, preferably increasing expression, in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined herein. It should be noted that the observed yield increase is not the result of increased biotic stress resistance.
Since the transgenic plants according to the present invention have increased yield, it is likely that these plants exhibit an increased growth rate (during at least part of their life cycle), relative to the growth rate of control plants at a corresponding stage in their life cycle. Besides the increased yield capacity, an increased efficiency of nutrient uptake may also contribute to the increase in yield. It is observed that the plants according to the present invention show a higher efficiency in nutrient uptake. Increased efficiency of nutrient uptake allows better growth of the plant.
The increased growth rate may be specific to one or more parts of a plant (including seeds), or may be throughout substantially the whole plant. Plants having an increased growth rate may have a shorter life cycle. The life cycle of a plant may be taken to mean the time needed to grow from a mature seed up to the stage where the plant has produced mature seeds, similar to the starting material. This life cycle may be influenced by factors such as early vigour, growth rate, greenness index, flowering time and speed of seed maturation. The increase in growth rate may take place at one or more stages in the life cycle of a plant or during substantially the whole plant life cycle. Increased growth rate during the early stages in the life cycle of a plant may reflect enhanced vigour. The increase in growth rate may alter the harvest cycle of a plant allowing plants to be sown later and/or harvested sooner than would otherwise be possible (a similar effect may be obtained with earlier flowering time). If the growth rate is sufficiently increased, it may allow for the further sowing of seeds of the same plant species (for example sowing and harvesting of rice plants followed by sowing and harvesting of further rice plants all within one conventional growing period). Similarly, if the growth rate is sufficiently increased, it may allow for the further sowing of seeds of different plants species (for example the sowing and harvesting of corn plants followed by, for example, the sowing and optional harvesting of soybean, potato or any other suitable plant). Harvesting additional times from the same rootstock in the case of some crop plants may also be possible. Altering the harvest cycle of a plant may lead to an increase in annual biomass production per acre (due to an increase in the number of times (say in a year) that any particular plant may be grown and harvested). An increase in growth rate may also allow for the cultivation of transgenic plants in a wider geographical area than their wild-type counterparts, since the territorial limitations for growing a crop are often determined by adverse environmental conditions either at the time of planting (early season) or at the time of harvesting (late season). Such adverse conditions may be avoided if the harvest cycle is shortened. The growth rate may be determined by deriving various parameters from growth curves, such parameters may be: T-Mid (the time taken for plants to reach 50% of their maximal size) and T-90 (time taken for plants to reach 90% of their maximal size), amongst others.
According to a preferred feature of the present invention, performance of the methods of the invention gives plants having an increased growth rate relative to control plants. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing the growth rate of plants, which method comprises modulating expression, preferably increasing expression, in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined herein. It should be noted that the observed increase in growth rate is not the result of biotic stress resistance.
An increase in yield and/or growth rate occurs whether the plant is under non-stress conditions or whether the plant is exposed to various abiotic stresses compared to control plants. Plants typically respond to exposure to abiotic stress by growing more slowly. In conditions of severe stress, the plant may even stop growing altogether. Mild stress on the other hand is defined herein as being any stress to which a plant is exposed which does not result in the plant ceasing to grow altogether without the capacity to resume growth. Mild stress in the sense of the invention leads to a reduction in the growth of the stressed plants of less than 40%, 35% or 30%, preferably less than 25%, 20% or 15%, more preferably less than 14%, 13%, 12%, 11% or 10% or less in comparison to the control plant under non-stress conditions. Due to advances in agricultural practices (irrigation, fertilization, pesticide treatments) severe stresses are not often encountered in cultivated crop plants. As a consequence, the compromised growth induced by mild stress is often an undesirable feature for agriculture. The term “mild stresses” are the everyday abiotic (environmental) stresses to which a plant is exposed. Abiotic stresses may be due to drought or excess water, anaerobic stress, salt stress, chemical toxicity, oxidative stress and hot, cold or freezing temperatures. The abiotic stress may be an osmotic stress caused by a water stress (particularly due to drought), salt stress, oxidative stress or an ionic stress.
The term “abiotic stress” as defined herein is taken to mean any one or more of: water stress (due to drought or excess water), anaerobic stress, salt stress, temperature stress (due to hot, cold or freezing temperatures), chemical toxicity stress and oxidative stress. According to one aspect of the invention, the abiotic stress is an osmotic stress, selected from water stress, salt stress, oxidative stress and ionic stress. Preferably, the water stress is drought stress. The term salt stress is not restricted to common salt (NaCl), but may be any one or more of: NaCl, KCl, LiCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, amongst others.
Another example of abiotic environmental stress is the reduced availability of one or more nutrients that need to be assimilated by the plants for growth and development. Because of the strong influence of nutrition utilization efficiency on plant yield and product quality, a huge amount of fertilizer is poured onto fields to optimize plant growth and quality. Productivity of plants ordinarily is limited by three primary nutrients, phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen, which is usually the rate-limiting element in plant growth of these three. Therefore the major nutritional element required for plant growth is nitrogen (N). It is a constituent of numerous important compounds found in living cells, including amino acids, proteins (enzymes), nucleic acids, and chlorophyll. 1.5% to 2% of plant dry matter is nitrogen and approximately 16% of total plant protein. Thus, nitrogen availability is a major limiting factor for crop plant growth and production (Frink et al. (1999) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96(4): 1175-1180), and has as well a major impact on protein accumulation and amino acid composition. Therefore, of great interest are crop plants with an increased yield when grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions.
Biotic stresses are typically those stresses caused by pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes and insects.
In particular, the methods of the present invention may be performed under non-stress conditions or under conditions of drought to give plants having increased yield relative to control plants. As reported in Wang et al. (Planta (2003) 218: 1-14), abiotic stress leads to a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that adversely affect plant growth and productivity. Drought, salinity, extreme temperatures and oxidative stress are known to be interconnected and may induce growth and cellular damage through similar mechanisms. Rabbani et al. (Plant Physiol (2003) 133: 1755-1767) describes a particularly high degree of “cross talk” between drought stress and high-salinity stress. For example, drought and/or salinisation are manifested primarily as osmotic stress, resulting in the disruption of homeostasis and ion distribution in the cell. Oxidative stress, which frequently accompanies high or low temperature, salinity or drought stress, may cause denaturing of functional and structural proteins. As a consequence, these diverse environmental stresses often activate similar cell signalling pathways and cellular responses, such as the production of stress proteins, up-regulation of anti-oxidants, accumulation of compatible solutes and growth arrest.
The term “non-stress” conditions as used herein are those environmental conditions that allow optimal growth of plants. Persons skilled in the art are aware of normal soil conditions and climatic conditions for any given location.
Performance of the methods of the invention gives plants, grown under non-stress conditions or under drought stress conditions, increased yield relative to suitable control plants grown under comparable conditions. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing yield in plants grown under non-stress conditions or under drought conditions, which method comprises increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide.
Furthermore, performance of the methods of the invention gives plants grown under conditions of nutrient deficiency, particularly under conditions of nitrogen deficiency, increased yield relative to control plants grown under comparable conditions. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is also provided a method for increasing yield in plants grown under conditions of nutrient deficiency, which method comprises increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide.
Performance of the methods of the invention also gives plants having increased plant vigour relative to control plants, particularly during the early stages of plant development (typically three, four weeks post germination in the case of rice and maize, but this will vary from species to species) leading to early vigour. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing the plant early vigour, which method comprises modulating, preferably increasing, expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a HpaG polypeptide. Preferably the increase in seedling vigour is achieved by expressing the nucleic acid encoding the HpaG polypeptide under the control of a shoot specific promoter. There is also provided a method for producing plants having early vigour relative to control plants, which method comprises modulating, preferably increasing, expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a HpaG polypeptide.
Early vigour may also result from increased plant fitness due to, for example, the plants being better adapted to their environment (i.e. optimizing the use of energy resources and partitioning between shoot and root). Plants having early vigour also show increase seedling survival and a better establishment of the crop, which often results in highly uniform fields (with the crop growing in uniform manner, i.e. with the majority of plants reaching the various stages of development at substantially the same time), and often better and higher yield. Therefore, early vigour may be determined by measuring various factors, such as thousand kernel weight, percentage germination, percentage emergence, seedling growth, seedling height, root length, root and shoot biomass and many more.
The present invention encompasses plants or parts thereof (including seeds) obtainable by the methods according to the present invention. The plants or parts thereof comprise a nucleic acid transgene encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined above.
The invention also provides genetic constructs and vectors to facilitate introduction and/or expression in plants of nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides. The gene constructs may be inserted into vectors, which may be commercially available, suitable for transforming into plants and suitable for expression of the gene of interest in the transformed cells. The invention also provides use of a gene construct as defined herein in the methods of the invention.
More specifically, the present invention provides a construct comprising:

    
    
        (a) a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined above;
        (b) one or more control sequences capable of driving expression of the nucleic acid sequence of (a); and optionally
        (c) a transcription termination sequence.
    
    


Preferably, the HpaG encoding nucleic acid is

    
    
        (i) a nucleic acid as presented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complement thereof,
        (ii) a nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined above.
    
    


The term “control sequence” and “termination sequence” are as defined herein.
Plants are transformed with a vector comprising any of the nucleic acids described above. The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells containing the sequence of interest. The sequence of interest is operably linked to one or more control sequences (at least to a promoter).
Advantageously, any type of promoter, whether natural or synthetic, may be used to drive expression of the nucleic acid sequence. A constitutive promoter or a green tissue specific promoter is particularly useful in the methods. See the “Definitions” section herein for definitions of the various promoter types.
Preferably, the HpaG nucleic acid or variant thereof is operably linked to a constitutive promoter. A preferred constitutive promoter is one that is also substantially ubiquitously expressed. Further preferably the promoter is derived from a plant, more preferably a monocotyledonous plant. Most preferred is use of a GOS2 promoter (from rice) (SEQ ID NO: 5). It should be clear that the applicability of the present invention is not restricted to the HpaG nucleic acid represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, nor is the applicability of the invention restricted to expression of a HpaG nucleic acid when driven by a GOS2 promoter. Examples of other constitutive promoters which may also be used to drive expression of an HpaG nucleic acid are shown in Table 2a in the Definitions section herein.
Preferably, the consecutive promoter is of medium strength and has weaker activity than the CaMV 35S promoter.
Alternatively, the HpaG nucleic acid or variant thereof is operably linked to a green tissue-specific promoter. A green tissue-specific promoter as defined herein is a promoter that is transcriptionally active predominantly in green tissue, substantially to the exclusion of any other parts of a plant, whilst still allowing for any leaky expression in these other plant parts. The green tissue-specific promoter is preferably a protochlorophylid reductase promoter, more preferably the protochlorophylid reductase promoter represented by a nucleic acid sequence substantially similar to SEQ ID NO: 6, most preferably the promoter is as represented by SEQ ID NO: 6. It should be clear that the applicability of the present invention is not restricted to the HpaG encoding nucleic acid represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, nor is the applicability of the invention restricted to expression of such a HpaG encoding nucleic acid when driven by a protochlorophylid reductase promoter. Examples of other green tissue-specific promoters which may also be used to perform the methods of the invention are shown in the definitions section herein.
For the identification of functionally equivalent promoters, the promoter strength and/or expression pattern of a candidate promoter may be analysed for example by operably linking the promoter to a reporter gene and assaying the expression level and pattern of the reporter gene in various tissues of the plant. Suitable well-known reporter genes include for example beta-glucuronidase or beta galactosidase. The promoter activity is assayed by measuring the enzymatic activity of the beta-glucuronidase or beta-galactosidase. The promoter strength and/or expression pattern may then be compared to that of a reference promoter (such as the one used in the methods of the present invention). Alternatively, promoter strength may be assayed by quantifying mRNA levels or by comparing mRNA levels of the nucleic acid used in the methods of the present invention, with mRNA levels of housekeeping genes such as 18S rRNA, using methods known in the art, such as Northern blotting with densitometric analysis of autoradiograms, quantitative real-time PCR or RT-PCR (Heid et al., 1996 Genome Methods 6: 986-994). Generally a “weak promoter” refers to a promoter that drives expression of a coding sequence at a low level. By “low level” is intended at levels of about 1/10,000 transcripts to about 1/100,000 transcripts, to about 1/500,0000 transcripts per cell. Conversely, a “strong promoter” drives expression of a coding sequence at high level, or at about 1/10 transcripts to about 1/100 transcripts to about 1/1,000 transcripts per cell.
Optionally, one or more terminator sequences may be used in the construct introduced into a plant. Additional regulatory elements may include transcriptional as well as translational enhancers. Those skilled in the art will be aware of terminator and enhancer sequences that may be suitable for use in performing the invention. Such sequences would be known or may readily be obtained by a person skilled in the art.
An intron sequence may also be added to the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) or in the coding sequence to increase the amount of the mature message that accumulates in the cytosol. Inclusion of a spliceable intron in the transcription unit in both plant and animal expression constructs has been shown to increase gene expression at both the mRNA and protein levels up to 1000-fold (Buchman and Berg, Mol. Cell Biol. 8:4395-4405 (1988); Callis et al., Genes Dev. 1:1183-1200 (1987)). Such intron enhancement of gene expression is typically greatest when placed near the 5′ end of the transcription unit. Use of the maize introns Adh1-S intron 1, 2, and 6, the Bronze-1 intron are known in the art. For general information, see The Maize Handbook, Chapter 116, Freeling and Walbot, Eds., Springer, N.Y. (1994).
Other control sequences (besides promoter, enhancer, silencer, intron sequences, 3′UTR and/or 5′UTR regions) may be protein and/or RNA stabilizing elements. Such sequences would be known or may readily be obtained by a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the codon usage of the coding sequence to be inserted on the construct may be optimised with reference to the host cell into which the construct will be introduced. While the genetic code is degenerated, organisms tend to use a particular codon for an amino acid more than other codons for that same amino acid. Tables with preferred codon usage for various organisms are known in the art.
The genetic constructs of the invention may further include an origin of replication sequence that is required for maintenance and/or replication in a specific cell type. One example is when a genetic construct is required to be maintained in a bacterial cell as an episomal genetic element (e.g. plasmid or cosmid molecule). Preferred origins of replication include, but are not limited to, the f1-ori and colE1.
For the detection of the successful transfer of the nucleic acid sequences as used in the methods of the invention and/or selection of transgenic plants comprising these nucleic acids, it is advantageous to use marker genes (or reporter genes). Therefore, the genetic construct may optionally comprise a selectable marker gene. Selectable markers are described in more detail in the “definitions” section herein.
It is known that upon stable or transient integration of nucleic acids into plant cells, only a minority of the cells takes up the foreign DNA and, if desired, integrates it into its genome, depending on the expression vector used and the transfection technique used. To identify and select these integrants, a gene coding for a selectable marker (such as the ones described above) is usually introduced into the host cells together with the gene of interest. These markers can for example be used in mutants in which these genes are not functional by, for example, deletion by conventional methods. Furthermore, nucleic acid molecules encoding a selectable marker can be introduced into a host cell on the same vector that comprises the sequence encoding the polypeptides of the invention or used in the methods of the invention, or else in a separate vector. Cells which have been stably transfected with the introduced nucleic acid can be identified for example by selection (for example, cells which have integrated the selectable marker survive whereas the other cells die).
Since the marker genes, particularly genes for resistance to antibiotics and herbicides, are no longer required or are undesired in the transgenic host cell once the nucleic acids have been introduced successfully, the process according to the invention for introducing the nucleic acids advantageously employs techniques which enable the removal or excision of these marker genes. One such a method is what is known as co-transformation. The co-transformation method employs two vectors simultaneously for the transformation, one vector bearing the nucleic acid according to the invention and a second bearing the marker gene(s). A large proportion of transformants receives or, in the case of plants, comprises (up to 40% or more of the transformants), both vectors. In case of transformation with Agrobacteria, the transformants usually receive only a part of the vector, i.e. the sequence flanked by the T-DNA, which usually represents the expression cassette. The marker genes can subsequently be removed from the transformed plant by performing crosses. In another method, marker genes integrated into a transposon are used for the transformation together with desired nucleic acid (known as the Ac/Ds technology). The transformants can be crossed with a transposase source or the transformants are transformed with a nucleic acid construct conferring expression of a transposase, transiently or stable. In some cases (approx. 10%), the transposon jumps out of the genome of the host cell once transformation has taken place successfully and is lost. In a further number of cases, the transposon jumps to a different location. In these cases the marker gene must be eliminated by performing crosses. In microbiology, techniques were developed which make possible, or facilitate, the detection of such events. A further advantageous method relies on what is known as recombination systems; whose advantage is that elimination by crossing can be dispensed with. The best-known system of this type is what is known as the Cre/lox system. Cre1 is a recombinase that removes the sequences located between the loxP sequences. If the marker gene is integrated between the loxP sequences, it is removed once transformation has taken place successfully, by expression of the recombinase. Further recombination systems are the HIN/HIX, FLP/FRT and REP/STB system (Tribble et al., J. Biol. Chem., 275, 2000: 22255-22267; Velmurugan et al., J. Cell Biol., 149, 2000: 553-566). A site-specific integration into the plant genome of the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention is possible. Naturally, these methods can also be applied to microorganisms such as yeast, fungi or bacteria.
The invention also provides a method for the production of transgenic plants having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants, comprising introduction and expression in a plant of any nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined hereinabove.
More specifically, the present invention provides a method for the production of transgenic plants having increased enhanced yield-related traits, particularly increased biomass and/or seed yield, which method comprises:

    
    
        (i) introducing and expressing in a plant or plant cell an HpaG polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid; and
        (ii) cultivating the plant cell under conditions promoting plant growth and development.
    
