NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCES CODING AN ENDOPOLYGALACTURONASE INHIBITOR

Abstract: The gene coding a fungine endopolygalacturonase inhibitor (PGIP) is cloned and sequenced from both Phaseolus vulgaris genomic and cDNA libraries. The PGIP amino acid sequence, vectors comprising the PGIP gene or parts thereof, cells transformed by said vectors are also disclosed. The isolated sequences are useful to transform plants, which are sensitive to fungi or microorganism pathogen activities, into plants producing the PGIP protein.

Description: NϋCT-EOTIDE SEQUENCES CODING AN -E-NDOPOLYGALACTURONASE ----NH-EB-E CK This invention relates to nucleotide sequences coding a endopolygalacturonase inhibiter. More particularly, this invention relates to a gene coding a new protein having an inhibiting activity against the fungine endopolygalacturonase enzyme, or fractions thereof, and to the protein itself or fractions thereof. The invention relates also to recombinant vectors comprising such sequences, to cells and plants transformed by means of such recombinant vectors and to the use of such vectors and cells to produce the protein. References are enclosed at the end of this specification as they are orderly quoted. The fungine endo alpha-1, -D-polygalactorunase enzyme (EC 3.21.15) is an important pathogenic factor for plants (1,2). Actually, the enzyme catalizeε the scission reaction of polygalacturonic acid and induces the subsequent solubilization of plant cell wall homo-alpha-l,4-D-galactorunanes, thus facilitating the fungi to penetrate into plant tissues and then supplying the same fungi with nutritional substrates. Moreover, the activity of such an enzyme could, if controlled, produce non-virulence factors, i.e. factors able to activate some plant defence mechanisms by converting plant cell wall homogalactorunanes into oligogalacturonides, which are known to stimulate phytoalexine synthesis and other defence mechanisms as well (2) . An inhibiting activity of fungine endopolygalacturonase, associated to the cell wall, named PGIP, has been detected in dicot plants. The authors of the present invention have already detected such activity in different plant tissues of Phaseolus vulgaris T,. (3) , showing that the same is specific for fungine endopolygalacturonases, with no activity with either bacterial or vegetable enzymes, or other pectic enzymes of microbial origin (4) . Moreover, the authors found that the PGIP is able to stabilize in vitro an oligogalacturonide mixture which stimulates phytoalexines (5) . Therefore it is evident the need to purify and isolate the molecule responsible for such activity by means of cloning coding PGIP sequences. Said sequences may be inserted in suitable vectors to transform plants that are sensitive to fungi or other microorganism pathogens, into plants producing the PGIP protein on large scale. The protein could be then used with many advantages in the food industry. Till now attempts to isolate the PGIP gene have been unsuccessful, essentially due to low levels of the protein in vegetable tissues. The authors of the invention have now isolated and sequenced the PGIP protein coding DNA, both from a genomic and cDNA library, and have also identified the amino acid sequence of the PGIP protein. It is an object of the present invention a nucleotide sequence comprising a sequence coding a PGIP protein having an inhibiting activity of the fungine endo-alpha-l,4-D-polygalacturonase enzyme (PG) , or parts thereof. Preferably said coding sequence is of vegetable origin, more preferably isolated either from plants, or parts of plants, or in vitro cultured vegetable cells of the Phaseolus genus, most preferably of the Phaseolus vulgaris species. According to a preferred embodiment said coding sequence codes a PGIP protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N2, or parts thereof. Alternatively said amino acid sequence SEQ ID N2 lacks or is substituted of one or more amino acids, preferably is a variant of a PGIP protein, more preferably said variant of a PGIP protein comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID N4, or parts thereof. According to another embodiment said nucleotide sequence comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID Nl, consisting of: - a coding region