Use of VLCFAE for identifying herbicidally active compounds

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of nucleic acids which code for plant polypeptides with the biological activity of very long chain fatty acid elongases and to the use of the polypeptides encoded thereby for identifying novel, herbicidally active compounds, and to methods for finding modulators of these polypeptides.

1 - 24 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         25 . A method for identifying herbicides, comprising the steps of contacting a host cell containing a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ 10 NO:1 with a chemical compound or a mixture of chemical compounds, determining the concentration of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid and determining the chemical compound which specifically inhibits the expression of the polypeptide.  
     
     
         26 . A method for identifying herbicides, comprising the steps of contacting a host cell containing a nucleic acid having the sequence of SEQ 10 NO:1 with a chemical compound or a mixture of chemical compounds, determining the concentration of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid and determining the chemical compound which specifically enhances the expression of the polypeptide.  
     
     
         27 . A method for identifying herbicides, comprising the steps of contacting a host cell containing a nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide with the biological activity of a very long chain fatty acid elongase and with an identity of at least 90% to the sequence of SEQ 10 NO:2 with a chemical compound or a mixture of chemical compounds, determining the concentration of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid and determining the chemical compound which specifically inhibits the expression of the polypeptide.  
     
     
         28 . A method for identifying herbicides, comprising the steps of contacting a host cell containing a nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide with the biological activity of a very long chain fatty acid elongase and with an identity of at least 90% to the sequence of SEQ 10 NO:2 with a chemical compound or a mixture of chemical compounds, determining the concentration of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid and determining the chemical compound which specifically enhances the expression of the polypeptide.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the host cell is a plant cell.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein the host cell is a plant cell.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein the host cell is a plant cell.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the host cell is a plant cell.