    


The nucleic acid of (i) may be any of the nucleic acids capable of encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined herein.
The nucleic acid may be introduced directly into a plant cell or into the plant itself (including introduction into a tissue, organ or any other part of a plant). According to a preferred feature of the present invention, the nucleic acid is preferably introduced into a plant by transformation. The term “transformation” is described in more detail in the “definitions” section herein.
The genetically modified plant cells can be regenerated via all methods with which the skilled worker is familiar. Suitable methods can be found in the abovementioned publications by S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Potrykus or Hofgen and Willmitzer.
Generally after transformation, plant cells or cell groupings are selected for the presence of one or more markers which are encoded by plant-expressible genes co-transferred with the gene of interest, following which the transformed material is regenerated into a whole plant. To select transformed plants, the plant material obtained in the transformation is, as a rule, subjected to selective conditions so that transformed plants can be distinguished from untransformed plants. For example, the seeds obtained in the above-described manner can be planted and, after an initial growing period, subjected to a suitable selection by spraying. A further possibility consists in growing the seeds, if appropriate after sterilization, on agar plates using a suitable selection agent so that only the transformed seeds can grow into plants. Alternatively, the transformed plants are screened for the presence of a selectable marker such as the ones described above.
Following DNA transfer and regeneration, putatively transformed plants may also be evaluated, for instance using Southern analysis, for the presence of the gene of interest, copy number and/or genomic organisation. Alternatively or additionally, expression levels of the newly introduced DNA may be monitored using Northern and/or Western analysis, both techniques being well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art.
The generated transformed plants may be propagated by a variety of means, such as by clonal propagation or classical breeding techniques. For example, a first generation (or T1) transformed plant may be selfed and homozygous second-generation (or T2) transformants selected, and the T2 plants may then further be propagated through classical breeding techniques.
The generated transformed organisms may take a variety of forms. For example, they may be chimeras of transformed cells and non-transformed cells; clonal transformants (e.g., all cells transformed to contain the expression cassette); grafts of transformed and untransformed tissues (e.g., in plants, a transformed rootstock grafted to an untransformed scion).
The present invention clearly extends to any plant cell or plant produced by any of the methods described herein, and to all plant parts and propagules thereof. The present invention extends further to encompass the progeny of a primary transformed or transfected cell, tissue, organ or whole plant that has been produced by any of the aforementioned methods, the only requirement being that progeny exhibit the same genotypic and/or phenotypic characteristic(s) as those produced by the parent in the methods according to the invention.
The invention also includes host cells containing an isolated nucleic acid encoding an HpaG polypeptide as defined hereinabove. Preferred host cells according to the invention are plant cells. Host plants for the nucleic acids or the vector used in the method according to the invention, the expression cassette or construct or vector are, in principle, advantageously all plants, which are capable of synthesizing the polypeptides used in the inventive method.
The methods of the invention are advantageously applicable to any plant.
Plants that are particularly useful in the methods of the invention include all plants which belong to the superfamily Viridiplantae, in particular monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants including fodder or forage legumes, ornamental plants, food crops, trees or shrubs. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant is a crop plant. Examples of crop plants include soybean, sunflower, canola, alfalfa, rapeseed, cotton, tomato, potato and tobacco. Further preferably, the plant is a monocotyledonous plant. Examples of monocotyledonous plants include sugarcane. More preferably the plant is a cereal. Examples of cereals include rice, maize, wheat, barley, millet, triticale, rye, sorghum and oats.
The invention also extends to harvestable parts of a plant such as, but not limited to seeds, leaves, fruits, flowers, stems, rhizomes, tubers and bulbs. The invention furthermore relates to products derived, preferably directly derived, from a harvestable part of such a plant, such as dry pellets or powders, oil, fat and fatty acids, starch or proteins.
According to a preferred feature of the invention, the modulated expression is increased expression. Methods for increasing expression of nucleic acids or genes, or gene products, are well documented in the art and include, for example, overexpression driven by appropriate promoters, the use of transcription enhancers or translation enhancers. Isolated nucleic acids which serve as promoter or enhancer elements may be introduced in an appropriate position (typically upstream) of a non-heterologous form of a polynucleotide so as to upregulate expression. For example, endogenous promoters may be altered in vivo by mutation, deletion, and/or substitution (see, Kmiec, U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350; Zarling et al., PCT/US93/03868), or isolated promoters may be introduced into a plant cell in the proper orientation and distance from a gene of the present invention so as to control the expression of the gene.
If polypeptide expression is desired, it is generally desirable to include a polyadenylation region at the 3′-end of a polynucleotide coding region. The polyadenylation region can be derived from the natural gene, from a variety of other plant genes, or from T-DNA. The 3′ end sequence to be added may be derived from, for example, the nopaline synthase or octopine synthase genes, or alternatively from another plant gene, or less preferably from any other eukaryotic gene.
The present invention also encompasses use of nucleic acids encoding HpaG polypeptides as described herein and use of these HpaG polypeptide in enhancing any of the aforementioned yield-related traits in plants.
The methods according to the present invention result in plants having enhanced yield-related traits, as described hereinbefore. These traits may also be combined with other economically advantageous traits, such as further yield-enhancing traits, tolerance to other abiotic and biotic stresses, traits modifying various architectural features and/or biochemical and/or physiological features.
II. SNF2
According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants, comprising increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide.
A preferred method for increasing expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide is by introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide.
Any reference hereinafter to a “protein useful in the methods of the invention” is taken to mean an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined herein. Any reference hereinafter to a “nucleic acid sequence useful in the methods of the invention” is taken to mean a nucleic acid sequence capable of encoding such an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide. The nucleic acid sequence to be introduced into a plant (and therefore useful in performing the methods of the invention) is any nucleic acid sequence encoding the type of protein, which will now be described, hereafter also named “SWI2/SNF2 nucleic acid sequence” or “SWI2/SNF2 gene”.
An “SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide” as defined herein refers to any polypeptide which comprises an ATPase domain comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus at least five, preferably six, more preferably seven, most preferably eight of the following motifs:

    
    
        (i) Motif I LADDMGLGK(T/S), as represented by SEQ ID NO: 103 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif I;
        (ii) Motif Ia L(L/V/I)(V/I/L)(A/C)P(T/M/V)S(V/I/L)(V/I/L)XNW, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 104 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif Ia;
        (iii) Motif II DEAQ(N/A/H)(V/I/L)KN, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 105 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif II;
        (iv) Motif III A(L/M)TGTPXEN, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 106 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif III;
        (v) Motif IV (L/I)XF(T/S)Q(F/Y), as represented by SEQ ID NO: 107 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif IV;
        (vi) Motif V S(L/V)KAGG(V/T/L)G(L/I)(N/T)LTXA(N/S/T)HV, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 108 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif V;
        (vii) Motif Va DRWWNPAVE, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 109 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif Va; and
        (viii) Motif VI QA(T/S)DR(A/TN)(F/Y)R(I/L)GQ, as represented by SEQ ID NO: 110 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif VI,

where X in Motif Ia, Motif III, Motif IV, and Motif V, is any amino acid.

    
    


