Amino acid decarboxylases

Abstract

This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an amino acid decarboxylase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the amino acid decarboxylase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the amino acid decarboxylase in a transformed host cell.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a lysine decarboxylase comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4 and SEQ ID NO:6;    (b) an isolated nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to (a).    
     
     
         2 . The isolated nucleic acid fragment of  claim 1  wherein nucleic acid fragment is a functional RNA.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated nucleic acid fragment of  claim 1  wherein the nucleotide sequence of the fragment comprises the sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:5.  
     
     
         4 . A chimeric gene comprising the nucleic acid fragment of  claim 1  operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.  
     
     
         5 . A transformed host cell comprising the chimeric gene of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         6 . An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a tyrosine decarboxylase comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID NO:14;    (b) an isolated nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to (a).    
     
     
         7 . The isolated nucleic acid fragment of  claim 6  wherein nucleic acid fragment is a functional RNA.  
     
     
         8 . The isolated nucleic acid fragment of  claim 6  wherein the nucleotide sequence of the fragment comprises the sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11 and SEQ ID NO:13.  
     
     
         9 . A chimeric gene comprising the nucleic acid fragment of  claim 6  operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.  
     
     
         10 . A transformed host cell comprising the chimeric gene of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         11 . An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a tryptophan decarboxylase comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18 and SEQ ID NO:20;    (b) an isolated nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to (a).    
     
     
         12 . The isolated nucleic acid fragment of  claim 11  wherein nucleic acid fragment is a functional RNA.  
     
     
         13 . The isolated nucleic acid fragment of  claim 11  wherein the nucleotide sequence of the fragment comprises the sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17 and SEQ ID NO:19.  
     
     
         14 . A chimeric gene comprising the nucleic acid fragment of  claim 11  operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.  
     
     
         15 . A transformed host cell comprising the chimeric gene of claim  14 .