from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 1026; - a 3'end untranslated sequence from nucleotide 1027 to nucleotide 1116. Alternatively said nucleotide sequence lacks or is substituted of one or more nucleotides, preferably comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID N3. It is another object of the invention a nucleotide sequence hybridizing to at least one of the sequences above described, preferably complementary to them. It is another object of the invention a nucleotide sequence comprising an allele derivative of either SEQ ID Nl or SEQ ID N3 sequences. All the sequences according to the inventions may be derived from either a genomic library, or a cDNA library or in vitro synthesis. Another object of the invention is a substantially purified PGIP protein having an inhibiting activity for the fungine PG enzyme and being of natural or recombinant origin, or parts thereof. Preferably said substantially purified PGIP protein derives from plants, parts thereof or cultured plant cells, more preferably of the Phaseolus genus, most preferably of the haseol s vulgaris species. According to a preferred embodiment said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N2, or parts thereof, alternatively said protein lacks or is substituted of one or more amino acids, preferably said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N4. Another object of the invention is a recombinant vector comprising anyone of nucleotide sequences of the invention, preferably of plasmid or phage origin, more preferably said recombinant vector is the pAD-1 plasmid (DSM N.6821); alternatively said vector is either the pPT-1 or the pPT-2 plasmid, or the lambda 3.3 PGIP phage. In a preferred embodiment said recombinant vector comprises a promoter able to express said coding PGIP nucleotide sequence, preferably said promoter is active either in bacteria, or in yeasts, or in high plants. Another object of the invention are cells transformed by one of vectors above described, preferably said cells are bacterial cells, more preferably belonging to the Fscherichia col i species. Alternatively said cells are eucaryotic cells, preferably yeast cells, alternatively a vegetable cells. Further object of the invention is a process for isolating and cloning PGIP protein coding sequences, or parts thereof, comprising: - partial sequencing the amino acid sequence of the PGIP protein; - in v t o synthesing oligonucleotides, sequence of which derived from said amino acid sequence; - probing a genomic or a cDNA library from plant cells with said oligonucleotide, previously labelled; - isolating positive clones, extracting the recombinant vector and identifying the recombinant insert from said recombinant vector; - sequencing said recombinant insert. The invention shall be illustrated in the following examples by making reference to some preferred embodiments, completed with the following figures, where: Fig. 1 shows the PGIP elution profile on Mono S column; Fig. 2 shows an agarose gel electrophoresis of amplified DNA, using the following primers: A: mol weight markers; B: control; C: N-A and Int; D: N-B and Int; E: N-A; F: N-B; Fig. 3 shows a map of primers and of amplified DNAs; Fig. 4 shows a restriction map of lambda PGIP-3.3 and of pPT-2; Fig. 5 shows an hydrophoby plot of the PGIP protein; Fig. 6 shows a Northern blot by using RNAs from different plant tissues, probed with a radiolabelled pPT-l fragment; Fig. 7 shows a comparative analysis of PGIP coding sequences isolated from two different cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris species. EXAMPLE l - Purification and sequencing of PGIP protein Plants of Phaseolus vulgaris T,. r Pinto CUltivar, are grown on vermiculite under 18 hour light exposure conditions. The callus and cell suspension cultures from Pinto cultivar are obtained as described in (3) . The PGIP protein is purified from hypocotyls (30 μg/kg of fresh weight) by affinity chromatography on Sepharose coupled to endopolygalacturonase, as described in (6) . One unit of PGIP protein is the amount able to reduce of 50% the activity of one unit of endopolygalacturonase, isolated from Aspergi lus nidulans. PGIP is then diluted at 1:4 ratio in 20 mM Hepes pH 7.5 buffer, and loaded on Mono S column (Pharmacia), equilibrated with the same buffer. The protein is eluted with