Alternatively or additionally, an “SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide” as defined herein refers to any polypeptide sequence which when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 7 (described in Flaus et al. (2006), supra), tends to cluster with the SSO1653 Glade of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides comprising the polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30, rather than with any other SWI2/SNF2 Glade.
Alternatively or additionally, an “SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide” as defined herein refers to any polypeptide sequence comprising an ATPase domain having in increasing order of preference at least 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the ATPase domain as represented by SEQ ID NO: 111, comprised in SEQ ID NO: 30.
Alternatively or additionally, an “SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide” as defined herein refers to any polypeptide having in increasing order of preference at least 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 or to any of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E herein.
The terms “domain” and “motif” are defined in the “definitions” section herein. Specialist databases exist for the identification of domains, for example, SMART (Schultz et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 5857-5864; Letunic et al. (2002) Nucleic Acids Res 30, 242-244), InterPro (Mulder et al., (2003) Nucl. Acids. Res. 31, 315-318, Prosite (Bucher and Bairoch (1994), A generalized profile syntax for biomolecular sequences motifs and its function in automatic sequence interpretation. (In) ISMB-94; Proceedings 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology. Altman R., Brutlag D., Karp P., Lathrop R., Searls D., Eds., pp 53-61, AAAI Press, Menlo Park; Hulo et al., (2004) Nucl. Acids. Res. 32: D134-D137), or Pfam (Bateman et al., (2002) Nucleic Acids Research 30(1): 276-280). A set of tools for in silico analysis of protein sequences is available on the ExPASY proteomics server (hosted by the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (Gasteiger et al., (2003) ExPASy: the proteomics server for in-depth protein knowledge and analysis, Nucleic Acids Res 31: 3784-3788). Domains may also be identified using routine techniques, such as by sequence alignment. Analysis of the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30 is presented below in Examples 9 and 11.
Methods for the alignment of sequences for comparison are well known in the art, such methods include GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA and TFASTA. GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch ((1970) J Mol Biol 48: 443-453) to find the global (i.e. spanning the complete sequences) alignment of two sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps. The BLAST algorithm (Altschul et al. (1990) J Mol Biol 215: 403-10) calculates percent sequence identity and performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between the two sequences. The software for performing BLAST analysis is publicly available through the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Homologues may readily be identified using, for example, the ClustalW multiple sequence alignment algorithm (version 1.83), with the default pairwise alignment parameters, and a scoring method in percentage. Global percentages of similarity and identity may also be determined using one of the methods available in the MatGAT software package (Campanella et al., BMC Bioinformatics. 2003 Jul. 10; 4:29. MatGAT: an application that generates similarity/identity matrices using protein or DNA sequences.). Minor manual editing may be performed to optimise alignment between conserved motifs, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, instead of using full-length sequences for the identification of homologues, specific domains may also be used. The sequence identity values, which are indicated below in Example 3 as a percentage were determined over the entire nucleic acid or polypeptide sequence (Table F herein), and/or over selected domains (such as the ATPase domain as represented by SEQ ID NO: 111, comprised in SEQ ID NO: 30; Table F1 herein) or conserved motif(s), using the programs mentioned above using the default parameters.
The present invention is illustrated by transforming plants with the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 29, encoding the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30. However, performance of the invention is not restricted to these sequences; the methods of the invention may advantageously be performed using any SWI2/SNF2-encoding nucleic acid sequence or SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides as defined herein.
Examples of nucleic acid sequences encoding plant SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides are given in Table E of Example 8 herein. Such nucleic acid sequences are useful in performing the methods of the invention. The polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8 are example sequences of orthologues and paralogues of the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides represented by SEQ ID NO: 30, the terms “orthologues” and “paralogues” being as defined herein. Further orthologues and paralogues may readily be identified by performing a so-called reciprocal blast search. Typically, this involves a first BLAST involving BLASTing a query sequence (for example using any of the sequences listed in Table E of Example 8) against any sequence database, such as the publicly available NCBI database. BLASTN or TBLASTX (using standard default values) are generally used when starting from a nucleotide sequence, and BLASTP or TBLASTN (using standard default values) when starting from a protein sequence. The BLAST results may optionally be filtered. The full-length sequences of either the filtered results or non-filtered results are then BLASTed back (second BLAST) against sequences from the organism from which the query sequence is derived (where the query sequence is SEQ ID NO: 29 or SEQ ID NO: 30, the second BLAST would therefore be against Synechocystis sequences). The results of the first and second BLASTs are then compared. A paralogue is identified if a high-ranking hit from the first blast is from the same species as from which the query sequence is derived, a BLAST back then ideally results in the query sequence amongst the highest hits; an orthologue is identified if a high-ranking hit in the first BLAST is not from the same species as from which the query sequence is derived, and preferably results upon BLAST back in the query sequence being among the highest hits.
High-ranking hits are those having a low E-value. The lower the E-value, the more significant the score (or in other words the lower the chance that the hit was found by chance). Computation of the E-value is well known in the art. In addition to E-values, comparisons are also scored by percentage identity. Percentage identity refers to the number of identical nucleotides (or amino acids) between the two compared nucleic acid (or polypeptide) sequences over a particular length. In the case of large families, ClustalW may be used, followed by a neighbour joining tree, to help visualize clustering of related genes and to identify orthologues and paralogues (see FIG. 7).
Nucleic acid variants may also be useful in practising the methods of the invention. Examples of such variants include nucleic acid sequences encoding homologues and derivatives of any one of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8, the terms “homologue” and “derivative” being as defined herein. Also useful in the methods of the invention are nucleic acid sequences encoding homologues and derivatives of orthologues or paralogues of any one of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8. Homologues and derivatives useful in the methods of the present invention have substantially the same biological and functional activity as the unmodified protein from which they are derived.
Further nucleic acid variants useful in practising the methods of the invention include portions of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides, nucleic acid sequences hybridising to nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides, splice variants of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides, allelic variants of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides, and variants of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides obtained by gene shuffling. The terms hybridising sequence, splice variant, allelic variant and gene shuffling are as described herein.
Nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides need not be full-length nucleic acid sequences, since performance of the methods of the invention does not rely on the use of full-length nucleic acid sequences. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a portion of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8.
A portion of a nucleic acid sequence may be prepared, for example, by making one or more deletions to the nucleic acid sequence. The portions may be used in isolated form or they may be fused to other coding (or non-coding) sequences in order to, for example, produce a protein that combines several activities. When fused to other coding sequences, the resultant polypeptide produced upon translation may be bigger than that predicted for the protein portion.
Portions useful in the methods of the invention, encode SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides as defined herein, and have substantially the same biological activity (i.e., enhancing yield-related traits) as the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8. Preferably, the portion is a portion of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or is a portion of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue or paralogue of any one of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8. Preferably the portion is, in increasing order of preference at least 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 or 1400 consecutive nucleotides in length, the consecutive nucleotides being of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue or paralogue of any one of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8. Most preferably the portion is a portion of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29. Preferably, the portion encodes a polypeptide sequence comprising any one or more of the domains or motifs defined herein. Preferably, the portion encodes a polypeptide sequence which when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 7, tends to cluster with the SSO1653 Glade of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides comprising the polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 rather than with any other SWI2/SNF2 Glade.
Another nucleic acid variant useful in the methods of the invention is a nucleic acid sequence capable of hybridising, under reduced stringency conditions, preferably under stringent conditions, with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined herein, or with a portion as defined herein.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid sequence capable of hybridizing to any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid sequence capable of hybridising to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8.
Hybridising sequences useful in the methods of the invention encode a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined herein, and have substantially the same biological activity (i.e., enhancing yield-related traits) as the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8. Preferably, the hybridising sequence is capable of hybridising to any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or to a portion of any of these sequences, a portion being as defined above, or wherein the hybridising sequence is capable of hybridising to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue or paralogue of any one of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8. Most preferably, the hybridising sequence is capable of hybridising to a nucleic acid sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 29 or to a portion thereof. Preferably, the hybridising sequence encodes a polypeptide sequence comprising any one or more of the motifs or domains as defined herein. Preferably, the hybridising sequence encodes a polypeptide sequence which when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 7, tends to cluster with the SSO1653 Glade of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides comprising the polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 rather than with any other SWI2/SNF2 Glade.
Another nucleic acid variant useful in the methods of the invention is a splice variant encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined hereinabove, a splice variant being as defined herein.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a splice variant of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or a splice variant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8.
The splice variants useful in the methods of the present invention have substantially the same biological activity (i.e., enhancing yield-related traits) as the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 30 and any of the polypeptide sequences depicted in Table E of Example 8. Preferably, the polypeptide sequence encoded by the splice variant comprises any one or more of the motifs or domains as defined herein. Preferably, the polypeptide sequence encoded by the splice variant, when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 7, tends to cluster with the SSO1653 Glade of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides comprising the polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 rather than with any other SWI2/SNF2 Glade.
Another nucleic acid variant useful in performing the methods of the invention is an allelic variant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined hereinabove, an allelic variant being as defined herein.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant an allelic variant of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or comprising introducing and expressing in a plant an allelic variant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8.
The allelic variants useful in the methods of the present invention have substantially the same biological activity (i.e., enhancing yield-related traits) as the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 30 and any of the polypeptide sequences depicted in Table E of Example 8. Allelic variants exist in nature, and encompassed within the methods of the present invention is the use of these natural alleles. Preferably, the allelic variant is an allelic variant of SEQ ID NO: 29 or an allelic variant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue or paralogue of SEQ ID NO: 30. Preferably, the polypeptide sequence encoded by the allelic variant comprises any one or more of the motifs or domains as defined herein. Preferably, the polypeptide sequence encoded by the allelic variant, when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 7, tends to cluster with the SSO1653 Glade of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides comprising the polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 rather than with any other SWI2/SNF2 Glade.
Gene shuffling or directed evolution may also be used to generate variants of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides as defined above; the term “gene shuffling” being as defined herein.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants, comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a variant of any one of the nucleic acid sequences given in Table E of Example 8, or comprising introducing and expressing in a plant a variant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an orthologue, paralogue or homologue of any of the polypeptide sequences given in Table E of Example 8, which variant nucleic acid sequence is obtained by gene shuffling.
The variant nucleic acid sequences obtained by gene shuffling useful in the methods of the present invention have substantially the same biological activity as the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 30 and any of the polypeptide sequences depicted in Table E of Example 8. Preferably, the variant nucleic acid sequence obtained by gene shuffling encodes a polypeptide sequence comprising any one or more of the motifs or domains as defined herein. Preferably, the polypeptide sequence encoded by the variant nucleic acid sequence obtained by gene shuffling, when used in the construction of a phylogenetic tree, such as the one depicted in FIG. 7, tends to cluster with the SSO1653 Glade of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides comprising the polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 rather than with any other SWI2/SNF2 Glade.
Furthermore, nucleic acid variants may also be obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. Several methods are available to achieve site-directed mutagenesis, the most common being PCR based methods (Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley Eds.).
Nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides may be derived from any natural or artificial source. The nucleic acid sequence may be modified from its native form in composition and/or genomic environment through deliberate human manipulation. Preferably the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide-encoding nucleic acid sequence is from a microbial genome, further preferably from archea (such from as the following phyla: Crenarcheaota, Euryarchaeota (comprising Halobacteria, Methanobacteria, Methanococci, Methanopyri, Archaeoglobi, Thermoplasmata, and Thermococci classes), Korarchaeota, or Nanoarchaeota) or bacteria (such from as the following phyla: Actinobacteria, Aquificae, Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi, Chlamydiae, Chloroflexi, Chrysiogenetes, Cyanobacteria, Deferribacteres, Deinococcus-Thermus, Dictyoglomi, Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Lentisphaerae, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Thermodesulfobacteria, Thermomicrobia, Thermotogae, Verrucomicrobia), more preferably from cyanobacteria, such as Synechocystis sp., Nostoc sp., Synechococcus sp., Prochlorococcus sp., Anaebena sp., Gloeobacter sp., or Thermosynechococcus sp., more preferably from Synechocystis sp., most preferably from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.
Performance of the methods of the invention gives plants having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants.
Reference herein to “enhanced yield-related traits” is taken to mean an increase in biomass (weight) of one or more parts of a plant, which may include aboveground (harvestable) parts and/or (harvestable) parts below ground. In particular, such harvestable parts are seeds, and performance of the methods of the invention results in plants having enhanced seed yield relative to control plants.
Taking corn as an example, a yield increase may be manifested as one or more of the following: increase in the number of plants established per hectare or acre, an increase in the number of ears per plant, an increase in the number of rows, number of kernels per row, kernel weight, thousand kernel weight, ear length/diameter, increase in the seed filling rate (which is the number of filled seeds divided by the total number of seeds and multiplied by 100), among others. Taking rice as an example, a yield increase may manifest itself as an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per hectare or acre, number of panicles per plant, number of spikelets per panicle, number of flowers (florets) per panicle (which is expressed as a ratio of the number of filled seeds over the number of primary panicles), increase in the seed filling rate (which is the number of filled seeds divided by the total number of seeds and multiplied by 100), increase in thousand kernel weight, among others.
The present invention provides a method for enhancing yield-related traits of plants relative to control plants, which method comprises increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined herein. Preferably, enhanced yield-related traits is one or more of: (i) increased number of flowers per panicle; (ii) increased total seed weight per plant; (iii) increased number of (filled) seeds; or (iv) increased harvest index.
Since the transgenic plants according to the present invention have enhanced yield-related traits, it is likely that these plants exhibit an increased growth rate (during at least part of their life cycle), relative to the growth rate of control plants at a corresponding stage in their life cycle. Besides the increased yield capacity, an increased efficiency of nutrient uptake may also contribute to the increase in yield. It is observed that the plants according to the present invention show a higher efficiency in nutrient uptake. Increased efficiency of nutrient uptake allows better growth of the plant, whether the plant is grown under stress or non-stress conditions.
The increased growth rate may be specific to one or more parts of a plant (including seeds), or may be throughout substantially the whole plant. Plants having an increased growth rate may have a shorter life cycle. The life cycle of a plant may be taken to mean the time needed to grow from a dry mature seed up to the stage where the plant has produced dry mature seeds, similar to the starting material. This life cycle may be influenced by factors such as early vigour, growth rate, greenness index, flowering time and speed of seed maturation. The increase in growth rate may take place at one or more stages in the life cycle of a plant or during substantially the whole plant life cycle. Increased growth rate during the early stages in the life cycle of a plant may reflect enhanced vigour. The increase in growth rate may alter the harvest cycle of a plant allowing plants to be sown later and/or harvested sooner than would otherwise be possible (a similar effect may be obtained with earlier flowering time). If the growth rate is sufficiently increased, it may allow for the further sowing of seeds of the same plant species (for example sowing and harvesting of rice plants followed by sowing and harvesting of further rice plants all within one conventional growing period). Similarly, if the growth rate is sufficiently increased, it may allow for the further sowing of seeds of different plants species (for example the sowing and harvesting of corn plants followed by, for example, the sowing and optional harvesting of soybean, potato or any other suitable plant). Harvesting additional times from the same rootstock in the case of some crop plants may also be possible. Altering the harvest cycle of a plant may lead to an increase in annual biomass production per acre (due to an increase in the number of times (say in a year) that any particular plant may be grown and harvested). An increase in growth rate may also allow for the cultivation of transgenic plants in a wider geographical area than their wild-type counterparts, since the territorial limitations for growing a crop are often determined by adverse environmental conditions either at the time of planting (early season) or at the time of harvesting (late season). Such adverse conditions may be avoided if the harvest cycle is shortened. The growth rate may be determined by deriving various parameters from growth curves, such parameters may be: T-Mid (the time taken for plants to reach 50% of their maximal size) and T-90 (time taken for plants to reach 90% of their maximal size), amongst others.
According to a preferred feature of the present invention, performance of the methods of the invention gives plants having an increased growth rate relative to control plants. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for increasing the growth rate of plants, which method comprises increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined herein.
An increase in yield and/or growth occurs whether the plant is grown under non-stress conditions or whether the plant is exposed to various stresses compared to control plants. Plants typically respond to exposure to stress by growing more slowly. In conditions of severe stress, the plant may even stop growing altogether. Mild stress on the other hand is defined herein as being any stress to which a plant is exposed which does not result in the plant ceasing to grow altogether without the capacity to resume growth. Mild stress in the sense of the invention leads to a reduction in the growth of the stressed plants of less than 40%, 35% or 30%, preferably less than 25%, 20% or 15%, more preferably less than 14%, 13%, 12%, 11% or 10% or less in comparison to the control plant grown under non-stress conditions. Due to advances in agricultural practices (irrigation, fertilization, pesticide treatments) severe stresses are not often encountered in cultivated crop plants. As a consequence, the compromised growth induced by mild stress is often an undesirable feature for agriculture. Mild stresses are the everyday biotic and/or abiotic (environmental) stresses to which a plant is exposed. Abiotic stresses may be due to drought or excess water, anaerobic stress, salt stress, chemical toxicity, oxidative stress and hot, cold or freezing temperatures. The abiotic stress may be an osmotic stress caused by a water stress (particularly due to drought), salt stress, oxidative stress or an ionic stress. Biotic stresses are typically those stresses caused by pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes, and insects. The term “non-stress” conditions as used herein are preferably those environmental conditions that do not significantly go beyond the everyday climatic and other abiotic conditions that plants may encounter most preferably those conditions that allow optimal growth of plants. Persons skilled in the art are aware of normal soil conditions and climatic conditions for a given location.
Performance of the methods of the invention gives plants grown under non-stress conditions or under mild drought conditions having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants grown under comparable stress conditions. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhancing yield-related traits in plants grown under non-stress conditions or under mild drought conditions, which method comprises increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined above.
Performance of the methods according to the present invention results in plants grown under abiotic stress conditions having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants grown under comparable stress conditions. As reported in Wang et al. (Planta (2003) 218: 1-14), abiotic stress leads to a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes that adversely affect plant growth and productivity. Drought, salinity, extreme temperatures and oxidative stress are known to be interconnected and may induce growth and cellular damage through similar mechanisms. For example, drought and/or salinisation are manifested primarily as osmotic stress, resulting in the disruption of homeostasis and ion distribution in the cell. Oxidative stress, which frequently accompanies high or low temperature, salinity or drought stress may cause denaturation of functional and structural proteins. As a consequence, these diverse environmental stresses often activate similar cell signaling pathways and cellular responses, such as the production of stress proteins, up-regulation of anti-oxidants, accumulation of compatible solutes and growth arrest. Since diverse environmental stresses activate similar pathways, the exemplification of the present invention with drought stress should not be seen as a limitation to drought stress, but more as a screen to indicate the involvement of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides as defined above, in enhancing yield-related traits relative to control plants grown in comparable stress conditions, in abiotic stresses in general.
A particularly high degree of “cross talk” is reported between drought stress and high-salinity stress (Rabbani et al. (2003) Plant Physiol 133: 1755-1767). Therefore, it would be apparent that an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides would, along with their usefulness in enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants grown under drought stress conditions, also find use in enhancing yield-related traits in plants, relative to control plants grown under various other abiotic stress conditions.
The term “abiotic stress” as defined herein is taken to mean any one or more of: water stress (due to drought or excess water), anaerobic stress, salt stress, temperature stress (due to hot, cold or freezing temperatures), chemical toxicity stress and oxidative stress. According to one aspect of the invention, the abiotic stress is an osmotic stress, selected from water stress, salt stress, oxidative stress and ionic stress. Preferably, the water stress is drought stress. The term salt stress is not restricted to common salt (NaCl), but may be any one or more of: NaCl, KCl, LiCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, amongst others.
In particular, the enhanced yield-related traits in plants grown under abiotic stress conditions (preferably under drought stress conditions) relative to control plants grown in comparable stress conditions, may include one or more of the following: (i) increased aboveground area; (ii) increased total root biomass; (iii) increased thick root biomass; (iv) increased thin root biomass; (v) increased number of flowers per panicle; (vi) increased seed fill rate; (vii) increased total seed weight per plant; (viii) increased number of (filled) seeds; or (ix) increased harvest index.
Performance of the methods of the invention gives plants having enhanced yield-related traits under abiotic stress conditions relative to control plants grown in comparable stress conditions. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for enhanced yield-related traits in plants grown under abiotic stress conditions, which method comprises increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide. According to one aspect of the invention, the abiotic stress is an osmotic stress, selected from one or more of the following: water stress, salt stress, oxidative stress and ionic stress. Preferably, the water stress is drought stress.
Another example of abiotic environmental stress is the reduced availability of one or more nutrients that need to be assimilated by the plants for growth and development. Because of the strong influence of nutrition utilization efficiency on plant yield and product quality, a huge amount of fertilizer is poured onto fields to optimize plant growth and quality. Productivity of plants ordinarily is limited by three primary nutrients, phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen, which is usually the rate-limiting element in plant growth of these three. Therefore the major nutritional element required for plant growth is nitrogen (N). It is a constituent of numerous important compounds found in living cells, including amino acids, proteins (enzymes), nucleic acids, and chlorophyll. 1.5% to 2% of plant dry matter is nitrogen and approximately 16% of total plant protein. Thus, nitrogen availability is a major limiting factor for crop plant growth and production (Frink et al. (1999) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96(4): 1175-1180), and has as well a major impact on protein accumulation and amino acid composition. Therefore, of great interest are crop plants with an increased yield when grown under nitrogen-limiting conditions.
The present invention encompasses plants, parts thereof (including seeds), or plant cells obtainable by the methods according to the present invention. The plants, plant parts or plant cells comprise an isolated nucleic acid transgene encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined above.
The invention also provides genetic constructs and vectors to facilitate introduction and/or expression in plants of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides. The gene constructs may be inserted into vectors, which may be commercially available, suitable for transforming into plants and suitable for expression of the gene of interest in the transformed cells. The invention also provides use of a gene construct as defined herein in the methods of the invention.
More specifically, the present invention provides a construct comprising:

    
    
        (d) a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined above;
        (e) one or more control sequences capable of driving expression of the nucleic acid sequence of (a); and optionally
        (f) a transcription termination sequence.
    
    


The term “control sequence” and “termination sequence” are as defined herein.
In one embodiment, one of the control sequences of a construct is a tissue-specific promoter, preferably a promoter for expression in young expanding tissues. An example of a tissue-specific promoter for expression in young expanding tissues is a beta-expansin promoter, for example a rice beta-expansin promoter as represented by SEQ ID NO: 112.
Plants are transformed with a vector comprising any of the nucleic acid sequences described above. The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells containing the sequence of interest. The sequence of interest is operably linked to one or more control sequences (at least to a promoter).
Advantageously, any type of promoter may be used to drive expression of the nucleic acid sequence. The promoter may be a constitutive promoter, which refers to a promoter that is transcriptionally active during most, but not necessarily all, phases of its growth and development and under most environmental conditions, in at least one cell, tissue or organ. Alternatively, the promoter may be an inducible promoter, i.e. having induced or increased transcription initiation in response to a chemical (for a review see Gatz 1997, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol., 48:89-108), environmental or physical stimulus. Another example of an inducible promoter is a stress-inducible promoter, i.e. a promoter activated when a plant is exposed to various stress conditions, or a pathogen-induced promoter.
Additionally or alternatively, the promoter may be an organ-specific or tissue-specific promoter, i.e. one that is capable of preferentially initiating transcription in certain organs or tissues, such as the leaves, roots, seed tissue etc; or the promoter may be a ubiquitous promoter, which is active in substantially all tissues or cells of an organism, or the promoter may be developmentally regulated, thereby being active during certain developmental stages or in parts of the plant that undergo developmental changes. Promoters able to initiate transcription in certain organs or tissues only are referred to herein as “organ-specific” or “tissue-specific” respectively, similarly, promoters able to initiate transcription in certain cells only are referred to herein as “cell-specific”.
In one embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined above, such as the nucleic acid sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 29, is operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter, preferably to a promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid sequence in young expanding tissues, or in the apical meristem.
Preferably, the promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid sequence in young expanding tissues has a comparable expression profile to a beta-expansin promoter. More specifically, the promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid sequence in young expanding tissues is a promoter capable of driving expression in the cell expansion zone of a shoot or root. Most preferably, the promoter capable of preferentially expressing the nucleic acid sequence in young expanding tissues is a beta-expansin promoter, for example a rice beta-expansin promoter as represented by SEQ ID NO: 112.
For the identification of functionally equivalent promoters, the promoter strength and/or expression pattern of a candidate promoter may be analysed for example by operably linking the promoter to a reporter gene and assaying the expression level and pattern of the reporter gene in various tissues of the plant. Suitable well-known reporter genes include for example beta-glucuronidase or beta galactosidase. The promoter activity is assayed by measuring the enzymatic activity of the beta-glucuronidase or beta-galactosidase. The promoter strength and/or expression pattern may then be compared to that of a reference promoter (such as the one used in the methods of the present invention). Alternatively, promoter strength may be assayed by quantifying mRNA levels or by comparing mRNA levels of the nucleic acid sequence used in the methods of the present invention, with mRNA levels of housekeeping genes such as 18S rRNA, using methods known in the art, such as Northern blotting with densitometric analysis of autoradiograms, quantitative real-time PCR or RT-PCR (Heid et al., 1996 Genome Methods 6: 986-994). Generally by “weak promoter” is intended a promoter that drives expression of a coding sequence at a low level. By “low level” is intended at levels of about 1/10,000 transcripts to about 1/100,000 transcripts, to about 1/500,0000 transcripts per cell. Conversely, a “strong promoter” drives expression of a coding sequence at high level, or at about 1/10 transcripts to about 1/100 transcripts to about 1/1,000 transcripts per cell.
Optionally, one or more terminator sequences may be used in the construct introduced into a plant. Additional regulatory elements may include transcriptional as well as translational enhancers. Those skilled in the art will be aware of terminator and enhancer sequences that may be suitable for use in performing the invention. Such sequences would be known or may readily be obtained by a person skilled in the art.
An intron sequence may also be added to the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) or in the coding sequence to increase the amount of the mature message that accumulates in the cytosol. Inclusion of a spliceable intron in the transcription unit in both plant and animal expression constructs has been shown to increase gene expression at both the mRNA and protein levels up to 1000-fold (Buchman and Berg, Mol. Cell Biol. 8:4395-4405 (1988); Callis et al., Genes Dev. 1:1183-1200 (1987)). Such intron enhancement of gene expression is typically greatest when placed near the 5′ end of the transcription unit. Use of the maize introns Adh1-S intron 1, 2, and 6, the Bronze-1 intron are known in the art. For general information, see The Maize Handbook, Chapter 116, Freeling and Walbot, Eds., Springer, N.Y. (1994).
Other control sequences (besides promoter, enhancer, silencer, intron sequences, 3′UTR and/or 5′UTR regions) may be protein and/or RNA stabilizing elements. Such sequences would be known or may readily be obtained by a person skilled in the art.
The genetic constructs of the invention may further include an origin of replication sequence that is required for maintenance and/or replication in a specific cell type. One example is when a genetic construct is required to be maintained in a bacterial cell as an episomal genetic element (e.g. plasmid or cosmid molecule). Preferred origins of replication include, but are not limited to, the f1-ori and colE1.
For the detection of the successful transfer of the nucleic acid sequences as used in the methods of the invention and/or selection of transgenic plants comprising these nucleic acid sequences, it is advantageous to use marker genes (or reporter genes). Therefore, the genetic construct may optionally comprise a selectable marker gene. Selectable markers are described in more detail in the “definitions” section herein.
It is known that upon stable or transient integration of nucleic acid sequences into plant cells, only a minority of the cells takes up the foreign DNA and, if desired, integrates it into its genome, depending on the expression vector used and the transfection technique used. To identify and select these integrants, a gene coding for a selectable marker (such as the ones described above) is usually introduced into the host cells together with the gene of interest. These markers can for example be used in mutants in which these genes are not functional by, for example, deletion by conventional methods. Furthermore, nucleic acid sequences encoding a selectable marker can be introduced into a host cell on the same vector that comprises the sequence encoding the polypeptides of the invention or used in the methods of the invention, or else in a separate vector. Cells which have been stably transfected with the introduced nucleic acid sequence can be identified for example by selection (for example, cells which have integrated the selectable marker survive whereas the other cells die).
Since the marker genes, particularly genes for resistance to antibiotics and herbicides, are no longer required or are undesired in the transgenic host cell once the nucleic acid sequences have been introduced successfully, the process according to the invention for introducing the nucleic acid sequences advantageously employs techniques, which enable the removal or excision of these marker genes. One such a method is what is known as co-transformation. The co-transformation method employs two vectors simultaneously for the transformation, one vector bearing the nucleic acid sequence according to the invention and a second bearing the marker gene(s). A large proportion of transformants receives or, in the case of plants, comprises (up to 40% or more of the transformants), both vectors. In case of transformation with Agrobacteria, the transformants usually receive only a part of the vector, i.e. the sequence flanked by the T-DNA, which usually represents the expression cassette. The marker genes can subsequently be removed from the transformed plant by performing crosses. In another method, marker genes integrated into a transposon are used for the transformation together with desired nucleic acid sequence (known as the Ac/Ds technology). The transformants can be crossed with a transposase source or the transformants are transformed with a nucleic acid construct conferring expression of a transposase, transiently or stable. In some cases (approx. 10%), the transposon jumps out of the genome of the host cell once transformation has taken place successfully and is lost. In a further number of cases, the transposon jumps to a different location. In these cases the marker gene must be eliminated by performing crosses. In microbiology, techniques were developed which make possible, or facilitate, the detection of such events. A further advantageous method relies on what is known as recombination systems; whose advantage is that elimination by crossing can be dispensed with. The best-known system of this type is what is known as the Cre/lox system. Cre1 is a recombinase that removes the sequences located between the loxP sequences. If the marker gene is integrated between the loxP sequences, it is removed once transformation has taken place successfully, by expression of the recombinase. Further recombination systems are the HIN/HIX, FLP/FRT and REP/STB system (Tribble et al., J. Biol. Chem., 275, 2000: 22255-22267; Velmurugan et al., J. Cell Biol., 149, 2000: 553-566). A site-specific integration into the plant genome of the nucleic acid sequences according to the invention is possible. Naturally, these methods can also be applied to microorganisms such as yeast, fungi or bacteria.
The invention also provides a method for the production of transgenic plants having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants, comprising introduction and expression in a plant of any nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined hereinabove.
More specifically, the present invention provides a method for the production of transgenic plants having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants, which method comprises:

    
    
        (i) introducing and expressing in a plant or plant cell a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide; and
        (ii) cultivating the plant cell under conditions promoting plant growth and development.
    
