Plant acyltransferases

Abstract

A gene encoding diacylglyerol acyltransferase from Brassica napus is described, as well as methods of altering oil content in plants using the diacylglyerol acyltransferase.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid having at least 80% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or to a fragment of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, said fragment being at least 15 nucleotides in length.  
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid of  claim 1 , said nucleic acid having at least 85% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or to said fragment.  
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid of  claim 1 , said nucleic acid having at least 90% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or to said fragment.  
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid of  claim 1 , said nucleic acid having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 or to said fragment.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid having at least 80% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, or to a fragment of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, said fragment being at least 15 nucleotides in length.  
     
     
         6 . The nucleic acid of  claim 5 , said nucleic acid having at least 85% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or to said fragment.  
     
     
         7 . The nucleic acid of  claim 5 , said nucleic acid having at least 90% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or to said fragment.  
     
     
         8 . The nucleic acid of  claim 5 , said nucleic acid having at least 95% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or to said fragment.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated nucleic acid comprising a first and second region, said first region having at least 80% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, said second region having at least 80% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         10 . The nucleic acid of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleic acid encodes a diacylglycerol acyltransferase polypeptide.  
     
     
         11 . The nucleic acid of  claim 9 , wherein said first and second regions are separated by approximately 600 nucleotides.  
     
     
         12 . The nucleic acid of  claim 9 , wherein said nucleic acid is the insert of pMB143.  
     
     
         13 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 9  operably linked to an expression control element.  
     
     
         14 . The expression vector of  claim 13 , wherein said nucleic acid is operably linked in antisense orientation.  
     
     
         15 . A transgenic plant comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a diacylglycerol acyltransferase polypeptide operably linked to a regulatory element  
     
     
         16 . The transgenic plant of  claim 15 , said nucleic acid comprising a first and second region, said first region having at least 80% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, said second region having at least 80% to sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         17 . The transgenic plant of  claim 15 , wherein said plant produces seeds that exhibit a statistically significantly altered oil content as compared to seeds produced by a corresponding plant lacking said nucleic acid encoding said diacylglycerol acyltransferase polypeptide.  
     
     
         18 . The plant of  claim 15 , wherein said plant is a soybean plant.  
     
     
         19 . The plant of  claim 15 , wherein said plant is a  Brassica  plant.  
     
     
         20 . Seeds produced by the plant of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         21 . Progeny of the plant of  claim 15.