a linear gradient 0-0.3 M NaCl in 20 mM Hepes pH 7.5 buffer. Approximately 90% of the loaded material having a 280 nm absorbance elutes with the excluded volume, showing no PGIP activity at all. The remaining 10% elutes with a single peak at a 0.1 M NaCl and shows PGIP activity (fig.l). Fractions containing PGIP activity are collected and loaded again on Mono S column to concentrate the protein to 35 μg/ml. 5 μg of the protein are used to determine the N-terminal sequence, according to standard methodology. The remaining amount is digested by 1 mg/ml of TPCK (Sigma) treated trypsin in 1.0 M ammonium bicarbonate pH 7.8 buffer, at 37°C for 16 hours. The resulting peptides are separated using a binary gradient (solvent A: 0.1% TFA in water; solvent B: 0.085% TFA in 80% aqueous CH-CN) at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. Single peaks are collected, dried, dissolved in 50 μl of solvent A and chromatographed again on the same column. Peptides, as well as the undigested PGIP protein, are sequenced by a ABI 470A or 477A sequencer. Aminoacid sequences of the N-terminal fragment and of four tryptic fragments of the PGIP protein are shown in the Table 1 herebelow. Table 1 Aminoacid sequence of the N-terminal fragment and of four tryptic peptides of PGIP protein X means presence of not defined residues; aa. 6 and 9 of the N-terminal sequence may be either Glu or Gin. EXAMPLE 2 - Nucleotirip ampli ica ion, sequencing and cloning Two independent oligonucleotides are synthesized on the basis of the N-terminal sequence (N-A and N-B) . A third oligonucleotide (int) is synthesized on the basis of the peptide P-3 sequence, starting from the first nucleotide coding for aa. 6 (Pro) to the second nucleotide coding for aa. 11 (Gin) . The nucleotide sequences are shown in the following Table 2. Table 2 Primer oligonucleotides for amplification reaction and corresponding amino acid sequence 4-10 N-terτπinal sequence TN-A^ amino acid: Asn-Pro-Glu-Asp-Lys-Glu-Ala (Gin) (Gin) nucleotide: 5'AAT CCN GAA GAT AAA CAA GC 3' C C G C G G G 14-21 N-terminal sequence (N-B) amino acid: He-Lys-Lys-Asp-Leu-Gly-Asn-Pro nucleotide: 5'ATT AAA AAA GAT CTN GGN AAT CC 3' C G G C T C A 6-1 1 P-3 peptide sequence f T t^ amino acid: Pro-Gln-Gly-Leu-Thr-Gln nucleotide: 3'GGN GTT CCN AAN TGN GT 5 1 C G N means one of the four nucleotides. N-A, N-B and Int oligonucleotides are used as primers of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genomic DNA, extracted from Phaseolus vulgaris, Pinto cul iva- f as template, by conventional methods (7) . Polymerizing reactions are carried out on a Perkin Elmer/Cetus equipment according to manufacturer's instructions. The primer hybridization is carried out at 45°C or 50°C, depending upon using respectively redundant or nonredundant nucleotides. The polymerization enzyme (Amplitaq, Perkin Elmer) is used at 1 U/40 μl of reaction mix. PCR products are fractionated on a 0.8% agarose gel and dyed with ethidium bromide. A clear DNA band of appr. 0.79 kb, defined as PGIP-1, is evidentiated (fig.2, line c) , when using the N-A oligo. The band is missing in control reactions (fig.2, lines b, e, g) . By using N-B and int oligos as primers, the DNA product (PGIP-2) is of appr. 0.76 kb, i.e. 30 bp shorter than PGIP-1 (fig.2, line d) . The agarose gel is transferred to nitrocellulose membrane and probed with PGIP-2, previously eluted from the agarose gel and amplified with 6 PCR cycles in presence of P 32ATP. PGIP-1 and PGIP-2 sequences hybridized with the same intensity to the radiolabelled probe. Fig.3 shows a scheme of oligonucleotides and PCR obtained products. The PGIP-2 fragment, eluted from the agarose gel and further amplified by PCR using N-B and Int oligonucleotides, is purified by removing the low melting point agarose and inserted into the pGEM7zf(+) vector (Promega) by conventional methods. The recombinant vector, containing the whole DNA fragment of PGIP-2, is defined as pPT-1. The pPT-1 insert is sequenced and an open reading frame of 252 amino acids is deducted. As expected the amino acid sequence comprises sequences corresponding to the 14-21 N-terminal and to the P-3 peptide as well. Moreover it comprises sequences of the P-l, P-2 and P-4 peptides. EXAMPLE 3 - Isolation of a genomic PGTP clone A genomic DNA library from the Saxa cultivar of Phasenlus vulgaris r obtained by partial digestion with restriction enzyme Mbol, into the EMBL3 lambda vector, has been supplied by Clontech (Ca, USA) . The library is probed by PCR and plaque-hybridization combination. 