    


The nucleic acid sequence may be introduced directly into a plant cell or into the plant itself (including introduction into a tissue, organ or any other part of a plant). According to a preferred feature of the present invention, the nucleic acid sequence is preferably introduced into a plant by transformation. The term “transformation” is described in more detail in the “definitions” section herein.
The genetically modified plant cells can be regenerated via all methods with which the skilled worker is familiar. Suitable methods can be found in the abovementioned publications by S. D. Kung and R. Wu, Potrykus or Höfgen and Willmitzer.
Generally after transformation, plant cells or cell groupings are selected for the presence of one or more markers which are encoded by plant-expressible genes co-transferred with the gene of interest, following which the transformed material is regenerated into a whole plant. To select transformed plants, the plant material obtained in the transformation is, as a rule, subjected to selective conditions so that transformed plants can be distinguished from untransformed plants. For example, the seeds obtained in the above-described manner can be planted and, after an initial growing period, subjected to a suitable selection by spraying. A further possibility consists in growing the seeds, if appropriate after sterilization, on agar plates using a suitable selection agent so that only the transformed seeds can grow into plants. Alternatively, the transformed plants are screened for the presence of a selectable marker such as the ones described above.
Following DNA transfer and regeneration, putatively transformed plants may also be evaluated, for instance using Southern analysis or quantitative PCR, for the presence of the gene of interest, copy number and/or genomic organisation. Alternatively or additionally, expression levels of the newly introduced DNA may be monitored using Northern and/or Western analysis, both techniques being well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art.
The generated transformed plants may be propagated by a variety of means, such as by clonal propagation or classical breeding techniques. For example, a first generation (or T1) transformed plant may be selfed and homozygous second-generation (or T2) transformants selected, and the T2 plants may then further be propagated through classical breeding techniques.
The generated transformed organisms may take a variety of forms. For example, they may be chimeras of transformed cells and non-transformed cells; clonal transformants (e.g., all cells transformed to contain the expression cassette); grafts of transformed and untransformed tissues (e.g., in plants, a transformed rootstock grafted to an untransformed scion).
The present invention clearly extends to any plant cell or plant produced by any of the methods described herein, and to all plant parts and propagules thereof. The present invention extends further to encompass the progeny of a primary transformed or transfected cell, tissue, organ or whole plant that has been produced by any of the aforementioned methods, the only requirement being that progeny exhibit the same genotypic and/or phenotypic characteristic(s) as those produced by the parent in the methods according to the invention.
The invention also includes host cells containing an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as defined hereinabove. Preferred host cells according to the invention are plant cells. Host plants for the nucleic acid sequences or the vector used in the method according to the invention, the expression cassette or construct or vector are, in principle, advantageously all plants, which are capable of synthesizing the polypeptides used in the inventive method.
The methods of the invention are advantageously applicable to any plant. Plants that are particularly useful in the methods of the invention include all plants which belong to the superfamily Viridiplantae, in particular monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants including fodder or forage legumes, ornamental plants, food crops, trees or shrubs. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plant is a crop plant. Examples of crop plants include soybean, sunflower, canola, alfalfa, rapeseed, cotton, tomato, potato and tobacco. Further preferably, the plant is a monocotyledonous plant. Examples of monocotyledonous plants include sugarcane. More preferably the plant is a cereal. Examples of cereals include rice, maize, wheat, barley, millet, rye, triticale, sorghum and oats.
The invention also extends to harvestable parts of a plant such as, but not limited to seeds, leaves, fruits, flowers, stems, rhizomes, tubers and bulbs. The invention furthermore relates to products derived, preferably directly derived, from a harvestable part of such a plant, such as dry pellets or powders, oil, fat and fatty acids, starch or proteins.
Methods for increasing expression of nucleic acid sequences or genes, or gene products, are well documented in the art and include, for example, overexpression driven by appropriate promoters, the use of transcription enhancers or translation enhancers. Isolated nucleic acid sequences which serve as promoter or enhancer elements may be introduced in an appropriate position (typically upstream) of a non-heterologous form of a polynucleotide so as to upregulate expression. For example, endogenous promoters may be altered in vivo by mutation, deletion, and/or substitution (see, Kmiec, U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,350; Zarling et al., PCT/US93/03868), or isolated promoters may be introduced into a plant cell in the proper orientation and distance from a gene of the present invention so as to control the expression of the gene.
If polypeptide expression is desired, it is generally desirable to include a polyadenylation region at the 3′-end of a polynucleotide coding region. The polyadenylation region can be derived from the natural gene, from a variety of other plant genes, or from T-DNA. The 3′ end sequence to be added may be derived from, for example, the nopaline synthase or octopine synthase genes, or alternatively from another plant gene, or less preferably from any other eukaryotic gene.
As mentioned above, a preferred method for increasing expression of a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide is by introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide; however the effects of performing the method, i.e. enhancing yield-related traits, may also be achieved using other well known techniques. A description of some of these techniques will now follow.
One such technique is T-DNA activation tagging (Hayashi et al. Science (1992) 1350-1353), which involves insertion of T-DNA, usually containing a promoter (may also be a translation enhancer or an intron), in the genomic region of the gene of interest or 10 kb up- or downstream of the coding region of a gene in a configuration such that the promoter directs expression of the targeted gene. Typically, regulation of expression of the targeted gene by its natural promoter is disrupted and the gene falls under the control of the newly introduced promoter. The promoter is typically embedded in a T-DNA. This T-DNA is randomly inserted into the plant genome, for example, through Agrobacterium infection and leads to modified expression of genes near the inserted T-DNA. The resulting transgenic plants show dominant phenotypes due to modified expression of genes close to the introduced promoter.
The effects of the invention may also be reproduced using the technique of TILLING (Targeted Induced Local Lesions In Genomes); for a description of the same see the “definitions” section.
The effects of the invention may also be reproduced using homologous recombination; for a description of the same see the “definitions” section.
The present invention also encompasses use of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides as described herein and use of these SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides in enhancing yield-related traits in plants relative to control plants. Preferably, enhanced yield-related traits is one or more of: (i) increased number of flowers per panicle; (ii) increased total seed weight per plant; (iii) increased number of (filled) seeds; or (iv) increased harvest index.
The present invention further encompasses use of nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides as described herein and use of these SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides in enhancing yield-related traits in plants grown under abiotic stress conditions (preferably under drought stress conditions), relative to control plants grown under comparable stress conditions. Preferably, enhanced yield-related traits are one or more of: (i) increased aboveground area; (ii) increased total root biomass; (iii) increased thick root biomass; (iv) increased thin root biomass; (v) increased number of flowers per panicle; (vi) increased seed fill rate; (vii) increased total seed weight per plant; (viii) increased number of (filled) seeds; or (ix) increased harvest index.
Nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides described herein, or the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides themselves, may find use in breeding programmes in which a DNA marker is identified, which may be genetically linked to a gene encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide. The genes/nucleic acid sequences or the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides themselves may be used to define a molecular marker. This DNA or protein marker may then be used in breeding programmes to select plants having enhanced yield-related traits as defined hereinabove in the methods of the invention.
Allelic variants of a gene/nucleic acid sequence encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide may also find use in marker-assisted breeding programmes. Such breeding programmes sometimes require introduction of allelic variation by mutagenic treatment of the plants, using for example EMS mutagenesis; alternatively, the programme may start with a collection of allelic variants of so called “natural” origin caused unintentionally. Identification of allelic variants then takes place, for example, by PCR. This is followed by a step for selection of superior allelic variants of the sequence in question and which give enhanced yield-related traits. Selection is typically carried out by monitoring growth performance of plants containing different allelic variants of the sequence in question. Growth performance may be monitored in a greenhouse or in the field. Further optional steps include crossing plants in which the superior allelic variant was identified with another plant. This could be used, for example, to make a combination of interesting phenotypic features.
Nucleic acid sequences encoding SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides may also be used as probes for genetically and physically mapping the genes that they are a part of, and as markers for traits linked to those genes. Such information may be useful in plant breeding in order to develop lines with desired phenotypes. Such use of nucleic acid sequences encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide requires only a nucleic acid sequence of at least 15 nucleotides in length. The nucleic acid sequences encoding an SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide may be used as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. Southern blots (Sambrook J, Fritsch E F and Maniatis T (1989) Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual) of restriction-digested plant genomic DNA may be probed with nucleic acid sequences encoding the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide. The resulting banding patterns may then be subjected to genetic analyses using computer programs such as MapMaker (Lander et al. (1987) Genomics 1: 174-181) in order to construct a genetic map. In addition, the nucleic acid sequences may be used to probe Southern blots containing restriction endonuclease-treated genomic DNAs of a set of individuals representing parent and progeny of a defined genetic cross. Segregation of the DNA polymorphisms is noted and used to calculate the position of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide in the genetic map previously obtained using this population (Botstein et al. (1980) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 32:314-331).
The production and use of plant gene-derived probes for use in genetic mapping is described in Bernatzky and Tanksley (1986) Plant Mol. Biol. Reporter 4: 37-41. Numerous publications describe genetic mapping of specific cDNA clones using the methodology outlined above or variations thereof. For example, F2 intercross populations, backcross populations, randomly mated populations, near isogenic lines, and other sets of individuals may be used for mapping. Such methodologies are well known to those skilled in the art.
The nucleic acid probes may also be used for physical mapping (i.e., placement of sequences on physical maps; see Hoheisel et al. In: Non-mammalian Genomic Analysis: A Practical Guide, Academic press 1996, pp. 319-346, and references cited therein).
In another embodiment, the nucleic acid probes may be used in direct fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) mapping (Trask (1991) Trends Genet. 7:149-154). Although current methods of FISH mapping favour use of large clones (several kb to several hundred kb; see Laan et al. (1995) Genome Res. 5:13-20), improvements in sensitivity may allow performance of FISH mapping using shorter probes.
A variety of nucleic acid amplification-based methods for genetic and physical mapping may be carried out using the nucleic acid sequences. Examples include allele-specific amplification (Kazazian (1989) J. Lab. Clin. Med 11:95-96), polymorphism of PCR-amplified fragments (CAPS; Sheffield et al. (1993) Genomics 16:325-332), allele-specific ligation (Landegren et al. (1988) Science 241:1077-1080), nucleotide extension reactions (Sokolov (1990) Nucleic Acid Res. 18:3671), Radiation Hybrid Mapping (Walter et al. (1997) Nat. Genet. 7:22-28) and Happy Mapping (Dear and Cook (1989) Nucleic Acid Res. 17:6795-6807). For these methods, the sequence of a nucleic acid is used to design and produce primer pairs for use in the amplification reaction or in primer extension reactions. The design of such primers is well known to those skilled in the art. In methods employing PCR-based genetic mapping, it may be necessary to identify DNA sequence differences between the parents of the mapping cross in the region corresponding to the instant nucleic acid sequence. This, however, is generally not necessary for mapping methods.
The methods according to the present invention result in plants having enhanced yield-related traits relative to control plants, as described hereinbefore. This trait may also be combined with other economically advantageous traits, such as further yield-enhancing traits (under normal or stress growth conditions), tolerance to other abiotic and biotic stresses, traits modifying various architectural features and/or biochemical and/or physiological features.



DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
The present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures in which:
FIG. 1 shows an alignment of HpaG polypeptides with motifs 1 and 2 indicated in bold and underlined for SEQ ID NO: 2. The sequences shown are: ABJ97680 (SEQ IDNO: 20); AAC95121 (SED IDNO: 22): BAD29979 (SEO IDNO: 24): ABB72197 (SEO IDNO: 26): ABK51590 (SEQ IDNO: 14); ABK51589 (SEQ IDNO: 8); ABK51587 (SEQ IDNO: 10); ABK51588 (SEQ IDNO: 16) AAM35307 (SEQ IDNO: 12); ABG36696 (SEQ IDNO: 18); AAM40538 (SEQ IDNO: 28).
FIG. 2 shows a phylogenetic tree with the group of HpaG polypeptides delineated from other bacterial and from plant proteins (the various sequences are indicated by their GenBank accession numbers and/or gi numbers).
FIG. 3 shows the binary vector for increased expression in Oryza sativa of an HpaG protein-encoding nucleic acid from Xanthomonas under the control of a rice GOS2 promoter (pGOS2).
FIG. 4 details examples of Harpin sequences useful in performing the methods according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a scheme of the structure of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides useful in performing the methods of the invention. The SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides useful in performing the methods of the invention comprise an N-terminal domain and an ATPase domain, both marked as an open box. The typical 8 motifs I, Ia, II, III, IV, V, Va and VI comprised in the ATPase domain of the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides useful in performing the methods of the invention are marked as black vertical lines.
FIG. 6 shows the sequence logo of the ATPase domain of the 149 SWI2/SNF2 SSO1653 subfamily members as in Flaus et al., (2006). The ATPase domain as represented by SEQ ID NO: 111, and comprised in SEQ ID NO: 30, is in accordance with this sequence logo.
FIG. 7 shows an unrooted radial neighbor-joining tree of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides from numerous SWI2/SNF2 subfamilies (including the 149 SWI2/SNF2 SSO1653 subfamily members) constructed by Flaus et al., (2006). The polypeptide as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 is comprised within the SSO1653 cluster (circled in the Figure), together with all the archeal and bacterial (collectively called microbial) SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides.
FIG. 8 shows a CLUSTAL W (1,83) multiple sequence alignment of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides from various microbes, using default values. SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides share sequence conservation essentially in Motifs I, Ia, II, III, IV, V, Va and VI, comprised in the ATPase domain. These are boxed and identified as such. Another feature that is highlighted is the ATPase domain, for example as represented by SEQ ID NO: 111, comprised in SEQ ID NO: 30. The ATPase domain is comprised (from N to C-terminus) between the first amino acid residue of Motif 1 and the last amino acid residue at the C-terminus of the SWI2/SNF2polypeptide. The beginning and the end of the ATPase domain are marked, and the ATPase domain itself is identified using a black block above the aligned polypeptides. The sequences shown are: Synco SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 30); Anava SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 32); Nostoc 13 SNF2(SEQ ID NO: 60); Nodsp13 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 58); Lyn13 sp_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 42); Crowa13 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 38); Synel PCC6301_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 98); Synel13 PCC7942_SNF2(SEQ ID NO: 100); Theel_BP-1 13 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 102); Glovi13 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 40); Proma CCMP1375 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 68); Proma13 MIT\921113 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 70); Proma13 MIT\9303 13 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 72); Proma13 MIT9313_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 74): Syn_sp_CC9311_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 86); Syn_sp_WH\7805 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 94); Syn_sp_RS9916 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 92); Syn_sp_CC9605_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 88); Syn_sp_WH\8102_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 96); Syn_sp_CC9902_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 90); Syn_sp_\WH\5701_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 82); Myctu_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 52); Mycbo_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 50); Nocfa_IFM\10152_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 56); Myxxa_DK_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 54); Symth_IAM14863_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 80); Metac_C2A_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 44); Metma_Go1_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 48); Pelph_BU-1 13 SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 66); Archaeon\RC-I_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 34); Nos_sp_PCC7120_SNF2\II (SEQ ID NO: 62); Bacce_ATCC10987_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 36); Methu_JF-1_SNF2 (SEQ ID NO: 46).
FIG. 9 shows the binary vector for increased expression in Oryza sativa of a Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide under the control of a beta-expansin promoter.
FIG. 10 details examples of SNF2 sequences useful in performing the methods according to the present invention.



