Polysaccharide Synthases

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to polysaccharide synthases. More particularly, the present invention relates to (1,3;1,4)-beta-D-glucan synthases. The present invention provides, among other things, methods for influencing the level of (1,3;1,4)-beta-D-glucan produced by a cell and nucleic acid and amino acid sequences which encode (1,3;1,4)-beta-D-glucan synthases.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method for modulating the level and/or activity of a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase in a cell, the method comprising modulating the expression of a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid in the cell. 
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein the (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid is a CslF gene or functional homolog thereof. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 47  wherein modulating the expression of a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid in the cell modulates the level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan produced by the cell. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 49 , wherein the method is a method for producing (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan and modulating the expression of a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid in the cell comprises transforming the cell with an isolated (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid and expression of the (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid in the cell effects and/or increases production of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan by the cell. 
     
     
         51 . (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan produced according to the method of  claim 50 . 
     
     
         52 . A cell comprising any one or more of:
 (i) a modulated level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon;   (ii) a modulated level and/or activity of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon; and/or   (iii) modulated expression of a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon.   
     
     
         53 . A multicellular structure comprising one or more cells according to  claim 52 . 
     
     
         54 . A multicellular structure according to  claim 53  wherein the multicellular structure is selected from the list consisting of: a whole plant, a plant tissue, a plant organ, a plant part, plant reproductive material and/or cultured plant tissue. 
     
     
         55 . A multicellular structure according to  claim 54 , wherein the multicellular structure comprises a cereal grain comprising an altered level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan, wherein the grain comprises one or more cells comprising an altered level and/or activity of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase and/or altered expression of a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase encoding nucleic acid molecule. 
     
     
         56 . Flour comprising flour produced by the milling of a grain according to  claim 55  and, optionally, flour produced by the milling of one or more other grains. 
     
     
         57 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the list consisting of:
 (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase;   (ii) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9 and SEQ ID NO: 11;   (iii) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 50% identical to the nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9 and SEQ ID NO: 11;   (iv) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which encodes the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 12;   (v) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which hybridises to any of (i) to (iv) under stringent conditions;   (vi) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is the complement or reverse complement of the nucleotide sequence of the isolated nucleic acid molecule of any of (i) to (v); and/or   (vii) a fragment of any one of the isolated nucleic acid molecule of any of (i) to (vi).   
     
     
         58 . A genetic construct or vector comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 57 . 
     
     
         59 . A cell comprising a genetic construct according to  claim 58 . 
     
     
         60 . A multicellular structure which comprises one or more of cells according to  claim 59 . 
     
     
         61 . The multicellular structure according to  claim 60  wherein the multicellular structure is selected from the list consisting of a whole plant, a plant tissue, a plant organ, a plant part, plant reproductive material or cultured plant tissue. 
     
     
         62 . An isolated polypeptide selected from the list consisting of:
 (i) an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence encoding a (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase;   (ii) an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 12;   (iii) an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence comprising at least 50% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 12;   (iv) an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence set forth in any of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9 and SEQ ID NO: 11; and/or   (v) a fragment of the isolated polypeptide of any one of (i) to (iv).   
     
     
         63 . An antibody, or an epitope binding fragment thereof, raised against the isolated polypeptide or fragment thereof according to  claim 62 .