5 x 5 10 recombinant phages are probed by conventional plaque-hybridization, as described in (7) , by using the radiolabelled p-PTl insert. Positive clones are grouped in three different classes, to be further analyzed with PCR. PCR screeneing is performed using crude phage DNA as template and two non redundant primers (P21 and P22) , synthesized on the basis of the p-PTl insert sequence, whose sequences are as follows: P21:AAGGCTCTGTTCAGTTGCT ; P22:CTATACATTGGCGGCATCAAT. Positive clones have an expected 378 bp amplification fragment. The first class shows strong hybridization signals and is able to amplify the 378 bp fragment. The second class also shows strong hybridization signals, but amplification products from PCR are not evidentiated. The third class shows a weaker hybridization, but gives rise to specific amplification products from PCR, other than the 378 bp fragment. Among positive clones of the first class, one clone (lambda PGIP-3.3. insert = 17 kb) is selected and isolated for a further analysis. A 3.3 kb Sall-Sall fragment shows to contain the PGIP gene, as demonstrated by Southern blot analysis and PCR experiments. The fragment is εubcloned in the Sail site of the Bluescript SK+ plasmid (Stratagene) , resulting in a recombinant plasmid named pPT-2. The orientation and the position of the PGIP gene in the 3.3 kb cloned fragment is defined by PCR (fig.4) , using different combination of both plasmid (T3 and T7) and PIGP specific primers (fig.4). It iε calculated that the 3.3 kb Sall-Sall fragment comprises appr. 1860 nt upstream the first ATG, 1026 nt of coding region and 97 nt of the 3* untranslated region, with appr. 450 nt adjacent sequences. A partial restriction map of the 17 kb genomic insert, the orientation and the PGIP position in the pPT-2 subclone are shown in fig.4. Both DNA strands of the PGIP gene are sequenced; the sequence strategy is shown in fig.4. The whole nucleotide sequence of the PGIP coding region and of the untranslated 3' region (1116 nt) is reported in SEQ ID Nl. The polyadenylation site is 97 bp downstream the TAA stop codon. Three sequences, corresponding to putative eucaryiotic polyadenylation signals, are at 42, 22 and 16 nt upstream the polyadenylation site respectively. A comparative analysiε between the genomic sequence and the relevant cDNA sequence shows that no introns are present in the 345 nucleotide 3' end gene region. Further analysis shows that no introns are present for the whole PGIP gene, as confirmed by PCR experiments. The PGIP gene DNA sequence defines a 342 amino acid PGIP protein (see SEQ ID Nl and N2) . Both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences do not show any significant homology with any known sequence. A hydrophoby plot of the PGIP protein is shown in fig.5. The sequence includes four potential glycosilation sites. EXAMPLE 4 - Northern blot analysis PGIP specific m NA levels are analysed in different plant tissues. The pPTl purified insert is used to probe polyA RNA, isolated from either hypocondils, or leaves, or flowers or suspension cultured cells of Phaseolus vulgaris, Pinto cultivar. A single 1,2 kb transcript is identified in m NA from suspension cultured cells. The fragment is also present in other tissues, even if minor amount. PCR experiments, using single-strand cDNA from suspension cultured cells and P-21 and P-22 as templates, shows the expected amplification of the 378 bp fragment, thus indicating that at least a fraction of the PGIP gene expression in cultured cells may be ascribed to the cloned and characterized gene. EXAMPLE 5 - Analysis of PGTP σenes from two different Phas p f-lns vulgaris r.ultivars A cDNA library is made in the lambda gtll vector from polyA + RNA, purified from suspension cultured cells of Phaseolus vnlσaris. Pinto cultivar. By probing the cDNA library with pPTl, a cDNA recombinant clone (lambda AD-1) containing PGIP coding sequences is isolated. The lambda AD-1 insert (842 bp) is subcloned in the Bluescript SK+ vector, named pAD-1, deposited at DSM, Germany, with the n. 6821, and sequenced. The insert represents a whole PGIP cDNA fragment and