EXAMPLES
The present invention will now be described with reference to the following examples, which are by way of illustration alone. The following examples are not intended to completely define or otherwise limit the scope of the invention.
Example 1
Identification of HpaG Sequences
Sequences (full length cDNA, ESTs or genomic) related to SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or protein sequences related to SEQ ID NO: 2 were identified amongst those maintained in the Entrez Nucleotides database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) using database sequence search tools, such as the Basic Local Alignment Tool (BLAST) (Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; and Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402). The program was used to find regions of local similarity between sequences by comparing nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences to sequence databases and by calculating the statistical significance of matches. The polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1 was used for the TBLASTN algorithm, with default settings and the filter to ignore low complexity sequences set off. The output of the analysis was viewed by pairwise comparison, and ranked according to the probability score (E-value), where the score reflects the probability that a particular alignment occurs by chance (the lower the E-value, the more significant the hit). In addition to E-values, comparisons were also scored by percentage identity. Percentage identity refers to the number of identical nucleotides (or amino acids) between the two compared nucleic acid (or polypeptide) sequences over a particular length. In some instances, the default parameters may be adjusted to modify the stringency of the search.
Table A provides a list of nucleic acid and protein sequences related to the nucleic acid sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and the protein sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2.







TABLE A







HpaG-encoding nucleic acid sequences and HpaG polypeptides


useful in the methods of the present invention.













Nucleic acid
Polypeptide



Name
Source organism
SEQ ID NO:
SEQ ID NO:
Status














HpaG
Xanthomonas axonopodis
1
2
Full length


HpaG_T44C
Synthetic construct
7
8
Full length


HpaG-T
Synthetic construct
9
10
Full length


Hpa1
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri str. 306
11
12
Full length


HpaG-N
Synthetic construct
13
14
Full length


HpaG_G
Xanthomonas axonopodis
15
16
Full length


Hrp
Xanthomonas smithii subsp. smithii
17
18
Full length


hypersensitive response-
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae strain JXOIII
19
20
Full length


functioning factor A


Hpa1
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
21
22
Full length


Hpa1
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
23
24
Full length


hpaGXooc
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola
25
26
Full length


Hpa1
Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris str.
27
28
Full length



ATCC 33913









Example 2
Alignment of HpaG Polypeptide Sequences
Alignment of polypeptide sequences (FIG. 1) was performed using the ClustalW programme which is based on the popular Clustal algorithm of progressive alignment (Thompson et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res 25:4876-4882; Chenna et al. (2003). Nucleic Acids Res 31:3497-3500). Default values are for the gap open penalty of 10, for the gap extension penalty of 0.1 and the selected weight matrix is Blosum 62 (if polypeptides are aligned). Minor manual editing was done to further optimise the alignment.
A phylogenetic tree of HpaG polypeptides (FIG. 2) was constructed using a neighbour-joining clustering algorithm as provided in the AlignX programme from the Vector NTI (Invitrogen).
Example 3
Calculation of Global Percentage Identity Between Polypeptide Sequences Useful in Performing the Methods of the Invention
Global percentages of similarity and identity between full length polypeptide sequences useful in performing the methods of the invention were determined using one of the methods available in the art, the MatGAT (Matrix Global Alignment Tool) software (Campanella et al., BMC Bioinformatics. 2003 4:29. MatGAT: an application that generates similarity/identity matrices using protein or DNA sequences). MatGAT software generates similarity/identity matrices for DNA or protein sequences without needing pre-alignment of the data. The program performs a series of pair-wise alignments using the Myers and Miller global alignment algorithm (with a gap opening penalty of 12, and a gap extension penalty of 2), calculates similarity and identity using for example Blosum 62 (for polypeptides), and then places the results in a distance matrix. Sequence similarity is shown in the bottom half of the dividing line and sequence identity is shown in the top half of the diagonal dividing line.
Parameters used in the comparison were:

    
    
        Scoring matrix: Blosum62
        First Gap: 12
        Extending gap: 2
    
    


Results of the software analysis are shown in Table B for the global similarity and identity over the full length of the polypeptide sequences (excluding the partial polypeptide sequences).
Percentage identity is given above the diagonal in bold and percentage similarity is given below the diagonal (normal face).
The percentage identity between the HpaG polypeptide sequences useful in performing the methods of the invention can be as low as 37% amino acid identity compared to SEQ ID NO: 9.







TABLE B







MatGAT results for global similarity and identity over the full length of the polypeptide sequences.




















1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12























 1. SEQ ID NO: 2

99.2
94.0
91.2
91.0
90.2
85.4
66.7
66.7
66.7
59.6
37.7


 2. ABK51589
99.2

93.2
90.5
90.2
89.5
84.7
67.4
67.4
67.4
60.3
37.7


 3. ABK51587
94.0
93.2

85.4
85.0
92.0
79.6
60.3
60.3
60.3
56.4
33.3


 4. AAM35307
92.0
91.2
86.1

82.5
81.8
89.8
70.9
70.9
70.9
61.4
36.6


 5. ABK51590
91.0
90.2
90.4
83.2

81.2
76.6
57.4
57.4
57.4
50.7
32.8


 6. ABK51588
90.2
89.5
92.0
82.5
89.3

75.2
58.2
58.2
58.2
56.4
33.8


 7. ABG36696
89.5
88.7
83.5
92.7
80.5
79.7

70.7
70.7
70.7
58.8
37.0


 8. ABJ97680
77.0
77.7
70.5
80.6
67.6
68.3
81.3

100.0 
100.0 
64.5
35.0


 9. AAC95121
77.0
77.7
70.5
80.6
67.6
68.3
81.3
100.0 

100.0 
64.5
35.0


10. BAD29979
77.0
77.7
70.5
80.6
67.6
68.3
81.3
100.0 
100.0 

64.5
35.0


11. ABB72197
72.9
73.7
72.8
73.7
68.0
72.8
72.9
72.7
72.7
72.7

34.6


12. AAM40538
51.9
51.9
48.0
49.6
46.3
50.4
50.4
45.3
45.3
45.3
53.6









Example 4
Cloning and Vector Construction
Unless otherwise stated, recombinant DNA techniques are performed according to standard protocols described in (Sambrook (2001) Molecular Cloning: a laboratory manual, 3rd Edition Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, CSH, New York) or in Volumes 1 and 2 of Ausubel et al. (1994), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Current Protocols. Standard materials and methods for plant molecular work are described in Plant Molecular Biology Labfax (1993) by R. D. D. Croy, published by BIOS Scientific Publications Ltd (UK) and Blackwell Scientific Publications (UK).
The Xanthomonas HpaG coding sequence was amplified by PCR from a Xanthomonas axonopodis DNA library. The PCR fragment of the expected length was purified and subsequently cloned in a Gateway® vector using standard technology. The entry clone comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 was then used in an LR reaction with a destination vector used for Oryza sativa transformation. This vector contained as functional elements within the T-DNA borders: a plant selectable marker; a screenable marker expression cassette; and a Gateway cassette intended for LR in vivo recombination with the nucleic acid sequence of interest already cloned in the entry clone. A rice GOS2 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 5) for constitutive expression was located upstream of this Gateway cassette. Alternatively, a green tissue specific promoter, such as the protochlorophyllide reductase promoter (SEQ ID NO: 6), was shown to be equally useful.
After the LR recombination step, the resulting expression vector pGOS2::HpaG was transformed into Agrobacterium strain LBA4044 according to methods well known in the art.
Example 5
Plant Transformation
Rice Transformation
The Agrobacterium containing the expression vector was used to transform Oryza sativa plants. Mature dry seeds of the rice japonica cultivar Nipponbare were dehusked. Sterilization was carried out by incubating for one minute in 70% ethanol, followed by 30 minutes in 0.2% HgCl2, followed by a 6 times 15 minutes wash with sterile distilled water. The sterile seeds were then germinated on a medium containing 2,4-D (callus induction medium). After incubation in the dark for four weeks, embryogenic, scutellum-derived calli were excised and propagated on the same medium. After two weeks, the calli were multiplied or propagated by subculture on the same medium for another 2 weeks. Embryogenic callus pieces were sub-cultured on fresh medium 3 days before co-cultivation (to boost cell division activity).
Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 containing the expression vector was used for co-cultivation. Agrobacterium was inoculated on AB medium with the appropriate antibiotics and cultured for 3 days at 28° C. The bacteria were then collected and suspended in liquid co-cultivation medium to a density (OD600) of about 1. The suspension was then transferred to a Petri dish and the calli immersed in the suspension for 15 minutes. The callus tissues were then blotted dry on a filter paper and transferred to solidified, co-cultivation medium and incubated for 3 days in the dark at 25° C. Co-cultivated calli were grown on 2,4-D-containing medium for 4 weeks in the dark at 28° C. in the presence of a selection agent. During this period, rapidly growing resistant callus islands developed. After transfer of this material to a regeneration medium and incubation in the light, the embryogenic potential was released and shoots developed in the next four to five weeks. Shoots were excised from the calli and incubated for 2 to 3 weeks on an auxin-containing medium from which they were transferred to soil. Hardened shoots were grown under high humidity and short days in a greenhouse.
Approximately 35 independent T0 rice transformants were generated for one construct. The primary transformants were transferred from a tissue culture chamber to a greenhouse. After a quantitative PCR analysis to verify copy number of the T-DNA insert, only single copy transgenic plants that exhibit tolerance to the selection agent were kept for harvest of T1 seed. Seeds were then harvested three to five months after transplanting. The method yielded single locus transformants at a rate of over 50% (Aldemita and Hodges 1996, Chan et al. 1993, Hiei et al. 1994).
Corn Transformation
Transformation of maize (Zea mays) is performed with a modification of the method described by Ishida et al. (1996) Nature Biotech 14(6): 745-50. Transformation is genotype-dependent in corn and only specific genotypes are amenable to transformation and regeneration. The inbred line A188 (University of Minnesota) or hybrids with A188 as a parent are good sources of donor material for transformation, but other genotypes can be used successfully as well. Ears are harvested from corn plant approximately 11 days after pollination (DAP) when the length of the immature embryo is about 1 to 1.2 mm. Immature embryos are cocultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the expression vector, and transgenic plants are recovered through organogenesis. Excised embryos are grown on callus induction medium, then maize regeneration medium, containing the selection agent (for example imidazolinone but various selection markers can be used). The Petri plates are incubated in the light at 25° C. for 2-3 weeks, or until shoots develop. The green shoots are transferred from each embryo to maize rooting medium and incubated at 25° C. for 2-3 weeks, until roots develop. The rooted shoots are transplanted to soil in the greenhouse. T1 seeds are produced from plants that exhibit tolerance to the selection agent and that contain a single copy of the T-DNA insert.
Wheat Transformation
Transformation of wheat is performed with the method described by Ishida et al. (1996) Nature Biotech 14(6): 745-50. The cultivar Bobwhite (available from CIMMYT, Mexico) is commonly used in transformation. Immature embryos are co-cultivated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the expression vector, and transgenic plants are recovered through organogenesis. After incubation with Agrobacterium, the embryos are grown in vitro on callus induction medium, then regeneration medium, containing the selection agent (for example imidazolinone but various selection markers can be used). The Petri plates are incubated in the light at 25° C. for 2-3 weeks, or until shoots develop. The green shoots are transferred from each embryo to rooting medium and incubated at 25° C. for 2-3 weeks, until roots develop. The rooted shoots are transplanted to soil in the greenhouse. T1 seeds are produced from plants that exhibit tolerance to the selection agent and that contain a single copy of the T-DNA insert.
Soybean Transformation
Soybean is transformed according to a modification of the method described in the Texas A&M U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,310. Several commercial soybean varieties are amenable to transformation by this method. The cultivar Jack (available from the Illinois Seed foundation) is commonly used for transformation. Soybean seeds are sterilised for in vitro sowing. The hypocotyl, the radicle and one cotyledon are excised from seven-day old young seedlings. The epicotyl and the remaining cotyledon are further grown to develop axillary nodes. These axillary nodes are excised and incubated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the expression vector. After the cocultivation treatment, the explants are washed and transferred to selection media. Regenerated shoots are excised and placed on a shoot elongation medium. Shoots no longer than 1 cm are placed on rooting medium until roots develop. The rooted shoots are transplanted to soil in the greenhouse. T1 seeds are produced from plants that exhibit tolerance to the selection agent and that contain a single copy of the T-DNA insert.
Rapeseed/Canola Transformation
Cotyledonary petioles and hypocotyls of 5-6 day old young seedling are used as explants for tissue culture and transformed according to Babic et al. (1998, Plant Cell Rep 17: 183-188). The commercial cultivar Westar (Agriculture Canada) is the standard variety used for transformation, but other varieties can also be used. Canola seeds are surface-sterilized for in vitro sowing. The cotyledon petiole explants with the cotyledon attached are excised from the in vitro seedlings, and inoculated with Agrobacterium (containing the expression vector) by dipping the cut end of the petiole explant into the bacterial suspension. The explants are then cultured for 2 days on MSBAP-3 medium containing 3 mg/l BAP, 3% sucrose, 0.7% Phytagar at 23° C., 16 hr light. After two days of co-cultivation with Agrobacterium, the petiole explants are transferred to MSBAP-3 medium containing 3 mg/l BAP, cefotaxime, carbenicillin, or timentin (300 mg/l) for 7 days, and then cultured on MSBAP-3 medium with cefotaxime, carbenicillin, or timentin and selection agent until shoot regeneration. When the shoots are 5-10 mm in length, they are cut and transferred to shoot elongation medium (MSBAP-0.5, containing 0.5 mg/l BAP). Shoots of about 2 cm in length are transferred to the rooting medium (MS0) for root induction. The rooted shoots are transplanted to soil in the greenhouse. T1 seeds are produced from plants that exhibit tolerance to the selection agent and that contain a single copy of the T-DNA insert.
Alfalfa Transformation
A regenerating clone of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is transformed using the method of (McKersie et al., 1999 Plant Physiol 119: 839-847). Regeneration and transformation of alfalfa is genotype dependent and therefore a regenerating plant is required. Methods to obtain regenerating plants have been described. For example, these can be selected from the cultivar Rangelander (Agriculture Canada) or any other commercial alfalfa variety as described by Brown DCW and A Atanassov (1985. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture 4: 111-112). Alternatively, the RA3 variety (University of Wisconsin) has been selected for use in tissue culture (Walker et al., 1978 Am J Bot 65:654-659). Petiole explants are cocultivated with an overnight culture of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58C1 pMP90 (McKersie et al., 1999 Plant Physiol 119: 839-847) or LBA4404 containing the expression vector. The explants are cocultivated for 3 d in the dark on SH induction medium containing 288 mg/L Pro, 53 mg/L thioproline, 4.35 g/L K2SO4, and 100 μm acetosyringinone. The explants are washed in half-strength Murashige-Skoog medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) and plated on the same SH induction medium without acetosyringinone but with a suitable selection agent and suitable antibiotic to inhibit Agrobacterium growth. After several weeks, somatic embryos are transferred to BOi2Y development medium containing no growth regulators, no antibiotics, and 50 g/L sucrose. Somatic embryos are subsequently germinated on half-strength Murashige-Skoog medium. Rooted seedlings were transplanted into pots and grown in a greenhouse. T1 seeds are produced from plants that exhibit tolerance to the selection agent and that contain a single copy of the T-DNA insert.
Cotton Transformation
Cotton is transformed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens according to the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,135. Cotton seeds are surface sterilised in 3% sodium hypochlorite solution during 20 minutes and washed in distilled water with 500 μg/ml cefotaxime. The seeds are then transferred to SH-medium with 50 μg/ml benomyl for germination. Hypocotyls of 4 to 6 days old seedlings are removed, cut into 0.5 cm pieces and are placed on 0.8% agar. An Agrobacterium suspension (approx. 108 cells per ml, diluted from an overnight culture transformed with the gene of interest and suitable selection markers) is used for inoculation of the hypocotyl explants. After 3 days at room temperature and lighting, the tissues are transferred to a solid medium (1.6 g/l Gelrite) with Murashige and Skoog salts with B5 vitamins (Gamborg et al., Exp. Cell Res. 50:151-158 (1968)), 0.1 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.1 mg/l 6-furfurylaminopurine and 750 μg/ml MgCL2, and with 50 to 100 μg/ml cefotaxime and 400-500 μg/ml carbenicillin to kill residual bacteria. Individual cell lines are isolated after two to three months (with subcultures every four to six weeks) and are further cultivated on selective medium for tissue amplification (30° C., 16 hr photoperiod). Transformed tissues are subsequently further cultivated on non-selective medium during 2 to 3 months to give rise to somatic embryos. Healthy looking embryos of at least 4 mm length are transferred to tubes with SH medium in fine vermiculite, supplemented with 0.1 mg/l indole acetic acid, 6 furfurylaminopurine and gibberellic acid. The embryos are cultivated at 30° C. with a photoperiod of 16 hrs, and plantlets at the 2 to 3 leaf stage are transferred to pots with vermiculite and nutrients. The plants are hardened and subsequently moved to the greenhouse for further cultivation.
Example 6
Phenotypic Evaluation Procedure
6.1 Evaluation Setup
Approximately 35 independent TO rice transformants were generated. The primary transformants were transferred from a tissue culture chamber to a greenhouse for growing and harvest of T1 seed. Six events, of which the T1 progeny segregated 3:1 for presence/absence of the transgene, were retained. For each of these events, approximately 10 T1 seedlings containing the transgene (hetero- and homo-zygotes) and approximately 10 T1 seedlings lacking the transgene (nullizygotes) were selected by monitoring visual marker expression. The transgenic plants and the corresponding nullizygotes were grown side-by-side at random positions. Greenhouse conditions were of shorts days (12 hours light), 28° C. in the light and 22° C. in the dark, and a relative humidity of 70%.
Four T1 events were further evaluated in the T2 generation following the same evaluation procedure as for the T1 generation but with more individuals per event. From the stage of sowing until the stage of maturity the plants were passed several times through a digital imaging cabinet. At each time point digital images (2048×1536 pixels, 16 million colours) were taken of each plant from at least 6 different angles.
Drought Screen
Plants from six events (T2 seeds) were grown in potting soil under normal conditions until they approached the heading stage. They were then transferred to a “dry” section where irrigation was withheld. Humidity probes were inserted in randomly chosen pots to monitor the soil water content (SWC). When SWC went below certain thresholds, the plants were automatically re-watered continuously until a normal level was reached again. The plants were then re-transferred again to normal conditions. The rest of the cultivation (plant maturation, seed harvest) was the same as for plants not grown under abiotic stress conditions. Growth and yield parameters are recorded as detailed for growth under normal conditions.
Nitrogen Use Efficiency Screen
Rice plants from T2 seeds are grown in potting soil under normal conditions except for the nutrient solution. The pots are watered from transplantation to maturation with a specific nutrient solution containing reduced N nitrogen (N) content, usually between 7 to 8 times less.
The rest of the cultivation (plant maturation, seed harvest) is the same as for plants not grown under abiotic stress. Growth and yield parameters are recorded as detailed for growth under normal conditions.
Salt Stress Screen
Plants are grown on a substrate made of coco fibers and argex (3 to 1 ratio). A normal nutrient solution is used during the first two weeks after transplanting the plantlets in the greenhouse. After the first two weeks, 25 mM of salt (NaCl) is added to the nutrient solution, until the plants are harvested. Seed-related parameters were then measured.
6.2 Statistical Analysis: F-Test
A two factor ANOVA (analysis of variants) was used as a statistical model for the overall evaluation of plant phenotypic characteristics. An F-test was carried out on all the parameters measured of all the plants of all the events transformed with the gene of the present invention. The F-test was carried out to check for an effect of the gene over all the transformation events and to verify for an overall effect of the gene, also known as a global gene effect. The threshold for significance for a true global gene effect was set at a 5% probability level for the F-test. A significant F-test value points to a gene effect, meaning that it is not only the mere presence or position of the gene that is causing the differences in phenotype.
Because two experiments with overlapping events were carried out, a combined analysis was performed. This is useful to check consistency of the effects over the two experiments, and if this is the case, to accumulate evidence from both experiments in order to increase confidence in the conclusion. The method used was a mixed-model approach that takes into account the multilevel structure of the data (i.e. experiment-event-segregants). P-values were obtained by comparing likelihood ratio test to chi square distributions.
6.3 Parameters Measured
Biomass-Related Parameter Measurement
From the stage of sowing until the stage of maturity the plants were passed several times through a digital imaging cabinet. At each time point digital images (2048×1536 pixels, 16 million colours) were taken of each plant from at least 6 different angles.
The plant aboveground area (or leafy biomass) was determined by counting the total number of pixels on the digital images from aboveground plant parts discriminated from the background. This value was averaged for the pictures taken on the same time point from the different angles and was converted to a physical surface value expressed in square mm by calibration. Experiments show that the aboveground plant area measured this way correlates with the biomass of plant parts above ground. The above ground area is the area measured at the time point at which the plant had reached its maximal leafy biomass. The early vigour is the plant (seedling) aboveground area three weeks post-germination. Increase in root biomass is expressed as an increase in total root biomass (measured as maximum biomass of roots observed during the lifespan of a plant); or as an increase in the root/shoot index (measured as the ratio between root mass and shoot mass in the period of active growth of root and shoot).
Early vigour was determined by counting the total number of pixels from aboveground plant parts discriminated from the background. This value was averaged for the pictures taken on the same time point from different angles and was converted to a physical surface value expressed in square mm by calibration. The results described below are for plants three weeks post-germination.
Seed-Related Parameter Measurements
The mature primary panicles were harvested, counted, bagged, barcode-labelled and then dried for three days in an oven at 37° C. The panicles were then threshed and all the seeds were collected and counted. The filled husks were separated from the empty ones using an air-blowing device. The empty husks were discarded and the remaining fraction was counted again. The filled husks were weighed on an analytical balance. The number of filled seeds was determined by counting the number of filled husks that remained after the separation step. The total seed yield was measured by weighing all filled husks harvested from a plant. Total seed number per plant was measured by counting the number of husks harvested from a plant. Thousand Kernel Weight (TKW) is extrapolated from the number of filled seeds counted and their total weight. The Harvest Index (HI) in the present invention is defined as the ratio between the total seed yield and the above ground area (mm2), multiplied by a factor 106. The total number of flowers per panicle as defined in the present invention is the ratio between the total number of seeds and the number of mature primary panicles. The seed fill rate as defined in the present invention is the proportion (expressed as a %) of the number of filled seeds over the total number of seeds (or florets).
Example 7
Results of the Phenotypic Evaluation of the Transgenic Plants
The results of the evaluation of transgenic rice plants expressing an HpaG nucleic acid under non-stress conditions are presented below. An increase was observed for aboveground biomass (AreaMax), emergence vigour (early vigour), total seed yield, number of filled seeds, fill rate, number of flowers per panicle, harvest index, and thousand kernel weight (see table C)







