Novel glyphosate-n-acetyltransferase (gat) genes

Abstract

Novel proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are novel polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these novel proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these novel compounds, diversification methods involving the novel compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the novel methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate.

1 . A transgenic plant comprising:
 (a) a first nucleotide sequence encoding a first polypeptide which has glyphosate-N-acetyltransferase activity; and   (b) a second nucleotide sequence encoding a high resistance allele of acetolactate synthase,   wherein said plant exhibits tolerance to glyphosate as compared to a plant of the same species, strain or cultivar that does not comprise said first polynucleotide.   
     
     
         2 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said plant does not exhibit a reduction in yield following treatment with glyphosate applied at a level effective to inhibit the growth of a plant of the same species, strain, or cultivar that does not comprise said first polypeptide. 
     
     
         3 . The plant of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a crop plant selected from the group of genera consisting of:  Eleusine, Lollium, Bambusa, Brassica, Dactylis, Sorghum Pennisetum, Zea, Oryza, Triticum, Secale, Avena, Hordeum, Saccharum, Coix, Glycine  and  Gossypium.    
     
     
         4 . A seed produced by the plant of  claim 1 , wherein said seed comprises the first and the second polynucleotide. 
     
     
         5 . A method for controlling weeds in a field containing a crop comprising:
 (a) planting the field with crop seeds or plants which comprise:
 (i) a first nucleotide sequence encoding a first polypeptide which has glyphosate-N-acetyltransferase activity; and 
 (ii) a second nucleotide sequence encoding a high resistance allele of acetolactate synthase; and 
   (b) applying to any crop and weeds in the field a sufficient amount of herbicide to control weeds without significantly affecting the crop.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said herbicide comprises glyphosate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said herbicide comprises a sulfonylurea herbicide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said sulfonylurea herbicide comprises at least one of the following: chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, rimsulfuron, thifensulfuron, or tribenuron. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said herbicide comprises glyphosate and a sulfonylurea herbicide. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said sulfonylurea herbicide is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) chlorimuron;   b) chlorsulfuron;   c) rimsulfuron;   d) thifensulfuron; and   e) tribenuron.