includes the polyA tail. The sequence of the pAD-1 insert is shown in SEQ ID N3. When compared to SEQ ID Nl, the pAD-1 insert refers to sequence from 345 to 1116 nt of SEQ ID Nl. A comparative analysis between the genomic clone from Saxa cul ivar and the cDNA clone from Pinto cul ivar shows a 96.4% homology of nucleotide sequence and a 97.4% homology of amino acid sequence (fig.7) . This invention has been described with reference to some preferred embodiments; however it is understood that any changement and/or modification could be made by anyone skilled in the art, remaining within the scope of the claims. REFERENCES 1) Cooper, R.M. In: Plant Disease: Infection, Damage and Loss. Wood, R.K.S. & Jellis, G.J. eds, Oxford, Blackwell Scientific Publications, pp. 13-27 (1984). 2) Hahn, M.G. Bucheli, P., Cervone F. , Doares, S.H., Darvill, A.G. and Albersheim, P. In: Plant-Microbe Interaction, Vol.3, Nester, E. and Kosuge, T.,eds, New York, MacMillan Press, pp. 131-181 (1989). 3) Salvi, G., Giarrizzo, F. , De Lorenzo, G. and Cervone, F. J. Plant Physiol. , 136, 513-518 (1990). 4) Cervone, F. , De Lorenzo, G. Pressey, R. , Darvill, A., and Albersheim, P. Phytoche istry 29, 447-449 (1990) . 5) Cervone F. , Hahn, N.G., De Lorenzo, G. , Darvill, A. and Albersheim, P. Plant Physiology, 90, 542-548 (1989) . 6) Degra, L, Salvi, G. , Mariotti, D. , De Lorenzo, G. and Cervone, F. J. Plant Physiol., 133, 364-366 (1988). 7) Sambrook, D. , Fritsch, E.F., Naniatis, T. In: Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed. , vols.l, 2, 3, CSH Lab Press (1989). SEQUENCE LISTING (1) GENERAL INFORMATION: (i) APPLICANT: (A) NAME: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (B) STREET: P.le Aldo Moro 7 (C) CITY: Roma (E) COUNTRY: Italy (F) POSTAL CODE (ZIP) : 00185 (A) NAME: University of Georgia Research Foundation (B) STREET: Boyd Graduate Studies Research Ctr. (C) CITY: Athens (D) STATE: Georgia . (E) COUNTRY: USA (F) POSTAL CODE (ZIP) : 30602 (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: Nucleotide sequences coding an endopolygalacturonase inhibiter (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 4 (iv) COMPUTER READABLE FORM: (A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS (D) SOFTWARE: Patentln Release #1.0, Version #1.25 (EPO) (vi) PRIOR APPLICATION DATA: (A) APPLICATION NUMBER: IT RM91/000915 (B) FILING DATE: 06-DEC-1991 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 1116 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic) (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Phaseolus vulgaris (B) STRAIN: Saxa (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE: (B) CLONE: lambda PGIP-3.3 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 1..1026 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: 3'UTR (B) LOCATION: 1027..1116 (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1: ATG ACT CAA TTC AAT ATC CCA GTA ACC ATG TCT TCA AGC TTA AGC ATA 48 Met Thr Gin Phe Asn lie Pro Val Thr Met Ser Ser Ser Leu Ser lie 1 5 10 15 ATT TTG GTC ATT CTT GTA TCT TTG AGA ACT GCA CTC TCA GAG CTA TGC 96 lie Leu Val He Leu Val Ser Leu Arg Thr Ala Leu Ser Glu Leu Cys 20 25 30 AAC CCA CAA GAT AAG CAA GCC CTT CTC CAA ATC AAG AAA GAC CTT GGC 144 Asn Pro Gin Asp Lys Gin Ala Leu Leu Gin He Lys Lys Asp Leu Gly 35 40 45 AAC CCA ACC ACT CTC TCT TCA TGG CTT CCA ACC ACC GAC TGT TGT AAC 192 Asn Pro Thr Thr Leu Ser Ser Trp Leu Pro Thr Thr Asp Cys Cys Asn 50 55 60 AGA ACC TGG CTA GGT GTT TTA TGC GAC ACC GAC ACC CAA ACA TAT CGC 240 Arg Thr Trp Leu Gly Val Leu Cys Asp Thr Asp Thr Gin Thr Tyr Arg 65 70 75 80 GTC AAC AAC CTC GAC CTC TCC GGC CAT AAC CTC CCA AAA CCC TAC CCT 288 Val Asn Asn Leu Asp Leu Ser Gly His Asn Leu Pro Lys Pro Tyr Pro 85 90 95 ATC CCT TCC TCC CTC GCC AAC CTC CCC TAC CTC AAT TTT CTA TAC ATT 336 He Pro Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Leu Pro Tyr Leu Asn Phe Leu Tyr lie 100 105 110 GGC GGC ATC AAT AAC CTC GTC GGT CCA ATC CCC CCC GCC ATC GCT AAA 384 Gly Gly He Asn Asn Leu Val Gly Pro He Pro Pro Ala He Ala Lys 115 120 125 CTC ACC CAA CTC CAC TAT CTC TAT ATC ACT CAC ACC AAT GTC TCC GGC 432 Leu Thr Gin Leu His Tyr Leu Tyr He Thr His Thr Asn Val Ser Gly 130 135 140 GCA ATA CCC GAT TTC TTG TCA CAG ATC AAA ACC CTC GTC ACC CTC GAC 480 Ala He Pro Asp Phe Leu Ser Gin He Lys Thr Leu Val Thr Leu Asp 145 150 155 160 TTC TCC TAC AAC