TABLE C







Results of the measurements for yield


increase under non-stress conditions












Overall
p-value



Parameter
increase (in %)
of F-test















AreaMax
13
0.0000



Early vigour
25
0.0041



Total weight of seeds
30
0.0000



Nr of filled seeds
26
0.0000



Fill rate
9
0.0000



Flowers per panicle
12
0.0371



Harvest Index
18
0.0000



Thousand Kernel Weight
4
0.0000










The results of the evaluation of transgenic rice plants expressing an HpaG nucleic acid under drought-stress conditions are presented hereunder. An increase was observed for total seed weight, number of filled seeds, fill rate, harvest index and thousand-kernel weight (Table D).







TABLE D







Results of the measurements for yield increase


under drought stress conditions












Overall
p-value



Parameter
increase (in %)
of F-test















Total weight of seeds
40
0.0000



Nr of filled seeds
37
0.0000



Fill rate
30
0.0000



Harvest Index
37
0.0000



Thousand Kernel Weight
3
0.0001










Example 8
Identification of Sequences Related to SEQ ID NO: 29 and SEQ ID NO: 30
Sequences (full length cDNA, ESTs or genomic) related to SEQ ID NO: 29 and/or protein sequences related to SEQ ID NO: 30 were identified amongst those maintained in the Entrez Nucleotides database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) using database sequence search tools, such as the Basic Local Alignment Tool (BLAST) (Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; and Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402). The program was used to find regions of local similarity between sequences by comparing nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences to sequence databases and by calculating the statistical significance of matches. The polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO: 29 was used for the TBLASTN algorithm, with default settings and the filter to ignore low complexity sequences set off. The output of the analysis was viewed by pairwise comparison, and ranked according to the probability score (E-value), where the score reflects the probability that a particular alignment occurs by chance (the lower the E-value, the more significant the hit). In addition to E-values, comparisons were also scored by percentage identity. Percentage identity refers to the number of identical nucleotides (or amino acids) between the two compared nucleic acid (or polypeptide) sequences over a particular length. In some instances, the default parameters may be adjusted to modify the stringency of the search.
Table E provides a list of nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences related to the nucleic acid sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 29 and the polypeptide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 30.
















NCBI polypeptide






accession
NA SEQ
AA SEQ


Name
Source organism
number
ID NO
ID NO



















Synecho_PCC6803_SNF2
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 BA000022
NP_442847.1
29
30


Anava_SNF2
Anaebena variabilis ATCC 29413
YP_323780.1
31
32


Archaeon RC-I_SNF2
Uncultured methanogenic archaeon RC-I_SNF2
CAJ35100.1
33
34


Bacce_ATCC10987_SNF2
Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987
AAS44264.1
35
36


Crowa_SNF2
Crocosphaera watsonii WH 8501 ctg336
ZP_00516613.1
37
38


Glovi_SNF2
Gloeobacter violaceus PCC 7421
NP_925212
39
40


Lyn_sp_SNF2
Lyngbya sp. PCC 8106
ZP_01622333.1
41
42


Metac_C2A_SNF2
Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A
NP_615162.1
43
44


Methu_JF-1_SNF2
Methanospirillum hungatei JF-1
ABD41401.1
45
46


Metma_Go1_SNF2
Methanosarcina mazei Goe1
NP_633503.1
47
48


Mycbo_SNF2
Mycobacterium bovis BCG Pasteur 1173P2
CAL72108.1
49
50


Myctu_SNF2
Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv
BX842578.1
51
52


Myxxa_DK_SNF2
Myxococcus xanthus DK 1622
YP_635387.1
53
54


Nocfa_IFM 10152_SNF2
Nocardia farcinica IFM 10152
BAD55876.1
55
56


Nodsp_SNF2
Nodularia spumigena
ZP_01629192.1
57
58


Nos_sp_PCC7120_SNF2
Nostoc sp. PCC7120
BAB78256.1
59
60


Nos_sp_PCC7120_SNF2 II
Nostoc sp. PCC7120
ZP_00106150.1
61
62


Nospu_PCC 73102_SNF2
Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73102
NP_488438
63
64


Pelph_BU-1_SNF2
Pelodictyon phaeoclathratiforme BU-1
ZP_00589405.1
65
66


Proma_CCMP1375_SNF2
Prochlorococcus marinus str. CCMP1375
NP_874441.1
67
68


Proma_MIT 9211_SNF2
Prochlorococcus marinus str. MIT 9211
ZP_01006255.1
69
70


Proma_MIT 9303_SNF2
Prochlorococcus marinus str. MIT 9303
YP_001018833.1
71
72


Proma_MIT9313_SNF2
Prochlorococcus marinus str. MIT 9313
NP_895982.1
73
74


Rho_sp_RHA1_SNF2
Rhodococcus sp. RHA1
ABG93371.1
75
76


Saltr_CNB-440_SNF2
Salinispora tropica CNB-440
ZP_01431310
77
78


Symth_IAM14863_SNF2
Symbiobacterium thermophilum IAM 14863
BAD39642
79
80


Syn_sp_WH5701_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. WH 5701
ZP_01083591.1
81
82


Syn_sp_BL107_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. BL107
ZP_01469219.1
83
84


Syn_sp_CC9311_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. CC9311
YP_731958.1
85
86


Syn_sp_CC9605_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. CC9605
YP_382805.1
87
88


Syn_sp_CC9902_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. CC9902
YP_378176.1
89
90


Syn_sp_RS9916_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. RS9916
ZP_01471362
91
92


Syn_sp_WH 7805_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. WH 7805
ZP_01125039.1
93
94


Syn_sp_WH 8102_SNF2
Synechococcus sp. WH 8102
NP_898451.1
95
96


Synel_PCC6301_SNF2
Synechococcus elongatus PCC 6301
YP_171376
97
98


Synel_PCC7942_SNF2
Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942
YP_399891.1
99
100


Theel_BP-1_SNF2
Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1
NP_682403.1
101
102









Additional sources of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides useful in performing the methods of the invention can be found in the supplementary table S1C provided by Flaus et al. (2006). The authors scanned 24 complete archeal and 269 bacterial genomes, and identified 149 SWI2/SNF2 of the SSO1653 subfamily type.
Example 9
Alignment of SWI2/SNF2 Polypeptide Sequences
Alignment of polypeptide sequences was performed the Clustal algorithm (1.83) of progressive alignment, using default values (Thompson et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res 25:4876-4882; Chenna et al. (2003). Nucleic Acids Res 31:3497-3500). Results in FIG. 8 show that SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides share sequence conservation essentially in Motifs I, Ia, II, III, IV, V, Va and VI (which are boxed), represented as follows:

    
    
        (i) Motif I LADDMGLGK(T/S), as represented by SEQ ID N0: 103 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif I;
        (ii) Motif Ia L(L/V/I)(V/I/L)(A/C)P(T/M/V)S(V/I/L)(V/I/L)XNW, as represented by SEQ ID N0: 104 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif Ia;
        (iii) Motif II DEAQ(N/A/H)(V/I/L)KN, as represented by SEQ ID N0: 105 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif II;
        (iv) Motif III A(L/M)TGTPXEN, as represented by SEQ ID N0: 106 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif III;
        (v) Motif IV (L/I)XF(T/S)Q(F/Y), as represented by SEQ ID N0: 107 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif IV;
        (vi) Motif V S(L/V)KAGG(V/T/L)G(L/I)(N/T)LTXA(N/S/T)HV, as represented by SEQ ID N0: 108 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif V;
        (vii) Motif Va DRWWNPAVE, as represented by SEQ ID N0: 109 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif Va; and
        (viii) Motif VI QA(T/S)DR(A/TN)(F/Y)R(I/L)GQ, as represented by SEQ ID N0: 110 or a motif having in increasing order of preference at least 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the sequence of Motif VI,

where X in Motif Ia, Motif III, Motif IV, and Motif V, is any amino acid.

    
    


These eight motifs are comprised within the ATPase domain. The ATPase domain is comprised (from N-terminus to C-terminus) between the first amino acid residue of Motif 1 and the last amino acid residue at the C-terminus of the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide. The beginning and the end of the ATPase domain are marked in FIG. 8, and the ATPase domain itself is identified using a black block above the aligned polypeptides. An example of an ATPase domain is the ATPase domain of SEQ ID NO: 30, represented by SEQ ID NO: 111.
The sequence logo of the ATPase domain of the 149 SWI2/SNF2 SSO1653 subfamily members is presented in Flaus et al., (2006), and shown in FIG. 6. Sequence logos are a graphical representation of an amino acid or nucleic acid multiple sequence alignment. Each logo consists of stacks of symbols, one stack for each position in the sequence. The overall height of the stack indicates the sequence conservation at that position, while the height of symbols within the stack indicates the relative frequency of each amino or nucleic acid at that position. In general, a sequence logo provides a richer and more precise description of, for example, a binding site, than would a consensus sequence. The algorithm (WebLogo) to produce such logos is available at the server of the University of California, Berkeley. The ATPase domain as represented by SEQ ID NO: 111, and comprised in SEQ ID NO: 30, is in accordance with the sequence logo as represented in FIG. 6.
An unrooted radial neighbor-joining tree of SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides from numerous SWI2/SNF2 subfamilies (including SSO1653) was constructed by Flaus et al., (2006), as shown in FIG. 7. The polypeptide as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 is comprised within the SSO1653 cluster (circled in the Figure), together with all the archeal and bacterial (collectively called microbial) SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides.
Example 10
Calculation of Global Percentage Identity Between Polypeptide Sequences Useful in Performing the Methods of the Invention
Global percentages of similarity and identity between full length polypeptide sequences useful in performing the methods of the invention were determined using one of the methods available in the art, the MatGAT (Matrix Global Alignment Tool) software (BMC Bioinformatics. 2003 4:29. MatGAT: an application that generates similarity/identity matrices using protein or DNA sequences. Campanella J J, Bitincka L, Smalley J; software hosted by Ledion Bitincka). MatGAT software generates similarity/identity matrices for DNA or protein sequences without needing pre-alignment of the data. The program performs a series of pair-wise alignments using the Myers and Miller global alignment algorithm (with a gap opening penalty of 12, and a gap extension penalty of 2), calculates similarity and identity using for example Blosum 62 (for polypeptides), and then places the results in a distance matrix. Sequence similarity is shown in the bottom half of the dividing line and sequence identity is shown in the top half of the diagonal dividing line.
Parameters used in the comparison were:

    
    
        Scoring matrix: Blosum62
        First Gap: 12
        Extending gap: 2
    
    


Results of the software analysis are shown in Table F for the global similarity and identity over the full length of the polypeptide sequences (excluding the partial polypeptide sequences). Percentage identity is given above the diagonal and percentage similarity is given below the diagonal.
The percentage identity between the full length SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide sequences of the SSO1653 subfamily, useful in performing the methods of the invention, ranges between 33 and 52% amino acid identity compared to SEQ ID NO: 30 (Table F).
The percentage identity between the ATPase domain of the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide sequences of the SSO1653 subfamily, useful in performing the methods of the invention, ranges between 45 and 70% amino acid identity compared to the ATPase domain as represented by SEQ ID NO: 111, comprised in SEQ ID NO: 30 (Table F1).







TABLE F





MatGAT results for global similarity and identity over the full length of the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide sequences.



































