Homogentisate prenyl transferase ("HPT") nucleic acids and polypeptides, and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention is in the field of plant genetics and biochemistry. More specifically, the present invention relates to genes and polypeptides associated with the tocopherol biosynthesis pathway, namely those encoding homogentisate prenyl transferase activity, and uses thereof.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A substantially purified polypeptide molecule comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 9-11, 57-58, and 90.  
     
     
         3 - 29 . (canceled)  
     
     
         30 . A substantially purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 39-42, 46-49, and 92-95, wherein said amino acid sequence is not derived from a nucleic acid molecule that is derived from  Nostoc punctiforme, Anabaena, Synechocystis, Zea mays, Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Trichodesmium erythraeum, Chloroflexus aurantiacus , wheat, leek, canola, cotton, or tomato.  
     
     
         31 . The polypeptide of  claim 30 , wherein more than one amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 39-42, 46-49, and 92-95.  
     
     
         32 . The polypeptide of  claim 31 , wherein said amino acid is not derived from a nucleic acid that is derived from  Sulfolobus, Aeropyrum , or sorghum.  
     
     
         33 - 38 . (canceled)  
     
     
         39 . A substantially purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 39-42, 46-49, and 92-95, wherein said amino acid sequence does not comprise any of the amino acid sequences set forth in sequence listings in WO 00/68393, WO 00/63391, WO 01/62781, or WO 02/33060, and does not comprise SEQ ID NOs: 1-11, 43-45, 57-58, 61-62, and 90 from the present application.  
     
     
         40 . The polypeptide of  claim 39 , wherein more than one amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 39-42, 46-49, and 92-95.  
     
     
         41 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . A substantially purified polypeptide with homogentisate prenyl transferase activity comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 43-44.  
     
     
         46 - 49 . (canceled)  
     
     
         50 . Homogentisate prenyl transferase polypeptide sequences identified using any of the alignments set forth in the group consisting of  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c ,  3   a - 3   c ,  24   a - 24   b ,  25   a - 25   b ,  33   a - 33   c ,  34   a - 34   b , and  35   a - 35   b  in a profile based model, excluding the amino acid sequences set forth in sequence listings in WO 00/68393, WO 00/63391, WO 01/62781, or WO 02/33060 and do not comprise SEQ ID NOs: 1-11, 43-45, 57-58, 61-62, and 91 from the present application.  
     
     
         51 . Homogentisate prenyl transferase polypeptide sequences identified using any of the alignments set forth in  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c ,  3   a - 3   c ,  24   a - 24   b ,  25   a - 25   b ,  33   a - 33   c ,  34   a - 34   b , and  35   a - 35   b  in a profile based model, wherein said amino acid sequence is not derived from a nucleic acid molecule that is derived from  Nostoc punctiforme, Anabaena, Synechocystis, Zea mays, Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa , wheat, leek, canola, cotton, or tomato.  
     
     
         52 . The homogentisate prenyl transferase of  claim 50 , wherein the profile based model is an HMM model.  
     
     
         53 . The homogentisate prenyl transferase of  claim 52 , wherein the profile based sequence search method is a HMM model generated using HMMER package version 2.2 g with default parameters.