GCC CTC TCC GGC ACC CTC CCT CCC TCC ATC TCT TCT 528 Phe Ser Tyr Asn Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser He Ser Ser 165 170 175 CTC CCC AAC CTC GGA GGA ATC ACA TTC GAC GGC AAC CGA ATC TCC GGC 576 Leu Pro Asn Leu Gly Gly He Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Arg He Ser Gly 180 185 190 GCC ATC CCC GAC TCC TAC GGC TCG TTT TCG AAG CTG TTT ACG GCG ATG 624 Ala He Pro Asp Ser Tyr Gly Ser Phe Ser Lys Leu Phe Thr Ala Met 195 200 205 ACC ATC TCC CGC AAC CGC CTC ACC GGG AAG ATT CCA CCG ACG TTT GCG 672 Thr He Ser Arg Asn Arg Leu Thr Gly Lys He Pro Pro Thr Phe Ala 210 215 220 AAT CTG AAC CTG GCG TTC GTT GAC TTG TCT CGG AAC ATG CTG GAG GGT 720 Asn Leu Asn Leu Ala Phe Val Asp Leu Ser Arg Asn Met Leu Glu Gly 225 230 235 240 GAC GCG TCG GTG TTG TTC GGG TCA GAT AAG AAC ACG AAG AAG ATA CAT 768 Asp Ala Ser Val Leu Phe Gly Ser Asp Lys Asn Thr Lys Lys He His 245 250 255 CTG GCG AAG AAC TCT CTT GCT TTT GAT TTG GGG AAA GTG GGG TTG TCA 816 Leu Ala Lys Asn Ser Leu Ala Phe Asp Leu Gly Lys Val Gly Leu Ser 260 265 270 AAG AAC TTG AAC GGG TTG GAT CTG AGG AAC AAC CGT ATC TAT GGA ACG 864 Lys Asn Leu Asn Gly Leu Asp Leu Arg Asn Asn Arg He Tyr Gly Thr 275 280 285 CTA CCT CAG GGA CTA ACG CAG CTA AAG TTT CTG CAA AGT TTA AAT GTG 912 Leu Pro Gin Gly Leu Thr Gin Leu Lys Phe Leu Gin Ser Leu Asn Val 290 295 300 AGC TTC AAC AAT CTG TGC GGT GAG ATT CCT CAA GGT GGG AAC TTG AAA 960 Ser Phe Asn Asn Leu Cys Gly Glu He Pro Gin Gly Gly Asn Leu Lys 305 310 315 320 AGG TTT GAC GTT TCT TCT TAT GCC AAC AAC AAG TGC TTG TGT GGT TCT 1008 Arg Phe Asp Val Ser Ser Tyr Ala Asn Asn Lys Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser 325 330 335 CCT CTT CCT TCC TGC ACT TAACCATTTC CAGATTCGGT AATTATGGAT 1056 Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Thr 340 GCATCATGTT TGCCTTTCTA TGAACATCAA TAATGATACA AGTGTAAAAA TAAAAAATTA 1116 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 342 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 2: Met Thr Gin Phe Asn He Pro Val Thr Met Ser Ser Ser Leu Ser He 1 5 10 15 He Leu Val He Leu Val Ser Leu Arg Thr Ala Leu Ser Glu Leu Cys 20 25 30 Asn Pro Gin Asp Lys Gin Ala Leu Leu Gin He Lys Lys Asp Leu Gly 35 40 45 Asn Pro Thr Thr Leu Ser Ser Trp Leu Pro Thr Thr Asp Cys Cys Asn 50 55 60 Arg Thr Trp Leu Gly Val Leu Cys Asp Thr Asp Thr Gin Thr Tyr Arg 65 70 75 80 Val Asn Asn Leu Asp Leu Ser Gly His Asn Leu Pro Lys Pro Tyr Pro 85 90 95 He Pro Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Leu Pro Tyr Leu Asn Phe Leu Tyr He 100 105 110 Gly Gly He Asn Asn Leu Val Gly Pro He Pro Pro Ala He Ala Lys 115 120 125 Leu Thr Gin Leu His Tyr Leu Tyr He Thr His Thr Asn Val Ser Gly 130 135 140 Ala He Pro Asp Phe Leu Ser Gin He Lys Thr Leu Val Thr Leu Asp 145 150 155 160 Phe Ser Tvr Asn Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser He Ser Ser 165 170 175 Leu Pro Asn Leu Gly Gly He Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Arg He Ser Gly 180 185 190 Ala He Pro Asp Ser Tyr Gly Ser Phe Ser Lys Leu Phe Thr Ala Met 195 200 205 Thr He Ser Arg Asn Arg Leu Thr Gly Lys He Pro Pro Thr Phe Ala 210 215 220 Asn Leu Asn Leu Ala Phe Val Asp Leu Ser Arg Asn Met Leu Glu Gly 225 230 235 ^ 240 Asp Ala Ser Val Leu Phe Gly Ser Asp Lys Asn Thr Lys Lys He His 245 250 ' 255 Leu Ala Lys Asn Ser Leu Ala Phe Asp Leu Gly Lys Val Gly Leu Ser 260 265 270 Lys Asn Leu Asn Gly Leu Asp Leu Arg Asn Asn Arg He Tyr Gly Thr 275 280 285 Leu Pro Gin Gly Leu Thr Gin Leu Lys Phe Leu Gin Ser Leu Asn Val 290 295 300 Ser Phe Asn Asn Leu Cys Gly Glu He Pro Gin Gly Gly Asn Leu Lys 305 310 315 320 Arg Phe Asp Val Ser Ser Tyr Ala Asn Asn Lys Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser 325 330 335 Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Thr 340 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 792 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: double (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA to mRNA (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO (iii) ANTI-SENSE: NO (Vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE: (A) ORGANISM: Phaseolus vulgaris (B) STRAIN: Pinto (vii) IMMEDIATE SOURCE: (B) CLONE: pAD-1 (DSM N.6821) (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: CDS (B) LOCATION: 2..685 (ix) FEATURE: (A) NAME/KEY: 3'UTR (B) LOCATION: 686..792 (Xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 3: C AAT AAC