1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19





 1. Synco_SNF2

48
38
33
52
46
48
38
33
37
37
37
38
36
47
34
40
49
37


 2. Anava_SNF2
64

40
32
53
52
60
38
34
37
38
38
38
35
76
36
66
94
38


 3. Archaeon_RC-I_SNF2
57
60

34
39
40
40
41
34
40
42
42
39
36
41
36
32
41
38


 4. Bacce_ATCC10987_SNF2
49
48
52

33
34
33
33
33
32
34
34
31
34
32
32
26
32
34


 5. Crowa_SNF2
68
70
60
51

47
53
36
34
36
36
36
35
32
52
35
43
53
38


 6. Glovi_SNF2\
62
67
59
51
65

53
38
34
39
40
40
38
37
52
37
41
52
39


 7. Lyn_sp_SNF2
64
75
60
51
71
68

37
34
37
37
37
36
33
59
35
47
60
38


 8. Metac_C2A_SNF2
55
56
60
50
56
56
57

34
90
42
42
38
36
38
36
30
38
47


 9. Methu_JF-1_SNF2
53
53
55
48
56
52
53
52

34
35
35
32
33
33
31
27
34
33


10. Metma_Goe1_SNF2
55
56
60
48
55
56
57
95
52

41
41
38
35
38
36
29
38
47


11. Mycbo_SNF2
53
54
58
50
56
57
53
57
52
57

99
41
43
39
35
31
38
40


12. Myctu_SNF2
53
54
58
50
56
57
53
57
52
57
99

41
42
39
35
31
38
40


13. Myxxa_DK1622_SNF2
53
55
56
46
53
54
54
55
49
56
54
54

38
39
33
30
38
37


14. Nocfa_IFM10152_SNF2
51
51
52
51
51
55
51
50
48
51
55
55
50

35
33
27
35
37


15. Nodsp_SNF2
64
87
60
49
68
67
73
56
52
56
55
55
55
50

36
68
76
37


16. Nos_sp_PCC7120_SNF2 II
53
56
58
51
56
55
55
56
51
56
54
54
52
51
55

29
37
37


17. Nospu_PCC73102_SNF2
56
75
51
47
60
60
63
47
44
46
48
48
44
47
76
48

67
30


18. Nostoc_SNF2
64
97
60
48
70
67
76
57
53
56
54
54
55
51
86
58
76

38


19. Pelph_BU-1_SNF2
55
55
57
51
56
57
56
63
52
62
58
58
53
53
54
54
48
54


20. Proma_CCMP1375_SNF2
58
60
56
47
60
58
62
56
51
55
52
52
50
48
59
52
51
59
52


21. Proma_MIT9211_SNF2
58
58
55
46
60
58
61
55
50
54
53
53
50
50
59
52
51
59
54


22. Proma_MIT9303_SNF2
58
59
54
45
59
57
59
54
50
54
51
50
52
49
58
49
50
58
51


23. Proma_MIT9313_SNF2
58
58
54
43
58
57
59
54
50
54
51
51
52
49
58
49
50
58
51


24. Rho_sp_RHA1_SNF2
51
51
51
52
52
54
51
52
49
52
55
55
49
75
50
50
48
51
54


25. Saltr_CNB-440_SNF2
55
56
58
49
56
56
55
58
49
57
65
65
55
56
56
54
48
55
58


26. Symth_IAM14863_SNF2
53
53
56
51
53
58
52
53
50
53
55
55
53
54
53
52
47
53
55


27. Syn_sp_WH5701_SNF2
60
59
57
46
61
60
60
54
51
54
53
53
52
50
58
50
51
60
52


28. Syn_sp_BL107_SNF2
56
56
53
44
57
57
57
50
47
50
49
49
48
47
55
48
53
56
51


29. Syn_sp_CC9311_SNF2
59
60
56
44
60
60
61
55
51
54
52
52
51
49
59
52
51
60
52


30. Syn_sp_CC9605_SNF2
59
60
57
46
60
59
61
55
52
55
52
52
52
50
59
52
51
60
54


31. Syn_sp_CC9902_SNF2
59
59
56
46
61
59
61
55
51
54
52
52
51
50
59
52
52
60
54


32. Syn_sp_RS9916_SNF2
59
60
56
45
59
59
60
56
50
55
53
53
52
50
58
52
51
60
53


33. Syn_sp_WH7805_SNF2
58
60
55
45
60
58
61
55
52
55
52
52
51
49
59
51
51
60
52


34. Syn_sp_WH8102_SNF2
60
60
56
45
62
59
61
54
51
55
53
53
51
50
59
51
51
60
54


35. Synel_PCC6301_SNF2
63
65
58
50
63
64
66
53
52
53
54
54
51
52
65
54
57
66
56


36. Synel_PCC7942_SNF2
63
65
58
51
63
64
66
53
52
53
54
54
51
52
65
53
57
66
56


37. Theel_BP-1_SNF2
60
62
56
51
63
65
63
55
51
53
55
55
51
52
61
54
55
63
54





























20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37





 1. Synco_SNF2
41
41
41
41
36
38
37
42
40
42
43
43
43
42
43
47
47
46


 2. Anava_SNF2
42
40
41
41
36
40
37
43
38
43
42
42
43
43
42
48
48
48


 3. Archaeon_RC-I_SNF2
36
36
37
37
36
39
38
38
33
37
37
36
37
37
37
39
39
39


 4. Bacce_ATCC10987_SNF2
30
30
28
28
33
32
35
29
27
29
30
30
30
29
29
33
33
34


 5. Crowa_SNF2
41
40
38
38
33
36
34
39
34
39
38
38
38
39
39
44
44
45


 6. Glovi_SNF2\
41
40
40
40
37
40
40
43
39
43
41
42
42
42
42
46
46
49


 7. Lyn_sp_SNF2
41
40
39
39
34
38
37
41
36
40
41
40
41
40
40
48
48
47


 8. Metac_C2A_SNF2
36
35
35
35
36
41
38
37
33
36
36
36
36
37
36
36
36
38


 9. Methu_JF-1_SNF2
30
31
31
31
33
33
32
30
29
31
32
32
31
32
31
33
33
34


10. Metma_Goe1_SNF2
35
34
35
35
36
41
37
36
33
36
36
36
35
36
36
35
35
37


11. Mycbo_SNF2
35
35
35
35
41
52
39
38
33
36
36
36
37
37
37
39
39
39


12. Myctu_SNF2
35
35
35
35
41
52
39
38
33
36
36
36
37
37
37
39
39
39


13. Myxxa_DK1622_SNF2
33
33
36
36
37
43
41
37
34
36
37
36
37
37
36
37
37
37


14. Nocfa_IFM10152_SNF2
31
33
35
35
64
43
40
35
32
35
36
35
36
36
36
37
37
37


15. Nodsp_SNF2
41
41
41
41
34
39
37
41
38
42
42
41
41
42
42
46
46
48


16. Nos_sp_PCC7120_SNF2 II
33
31
30
30
32
35
32
32
29
32
32
32
32
31
31
34
34
35


17. Nospu_PCC73102_SNF2
34
34
34
34
27
30
29
33
35
34
35
34
34
35
35
36
36
39


18. Nostoc_SNF2
43
41
41
41
36
39
37
42
38
42
42
42
42
43
43
48
48
48


19. Pelph_BU-1_SNF2
35
36
37
36
37
40
39
36
35
37
38
38
37
36
38
37
37
38


20. Proma_CCMP1375_SNF2

63
60
60
32
34
36
58
57
61
62
61
62
61
61
41
41
40


21. Proma_MIT9211_SNF2
78

66
66
32
35
35
61
61
66
66
65
65
66
65
42
42
40


22. Proma_MIT9303_SNF2
76
80

99
35
38
37
73
75
83
82
80
84
83
82
44
44
40


23. Proma_MIT9313_SNF2
76
80
99

35
38
37
72
75
84
82
79
84
83
82
44
44
39


24. Rho_sp_RHA1_SNF2
49
51
49
49

43
40
36
31
35
35
35
35
35
35
37
37
38


25. Saltr_CNB-440_SNF2
52
53
52
52
55

42
39
35
39
39
39
39
39
39
40
40
39


26. Symth_IAM14863_SNF2
52
52
51
51
55
56

38
35
37
38
38
37
37
38
37
37
39


27. Syn_sp_WH5701_SNF2
73
77
81
81
51
54
53

68
74
73
73
75
75
74
47
47
42


28. Syn_sp_BL107_SNF2
73
75
83
83
48
50
51
79

78
85
93
78
79
85
42
42
38


29. Syn_sp_CC9311_SNF2
77
81
89
89
49
54
51
83
86

84
83
89
91
85
45
45
41


30. Syn_sp_CC9605_SNF2
78
81
88
88
51
54
53
82
90
91

90
85
85
92
45
45
41


31. Syn_sp_CC9902_SNF2
77
80
88
88
50
54
54
82
94
91
95

83
84
91
46
46
41


32. Syn_sp_RS9916_SNF2
79
81
90
90
49
55
51
83
87
94
92
92

89
85
46
46
41


33. Syn_sp_WH7805_SNF2
77
81
89
89
49
54
51
83
85
94
91
90
94

85
46
46
41


34. Syn_sp_WH8102_SNF2
78
81
89
89
51
54
53
83
91
92
96
96
92
92

46
46
41


35. Synel_PCC6301_SNF2
59
59
59
59
53
56
53
62
58
60
61
61
60
60
61

99
48


36. Synel_PCC7942_SNF2
59
59
59
59
53
56
53
62
58
60
61
61
60
60
61
99

48


37. Theel_BP-1_SNF2
57
55
54
54
53
54
56
58
55
56
56
57
56
56
56
64
64
















TABLE F1





MatGAT results for global similarity and identity between the ATPase domain of the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide sequences.



































1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19





 1. ATPase_Synec_SNF2

65
52
50
70
63
63
63
54
50
52
52
52
52
51
65
48
45
65


 2. ATPase_Anava_SNF2
77

55
50
70
69
69
72
54
50
53
54
54
54
52
85
51
60
97


 3. ATPase_Archaeon\RC-I_SNF2
70
74

51
53
56
56
56
54
50
53
56
55
53
54
56
52
37
54


 4. ATPase_Bacce_ATCC10987_SNF2
67
67
72

50
49
49
50
49
51
49
49
49
46
48
50
49
35
50


 5. ATPase_Crowa_SNF2
82
84
74
68

64
64
68
52
51
52
52
52
51
50
71
51
48
70


 6. ATPase_Glovi_SNF2
77
82
74
69
81

99
68
52
50
53
52
52
53
51
70
52
44
68


 7. ATPase_Glovi_SNF2\
77
82
74
69
81
99

68
52
50
53
52
52
53
51
70
52
44
68


 8. ATPase_Lyn_sp_SNF2
77
86
75
69
83
82
82

53
51
52
51
51
51
49
72
49
47
72


 9. ATPase_Metac_C2A_SNF2
70
71
74
67
71
71
71
72

49
92
55
55
51
52
55
53
36
53


10. ATPase_Methu_JF-1_SNF2
69
70
71
69
73
70
70
70
67

48
51
51
47
48
49
49
35
50


11. ATPase_Metma_Goe1_SNF2
70
70
74
67
70
70
70
71
96
67

54
54
51
51
54
52
34
52


12. ATPase_Mycbo_SNF2
68
70
73
67
70
71
71
69
69
69
69

99
54
60
54
50
36
54


13. ATPase_Myctu_SNF2
68
70
73
67
70
71
71
69
69
69
68
99

54
60
54
49
36
54


14. ATPase_Myxxa_DK1622_SNF2
67
69
70
63
67
70
70
69
69
63
69
68
68

55
53
46
35
53


15. ATPase_Nocfa_IFM\10152_SNF2
68
69
69
65
69
70
70
66
68
65
68
73
73
67

51
49
35
52


16. ATPase_Nodsp_SNF2
77
91
76
69
85
82
82
85
71
70
71
71
71
69
70

52
58
86


17. ATPase_Nos_sp_PCC7120_SNF2\II
68
71
74
70
70
71
71
70
70
68
70
68
68
66
67
72

35
51


18. ATPase_Nospu_PCC\73102_SNF2
55
63
51
50
58
55
55
57
48
50
48
49
49
45
48
64
49

60


19. ATPase_Nostoc_SNF2
77
99
74
67
84
82
82
85
71
69
70
70
70
69
69
92
71
63


20. ATPase_Pelph_BU-1_SNF2
70
71
72
70
73
73
73
71
79
68
79
72
72
68
71
72
70
49
71


21. ATPase_Proma_CCMP1375_SNF2
71
71
69
66
73
72
72
71
67
64
67
66
66
64
63
73
64
49
72


22. ATPase_Proma_MIT\9211_SNF2
72
70
69
63
73
72
72
72
67
63
67
67
66
63
65
72
65
48
71


23. ATPase_Proma_MIT\9303_SNF2
74
73
70
64
75
75
75
72
69
65
69
66
66
64
65
74
64
51
72


24. ATPase_Proma_MIT9313_SNF2
74
73
69
64
75
75
75
72
69
65
69
66
66
64
65
74
64
51
72


25. ATPase_Rho_sp_RHA1_SNF2
69
71
70
66
72
70
70
69
71
67
71
74
74
67
83
73
68
50
71


26. ATPase_Symth_IAM14863_SNF2
67
67
71
68
67
71
71
68
70
67
68
68
68
69
69
69
68
47
67


27. ATPase_Syn_sp_WH5701_SNF2
74
73
69
64
75
73
73
73
68
65
68
67
67
65
65
73
64
51
73


28. ATPase_Syn_sp_BL107_SNF2
64
62
60
57
66
65
65
63
58
54
58
56
55
55
57
63
55
54
62


29. ATPase_Syn_sp_CC9311_SNF2
74
73
69
63
74
74
74
73
68
65
68
65
65
64
65
73
64
51
73


30. ATPase_Syn_sp_CC9605_SNF2
74
72
71
64
74
75
75
73
69
64
69
65
65
64
66
74
64
50
72


31. ATPase_Syn_sp_CC9902_SNF2
74
71
70
64
75
74
74
72
69
64
69
65
64
64
66
73
65
51
71


32. ATPase_Syn_sp_RS9916_SNF2
74
73
69
62
74
74
74
72
69
64
69
66
65
65
64
72
65
50
72


33. ATPase_Syn_sp_WH\7805_SNF2
72
72
68
62
73
73
73
72
68
64
68
65
65
64
63
72
64
50
72


34. ATPase_Syn_sp_WH\8102_SNF2
74
72
70
63
75
75
75
73
69
64
69
66
65
64
65
73
64
50
72


35. ATPase_Synel_PCC6301_SNF2
75
79
70
70
78
76
76
79
67
68
67
66
66
66
67
79
69
52
78


36. ATPase_Synel_PCC7942_SNF2
75
79
70
70
78
76
76
79
67
68
67
66
66
66
67
79
69
52
78


37. ATPase_Theel_BP-1_SNF2
75
78
72
69
79
79
79
76
69
71
69
68
68
66
67
79
70
54
78





























20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37





 1. ATPase_Synec_SNF2
53
54
55
57
57
52
52
57
49
56
57
58
58
56
57
63
63
62


 2. ATPase_Anava_SNF2
53
55
52
55
55
54
51
56
47
56
56
55
56
56
56
65
65
67


 3. ATPase_Archaeon\RC-I_SNF2
55
49
49
52
52
53
54
52
44
51
52
52
52
51
51
53
53
55


 4. ATPase_Bacce_ATCC10987_SNF2
50
46
46
46
46
49
50
46
38
45
46
44
47
45
45
49
49
50


 5. ATPase_Crowa_SNF2
55
56
54
56
56
51
50
55
47
55
55
55
55
56
56
63
63
63


 6. ATPase_Glovi_SNF2
54
53
52
55
55
52
54
54
47
54
55
56
54
54
55
61
61
64


 7. ATPase_Glovi_SNF2\
54
53
52
55
55
52
54
54
47
54
55
56
54
54
55
61
61
64


 8. ATPase_Lyn_sp_SNF2
53
53
51
54
54
51
51
55
46
54
55
55
55
55
55
64
64
62


 9. ATPase_Metac_C2A_SNF2
65
49
49
51
51
53
53
51
43
51
51
52
51
51
51
50
50
54


10. ATPase_Methu_JF-1_SNF2
49
43
43
45
45
50
50
43
38
43
44
44
44
44
43
50
50
52


11. ATPase_Metma_Goe1_SNF2
64
48
48
50
50
52
51
50
43
50
51
51
49
49
50
50
50
53


12. ATPase_Mycbo_SNF2
55
47
46
48
48
59
52
50
40
48
48
48
48
48
49
51
51
54


13. ATPase_Myctu_SNF2
55
47
46
48
48
59
52
50
40
48
48
48
48
48
49
51
51
54


14. ATPase_Myxxa_DK1622_SNF2
50
45
47
49
49
52
56
49
41
48
49
49
49
49
48
51
51
52


15. ATPase_Nocfa_IFM\10152_SNF2
55
46
47
49
49
75
55
49
41
49
49
48
48
49
50
50
50
52


16. ATPase_Nodsp_SNF2
53
55
53
57
57
53
52
56
47
56
57
56
56
56
56
65
65
68


17. ATPase_Nos_sp_PCC7120_SNF2\II
52
46
44
46
46
49
48
46
38
46
46
46
46
46
46
49
49
51


18. ATPase_Nospu_PCC\73102_SNF2
36
37
36
39
39
35
36
38
41
39
39
39
38
39
39
41
41
45


19. ATPase_Nostoc_SNF2
53
55
53
55
55
53
51
55
46
56
56
55
55
56
56
65
65
66


20. ATPase_Pelph_BU-1_SNF2

51
52
55
55
55
56
52
45
54
54
54
53
53
54
52
52
54


21. ATPase_Proma_CCMP1375_SNF2
68

71
71
71
48
50
69
61
70
70
70
70
71
70
57
57
56


22. ATPase_Proma_MIT\9211_SNF2
69
83

74
73
47
49
69
61
72
73
72
71
72
72
56
56
54


23. ATPase_Proma_MIT\9303_SNF2
69
84
87

99
50
53
85
75
87
88
86
87
86
88
59
59
57


24. ATPase_Proma_MIT9313_SNF2
69
84
87
99

50
53
85
75
87
88
86
87
86
88
59
59
57


25. ATPase_Rho_sp_RHA1_SNF2
73
66
65
66
66

55
50
42
50
50
50
50
50
50
52
52
52


26. ATPase_Symth_IAM14863_SNF2
70
65
66
68
68
69

51
44
51
53
53
52
52
52
51
51
53


27. ATPase_Syn_sp_WH5701_SNF2
70
83
85
93
93
66
67

73
84
84
84
85
85
86
59
59
57


28. ATPase_Syn_sp_BL107_SNF2
60
73
74
81
82
59
58
80

74
79
84
75
74
79
51
51
49


29. ATPase_Syn_sp_CC9311_SNF2
68
84
85
94
94
65
66
91
81

87
85
91
92
88
59
59
58


30. ATPase_Syn_sp_CC9605_SNF2
69
85
87
93
93
67
68
91
83
93

92
88
87
95
59
59
57


31. ATPase_Syn_sp_CC9902_SNF2
69
84
86
93
94
66
68
91
87
92
96

87
85
92
60
60
57


32. ATPase_Syn_sp_RS9916_SNF2
69
84
86
94
94
66
66
91
81
96
94
93

92
88
60
60
57


33. ATPase_Syn_sp_WH\7805_SNF2
67
83
85
92
92
65
66
91
79
95
92
91
96

88
60
60
57


34. ATPase_Syn_sp_WH\8102_SNF2
69
84
87
94
94
66
68
92
84
93
97
96
94
92

59
59
56


35. ATPase_Synel_PCC6301_SNF2
70
73
72
74
74
66
68
74
63
74
73
73
74
73
74

99
63


36. ATPase_Synel_PCC7942_SNF2
70
73
72
74
74
66
68
74
63
74
73
73
74
73
74
99

63


37. ATPase_Theel_BP-1_SNF2
71
71
70
71
71
69
69
72
63
72
71
71
72
71
71
76
76









Example 11
Identification of Domains Comprised in Polypeptide Sequences Useful in Performing the Methods of the Invention
The Integrated Resource of Protein Families, Domains and Sites (InterPro) database is an integrated interface for the commonly used signature databases for text- and sequence-based searches. The InterPro database combines these databases, which use different methodologies and varying degrees of biological information about well-characterized proteins to derive protein signatures. Collaborating databases include SWISS-PROT, PROSITE, TrEMBL, PRINTS, ProDom and Pfam, Smart and TIGRFAMs. Interpro is hosted at the European Bioinformatics Institute in the United Kingdom.
The relevant results of the InterPro scan of the polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 are presented in Table G. SWI2/SNF2 polypeptides (or remodeling enzymes) share sequence similarity with helicases (particularly SF2 helicases), which are enzymes capable of catalyzing the separation of DNA strands using ATP hydrolysis. The sequence similarity is limited to the ATPase domain of both types of enzymes.







TABLE G







InterPro scan results (major accession numbers) of the


polypeptide sequence as represented by SEQ ID NO: 2.











InterPro


Original



accession
InterPro
Originating
accession


number
decription
database
number
Accession name





IPR000330
SNF2 related
Pfam
PF00176
SNF2_N


IPR001650
Helicase, C-terminal
Pfam
PF00271
Helicase_C




SMART
SM00490
HELICc




Profile
PS51194
Helicase_CTER


IPR014001
DEAD-like
SMART
SM00487
DEXDc



helicases, N-terminal


IPR014021
Helicase superfamily
PROFILE
PS51192
Helicase_ATP_BIND_1



a and 2 ATP binding









Example 12
Cloning of Nucleic Acid Sequence as Represented by SEQ ID NO: 29
Unless otherwise stated, recombinant DNA techniques are performed according to standard protocols described in (Sambrook (2001) Molecular Cloning: a laboratory manual, 3rd Edition Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, CSH, New York) or in Volumes 1 and 2 of Ausubel et al. (1994), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Current Protocols. Standard materials and methods for plant molecular work are described in Plant Molecular Biology Labfax (1993) by R. D. D. Croy, published by BIOS Scientific Publications Ltd (UK) and Blackwell Scientific Publications (UK).
The Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 SWI2/SNF2 gene was amplified by PCR using as template Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 genomic DNA. Primers prm08774 (SEQ ID NO: 113; sense: 5′-ggggacaagtttgtacaaaaaagcaggcttaaacaatggcgactatccacggtaattgg-3′) and prm08779 (SEQ ID NO: 114; reverse, complementary: 5′-ggggaccactttgtacaagaaagctgggttcaatcggacgcttcggctt-3′), which include the AttB sites for Gateway recombination, were used for PCR amplification. PCR was performed using Hifi Taq DNA polymerase in standard conditions. A PCR fragment of the expected length (including attB sites) was amplified and purified also using standard methods. The first step of the Gateway procedure, the BP reaction, was then performed, during which the PCR fragment recombined in vivo with the pDONR201 plasmid to produce, according to the Gateway terminology, an “entry clone”. Plasmid pDONR201 was purchased from Invitrogen, as part of the Gateway® technology.
Example 13
Expression Vector Construction Using the Nucleic Acid Sequence as Represented by SEQ ID NO: 29
The entry clone comprising SEQ ID NO: 29 was subsequently used in an LR reaction with a destination vector used for Oryza sativa transformation. This vector contained as functional elements within the T-DNA borders: a plant selectable marker; a screenable marker expression cassette; and a Gateway cassette intended for LR in vivo recombination with the nucleic acid sequence of interest already cloned in the entry clone. A rice beta-expansin promoter (SEQ ID NO: 112) for expression in young expanding tissues was located upstream of this Gateway cassette.
After the LR recombination step, the resulting expression vector pExp::SWI2/SNF2 (FIG. 8) was transformed into Agrobacterium strain LBA4044 according to methods well known in the art.
Example 14
Plant Transformation
See Example 5 above for rice transformation
Example 15
Phenotypic Evaluation Procedure
15.1 Evaluation Setup
Approximately 35 independent T0 rice transformants were generated. The primary transformants were transferred from a tissue culture chamber to a greenhouse for growing and harvest of T1 seed. Six events, of which the T1 progeny segregated 3:1 for presence/absence of the transgene, were retained. For each of these events, approximately 10 T1 seedlings containing the transgene (hetero- and homo-zygotes) and approximately 10 T1 seedlings lacking the transgene (nullizygotes) were selected by monitoring visual marker expression. The transgenic plants and the corresponding nullizygotes were grown side-by-side at random positions. Greenhouse conditions were of shorts days (12 hours light), 28° C. in the light and 22° C. in the dark, and a relative humidity of 70%.
Five T1 events were further evaluated in the T2 generation following the same evaluation procedure as for the T1 generation but with more individuals per event. From the stage of sowing until the stage of maturity the plants were passed several times through a digital imaging cabinet. At each time point digital images (2048×1536 pixels, 16 million colours) were taken of each plant from at least 6 different angles.
Drought Screen
Plants from five events (T2 seeds) were grown in potting soil under normal conditions until they approached the heading stage. They were then transferred to a “dry” section where irrigation was withheld. Humidity probes were inserted in randomly chosen pots to monitor the soil water content (SWC). When SWC went below certain thresholds, the plants were automatically re-watered continuously until a normal level was reached again. The plants were then re-transferred again to normal conditions. The rest of the cultivation (plant maturation, seed harvest) was the same as for plants not grown under abiotic stress conditions. Growth and yield parameters are recorded as detailed for growth under normal conditions.
Salt Stress Screen
The rice plants are grown on a substrate made of coco fibers and argex (3 to 1 ratio). A normal nutrient solution is used during the first two weeks after transplanting the plantlets in the greenhouse. After the first two weeks, 25 mM of salt (NaCl) is added to the nutrient solution comprising the components listed below.

    
    
        NPK Nutrient mix, 20-20-20 Peters professional (Scotts, Marysville, Ohio, USA) at a concentration of 1 kg/m3.
        Magnesium chelate, Chelal Mg (BMS, Bornem, Belgium) at 333.33 ml/m3 
        Iron chelate, Libfer (CIBA, Bradford, UK) at 21.67 g/m3 
        NaCl 1.425 kg/m3
    
    


Salt concentration is monitored on a weekly basis and additions are made where necessary. Plants are grown under these conditions until the start of grain filling. They are then transferred to a different compartment of the greenhouse where they are irrigated daily with fresh water until seed harvest. Growth and yield parameters are recorded as for growth under normal conditions.
Reduced Nutrient (Nitrogen) Availability Screen
The rice plants are grown in potting soil under normal conditions except for the nutrient solution. The pots are watered from transplantation to maturation with a specific nutrient solution containing reduced N nitrogen (N) content, usually between 7 to 8 times less. The rest of the cultivation (plant maturation, seed harvest) is the same as for plants not grown under abiotic stress. Growth and yield parameters are recorded as for growth under normal conditions.
15.2 Statistical Analysis: F-Test
A two factor ANOVA (analysis of variants) was used as a statistical model for the overall evaluation of plant phenotypic characteristics. An F-test was carried out on all the parameters measured of all the plants of all the events transformed with the gene of the present invention.
The F-test was carried out to check for an effect of the gene over all the transformation events and to verify for an overall effect of the gene, also known as a global gene effect. The threshold for significance for a true global gene effect was set at a 5% probability level for the F-test. A significant F-test value points to a gene effect, meaning that it is not only the mere presence or position of the gene that is causing the differences in phenotype.
15.3 Parameters Measured
Biomass-Related Parameter Measurement
From the stage of sowing until the stage of maturity the plants were passed several times through a digital imaging cabinet. At each time point digital images (2048×1536 pixels, 16 million colours) were taken of each plant from at least 6 different angles.
The plant aboveground area (or leafy biomass) was determined by counting the total number of pixels on the digital images from aboveground plant parts discriminated from the background. This value was averaged for the pictures taken on the same time point from the different angles and was converted to a physical surface value expressed in square mm by calibration. Experiments show that the aboveground plant area measured this way correlates with the biomass of plant parts above ground. The above ground area is the area measured at the time point at which the plant had reached its maximal leafy biomass. The early vigor is the plant (seedling) aboveground area three weeks post-germination.
To measure root-related parameters, plants were grown in specially designed pots with transparent bottoms to allow visualization of the roots. A digital camera recorded images through the bottom of the pot during plant growth. Increase in root biomass is expressed as an increase in total root biomass (measured as maximum biomass of roots observed during the lifespan of a plant); or as an increase in the root/shoot index (measured as the ratio between root mass and shoot mass in the period of active growth of root and shoot). Furthermore, the maximum biomass of roots above a certain thickness threshold observed during the lifespan of a plant is calculated (thick roots), as well as maximum biomass of roots below a certain thickness threshold (thin roots).
Seed-Related Parameter Measurements
The mature primary panicles were harvested, counted, bagged, barcode-labelled and then dried for three days in an oven at 37° C. The panicles were then threshed and all the seeds were collected and counted. The filled husks were separated from the empty ones using an air-blowing device. The empty husks were discarded and the remaining fraction was counted again. The filled husks were weighed on an analytical balance. The number of filled seeds was determined by counting the number of filled husks that remained after the separation step. The total seed weight per plant was measured by weighing all filled husks harvested from one plant. Total seed number per plant was measured by counting the number of husks harvested from a plant. Thousand Kernel Weight (TKW) is extrapolated from the number of filled seeds counted and their total weight. The Harvest Index (HI) in the present invention is defined as the ratio between the total seed weight per plant and the above ground area (mm2), multiplied by a factor 106. The total number of flowers per panicle as defined in the present invention is the ratio between the total number of seeds and the number of mature primary panicles. The seed fill rate as defined in the present invention is the proportion (expressed as a %) of the number of filled seeds over the total number of seeds (or florets).
Example 16
Results of the Phenotypic Evaluation of the Transgenic Rice Plants Expressing the SWI2/SNF2 Nucleic Acid Sequence, Grown Under Normal Conditions
The results of the evaluation of transgenic rice plants expressing the SWI2/SNF2 nucleic acid sequence, under normal growth conditions, are shown in Table H below.
There was an increase in the number of flowers per panicle, the total seed weight per plant, the total number of seeds, the number of filled seeds, and the harvest index of the transgenics compared to corresponding nullizygotes (controls).







TABLE H







Results of the evaluation of transgenic rice plants expressing the


SWI2/SNF2 nucleic acid sequence, under normal growth conditions.










Average % increase of
Average % increase of



best performing events
best performing events



in T1 generation
in T2 generation













Number of flowers per
11%
 3%


panicle


Total seed weight per
13%
28%


plant


Total number of seeds
14%
 6%


Number of filled seeds
14%
25%


Harvest index
10%
25%









Example 17
Results of the Phenotypic Evaluation of the Transgenic Rice Plants, Grown Under Drought Stress Conditions
The results of the evaluation of transgenic rice plants expressing SWI2/SNF2 nucleic acid sequence, under drought stress growth conditions are presented in Table I.
There was an increase in the aboveground area, the total root biomass, the number of flowers per panicle, the seed fill rate, the total seed weight per plant, the total number of seeds, the number of filled seeds, and the harvest index of the transgenics compared to corresponding nullizygotes (controls).







TABLE I







Results of the evaluation of transgenic rice


plants expressing the SWI2/SNF2 nucleic acid


sequence, under drought stress growth conditions.









Average % increase of best



performing events in T2 generation












Aboveground area
16%


Total root biomass
13%


Biomass thick roots
10%


Biomass thin roots
13%


Number of flowers per panicle
 7%


Seed fill rate
28%


Total seed weight per plant
57%


Total number of seeds
44%


Number of filled seeds
54%


Harvest index
31%









Example 18
Examples of Transformation of Corn, Alfalfa, Cotton, Soyabean, Rapeseed/Canola, Wheat
See Example 5 above.

## Claims

1. A method for the production of a transgenic plant having increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield relative to a control plant, comprising:
1) introducing and expressing in a plant or plant cell a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWITCH 2/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING 2 (SWI2/SNF2) polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO: 30; and
2) selecting a plant having increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield relative to a corresponding control plant on the basis of said plant showing increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield relative to said control plant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide comprises an ATPase domain comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus at least five of the following motifs:
(i) Motif I LADDMGLGK(T/S), as shown in SEQ ID NO: 103;
(ii) Motif Ia L(L/V/I)(V/I/L)(A/C)P(T/M/V)S(V/I/L)(V/I/L)XNW, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 104;
(iii) Motif II DEAQ(N/A/H)(V/I/L)KN, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 105;
(iv) Motif III A(L/M)TGTPXEN, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 106;
(v) Motif IV (L/I)XF(T/S)Q(F/Y), as shown in SEQ ID NO: 107;
(vi) Motif V S(L/V)KAGG(V/T/L)G(L/I)(N/T)LTXA(N/S/T)HV, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 108;
(vii) Motif Va DRWWNPAVE, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 109; and
(viii) Motif VI QA(T/S)DR(A/T/V)(F/Y)R(I/L)GQ, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 110, where X in Motif Ia, Motif III, Motif IV, and Motif V, is any amino acid.

3. A transgenic plant or progeny thereof having increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield relative to a control plant, produced by the method of claim 1 and resulting from increased expression of the nucleic acid, or a transgenic plant cell derived from said transgenic plant, wherein the transgenic plant comprises the nucleic acid and one or more control sequences capable of driving expression of the nucleic acid and wherein said one or more control sequences comprises a beta-expansin promoter.

4. A method for increasing yield, biomass, and/or seed yield in a plant relative to a control plant, comprising:
1) increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a SWITCH 2/SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING 2(SWI2/SNF2) polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO: 30; and
2) selecting a plant having increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield relative to a corresponding control plant on the basis of said plant showing increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield relative to a corresponding control plant.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide comprises an ATPase domain comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus at least five of the following motifs:
(i) Motif I LADDMGLGK(T/S), as shown in SEQ ID NO: 103;
(ii) Motif Ia L(LN/I)(V/I/L)(A/C)P(T/MN)S(V/I/L)(V/I/L)XNW, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 104;
(iii) Motif II DEAQ(N/A/H)(V/I/L)KN, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 105;
(iv) Motif III A(L/M)TGTPXEN, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 106;
(v) Motif IV (L/I)XF(T/S)Q(F/Y), as shown in SEQ ID NO: 107;
(vi) Motif V S(L/V)KAGG(V/T/L)G(L/I)(N/T)LTXA(N/S/T)HV, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 108;
(vii) Motif Va DRWWNPAVE, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 109; and
(viii) Motif VI QA(T/S)DR(A/T/V)(F/Y)R(I/L)GQ, as shown in SEQ ID NO: 110, where X in Motif Ia, Motif III, Motif IV, and Motif V, is any amino acid.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide comprises an ATPase domain having at least 95% or more sequence identity to the ATPase domain as shown in SEQ ID NO: 111, comprised in SEQ ID NO: 30.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO: 30.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said nucleic acid sequence encoding the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide comprises a sequence capable of hybridizing with the full length of SEQ ID NO: 29 under high stringency hybridization conditions, wherein said conditions comprise hybridizing at 1×SSC at 65° C. or 1×SSC and 50% formamide at 45° C., followed by washing at 65° in 0.3×SSC.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said increased expression is effected by introducing and expressing in a plant a nucleic acid sequence encoding the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield are one or more of: (i) increased number of flowers per panicle; (ii) increased total seed weight per plant; (iii) increased number of (filled) seeds; or (iv) increased harvest index.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein said yield, biomass, and/or seed yield are increased in plants grown under abiotic stress conditions relative to control plants grown under corresponding stress conditions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said increased yield, biomass, and/or seed yield are one or more of: (i) increased aboveground area; (ii) increased total root biomass; (iii) increased thick root biomass; (iv) increased thin root biomass; (v) increased number of flowers per panicle; (vi) increased seed fill rate; (vii) increased total seed weight per plant; (viii) increased number of (filled) seeds; or (ix) increased harvest index.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is from a microbial genome.

15. A plant, part thereof, including seed, or a plant cell obtained by the method of claim 4, wherein said plant, part or cell thereof comprises an isolated nucleic acid transgene encoding the SWI2/SNF2 polypeptide and one or more control sequences capable of driving expression of the nucleic acid, wherein the one or more control sequences comprises a beta-expansin promoter.

16. The transgenic plant of claim 3, wherein said plant is a crop plant, a monocot, a cereal, rice, maize, wheat, barley, millet, rye, triticale, sorghum, or oats, or a transgenic plant cell derived from said transgenic plant.

17. Harvestable parts of the plant of claim 16, wherein said harvestable parts are transgenic seeds.