CTC GTC GGT CCA ATC CCC CCC GCC ATC GCT AAA CTC ACC 46 Asn Asn Leu Val Gly Pro He Pro Pro Ala He Ala Lys Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 CAA CTC CAC TAT CTC TAT ATC ACC CAC ACC AAT GTC TCC GGC GCA ATA 94 Gin Leu His Tyr Leu Tyr He Thr His Thr Asn Val Ser Gly Ala He 20 25 30 CCC GAT TTC TTG TCA CAG ATC AAA ACC CTC GTC ACC CTC GAC TTC TCC 142 Pro Asp Phe Leu Ser Gin He Lys Thr Leu Val Thr Leu Asp Phe Ser 35 40 45 TAC AAC GCC CTC TCC GGC ACC CTA CCT CCC TCC ATC TCT TCT CTC CCC 190 Tyr Asn Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser He Ser Ser Leu Pro 50 55 60 AAC CTC GTA GGA ATC ACA TTC GAC GGC AAC CGA ATC TCC GGC GCC ATC 238 Asn Leu Val Gly He Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Arg He Ser Gly Ala He 65 70 75 CCC GAC TCC TAC GGC TCA TTT TCG AAG CTG TTC ACG TCG ATG ACC ATC 286 Pro Asp Ser Tyr Gly Ser Phe Ser Lys Leu Phe Thr Ser Met Thr He 80 85 90 95 TCC CGC AAC CGC CTC ACC GGG AAG ATT CCG CCG ACG TTT GCG AAT CTG 334 Ser Arg Asn Arg Leu Thr Gly Lys He Pro Pro Thr Phe Ala Asn Leu 100 105 110 AAC CTG GCG TTC GTT GAC TTG.TCT CGA AAC ATG CTG CAG GGT GAC GCG 382 Asn Leu Ala Phe Val Asp Leu Ser Arg Asn Met Leu Gin Gly Asp Ala 115 120 125 TCG GTG TTG TTC GGA TCA GAT AAG AAC ACG CAG AAG ATA CAT CTG GCG 430 Ser Val Leu Phe Gly Ser Asp Lys Asn Thr Gin Lys He His Leu Ala 130 135 140 AAG AAC TCT CTT GCT TTT GAT TTG GAG AAA GTG GGG TTG TCA AAG AAC 478 Lys Asn Ser Leu Ala Phe Asp Leu Glu Lys Val Gly Leu Ser Lys Asn 145 150 155 TTG AAC GGG TTG GAT CTG AGG AAC AAC CGT ATC TAT GGG ACG CTA CCG 526 Leu Asn Gly Leu Asp Leu Arg Asn Asn Arg He Tyr Gly Thr Leu Pro 160 165 1-70 175 CAG GGA CTG ACG CAG CTA AAG TTT CTG CAC AGT TTA AAT GTG AGC TTC 574 Gin Gly Leu Thr Gin Leu Lys Phe Leu His Ser Leu Asn Val Ser Phe 180 185 190 AAC AAT CTG TGC GGT GAG ATT CCT CAA GGT GGG AAC TTG CAA ACA TTT 622 Asn Asn Leu Cys Gly Glu He Pro Gin Gly Gly Asn Leu Gin Thr Phe 195 200 205 CAC GTT TCT GCT TAT GCC AAC AAC AAG TGC TTG TGT GGT TCT CCT CTT 670 His Val Ser Ala Tyr Ala Asn Asn Lys Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser Pro Leu 210 215 220 CCT GCC TGC ACT TAATCATTTC CAGATTCGGT AATTATGGAT GCATCATGTT 722 Pro Ala Cys Thr 225 TGCCTTTCTA TGAACATCAA TAATGATACA AGTTTAAATA AAAATAAATT TATGAAATAA 782 AAAAAAAAAA 7g2 (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4: (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS: (A) LENGTH: 227 amino acids (B) TYPE: amino acid (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 4: Asn Asn Leu Val Gly Pro He Pro Pro Ala He Ala Lys Leu Thr Gin 1 5 10 5 Leu His Tyr Leu Tyr He Thr His Thr Asn Val Ser Gly Ala He Pro 20 25 30 Asp Phe Leu Ser Gin He Lys Thr Leu Val Thr Leu Asp Phe Ser Tyr 35 40 45 Asn Ala Leu Ser Gly Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser He Ser Ser Leu Pro Asn 50 55 60 Leu Val Gly He Thr Phe Asp Gly Asn Arg He Ser Gly Ala He Pro 65 70 75 80 Asp Ser Tyr Gly Ser Phe Ser Lys Leu Phe Thr Ser Met Thr He Ser 85 90 95 Arg Asn Arg Leu Thr Gly Lys He Pro Pro Thr Phe Ala Asn Leu Asn 100 105 HO Leu Ala Phe Val Asp Leu Ser Arg Asn Met Leu Gin Gly Asp Ala Ser 115 120 125 Val Leu Phe Gly Ser Asp Lys Asn Thr Gin Lys He His Leu Ala Lys 130 135 140 Asn Ser Leu Ala Phe Asp Leu Glu Lys Val Gly Leu Ser Lys Asn Leu 145 150 155 160 Asn Gly Leu Asp Leu Arg Asn Asn Arg He Tyr Gly Thr Leu Pro Gin 165 170 175 Gly Leu Thr Gin Leu Lys Phe Leu His Ser Leu Asn Val Ser Phe Asn 180 185 190 Asn Leu Cys Gly Glu He Pro Gin Gly Gly Asn Leu Gin Thr Phe His 195 200 205 Val Ser Ala Tyr Ala Asn Asn Lys Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser Pro Leu Pro 210 215 220 Ala Cys Thr 225

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A nucleotide sequence comprising a sequence coding a PGIP protein having an inhibiting activity of the fungine endo-alpha-l,4-D-polygalacturonase enzyme (PG) , or parts thereof. 2. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 1, wherein said coding sequence iε of vegetable origin, preferably isolated either from plants, or parts of plants, or i vitro cultured vegetable cells of the Phaseolus genus, most preferably of the Phaseolus vulgaris species. 3. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 2, wherein said coding sequence codes a PGIP protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N2, or parts thereof. 4. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 3, wherein said amino acid sequence SEQ ID N2 lacks or is substituted of one or more amino acids. 5. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 4 wherein said amino acid sequence SEQ ID N2 lacking or substituted of one or more amino acids is a variant of a PGIP protein. 6. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 5 wherein said variant of a PGIP protein comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID N4, or parts thereof. 7. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 1 comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID Nl, consisting of: - a coding region from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 1026; - a 3'end untranslated sequence from nucleotide 1027 to nucleotide 1116. 8. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 7 lacking or substituted of one or more nucleotides. 9. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 8 comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID N3. 10. A nucleotide sequence hybridizing to at least one of the sequences according to any of previous claims. 11. A nucleotide sequence according to claim 10 which is complementary to at least to one of the sequences according to any of claims from 1 to 9. 12. A nucleotide sequence comprising an allele derivative of either SEQ ID Nl or SEQ ID N3 sequences. 13. A nucleotide sequence according to any of previous claims, wherein said sequence is derived from either a genomic library, or a cDNA library or in vitro synthesis. 14. A substantially purified PGIP protein having an inhibiting activity for the fungine PG enzyme and being of natural or recombinant origin, or parts thereof. 15. A substantially purified PGIP protein according to claim 14, deriving from plants, parts thereof or cultured plant cells, preferably of the Phaseolus genus, more preferably of the Phaseolus vulgaris species. 16. A substantially purified PGIP protein according to any of claims 14 or 15 wherein said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N2, or parts thereof. 17. A substantially purified PGIP protein according to claims 16, wherein said protein lacks or is substituted of one or more amino acids. 18. A substantially purified PGIP protein according to claims 17, wherein said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N4. 19. A recombinant vector comprising a nucleotide sequence according to any of claims from 1 to 13. 20. A recombinant vector according to claim 19, wherein said vector is of plasmid or phage origin. 21. A recombinant vector according to the claim 20, wherein said recombinant vector is the pAD-l plasmid (DSM N.6821) . 22. A recombinant vector according to claim 20, wherein said vector is either the pPT-1 or the pPT-2 plasmid, or the lambda 3.3 PGIP phage. 23. A recombinant vector according to claim 19, wherein said vector comprises an expression promoter of said coding PGIP nucleotide sequence. 24. A recombinant vector according to claim 23, wherein said promoter is active either in bacteria, or in yeasts, or in high plants. 25. Cells transformed by a vector according to any of claims from 19 to 24. 26. Cells according to claim 25, wherein said cells are bacterial cells, preferably belonging to the Escheric ia cpli species. 27. Cells according to claim 25, wherein said cells are eucaryotic cells, preferably yeast cells, alternatively vegetable cells. 28. A process for isolating and cloning PGIP protein coding sequences, or parts thereof, comprising: - partial sequencing the amino acid sequence of the PGIP protein; - in vit o synthesing oligonucleotides, sequence of which derived from said amino acid sequence; - probing a genomic or a cDNA library from plant cells with said oligonucleotide, previously labelled; - isolating positive clones, extracting the recombinant vector and identifying the recombinant insert from said recombinant vector; - sequencing said recombinant insert.

Inventors: ALBERSHEIM PETER, BERGMANN CARL, CERVONE FELICE, DARVILL ALAN, DE LORENZO GIULIA, SALVI GIOVANNI, ALBERSHEIM, PETER, BERGMANN, CARL, CERVONE, FELICE, DARVILL, ALAN, DE LORENZO, GIULIA, SALVI, GIOVANNI
Applicants: CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE RICERCHE, UNIV GEORGIA, CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: C12Q1
IPC codes: C07K14, C12N1, C12N5, C12N15, C12P21, C12Q1