Novel Selection Process

Abstract

The present invention relates to processes for preparing transformed plant cells or organisms by transforming a population of plant cells which comprises at least one marker protein having a direct or indirect toxic effect for the population, with at least one nucleic acid sequence to be inserted in combination with at least one compound, preferably a DNA construct, capable of reducing the expression, amount, activity and/or function of the marker protein, with the transformed plant cells having a growth advantage over nontransformed cells, due to the action of the compound.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An amino acid sequence coding for a plant 5-methylthioribose kinase, wherein said amino acid sequence comprises at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO; 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68. 
     
     
         12 . A nucleic acid sequence coding for a plant 5-methylthioribose kinase, wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises at least one sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 59, 61, 63, 65, and 67. 
     
     
         13 . A double-stranded RNA molecule, comprising
 a) a “sense” RNA strand comprising at least one ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially identical to at least a part of the “sense” RNA transcript of a nucleic acid sequence coding for a marker protein, and   b) an “antisense” RNA strand which is essentially complementary to the RNA sense strand under a).   
     
     
         14 . The double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the marker protein is selected from the group consisting of
 a) a cytosine deaminase which converts directly or indirectly a 5-fluorocytosine;   b) a cytochrome P-450 enzyme which converts directly or indirectly a proherbicide;   c) an indoleacetic acid hydrolase which converts directly or indirectly an auxin amide compound or a naphthaleneacetamide;   d) a haloalkane dehalogenase which converts directly or indirectly a dihaloalkane;   e) a thymidine kinase which converts directly or indirectly Acyclovir, Ganciclovir, or 1,2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosil-5-iodouracil;   f) a guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, a hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase, or a xanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase which converts directly or indirectly a 6-thioxanthine or an allopurinol;   g) a purine nucleoside phosphorylase which converts directly or indirectly a 6-methylpurine deoxyribonucleoside;   h) a phosphonate monoester hydrolase which converts directly or indirectly a glycerylglyphosate;   i) an indoleacetamide synthase and an indoleacetamide hydrolase which convert directly or indirectly an indolacetamide;   j) an indoleacetamide hydrolase which converts directly or indirectly a naphthaleneacetamide;   k) an adenine phosphoribosyl transferase which converts directly or indirectly a 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine;   l) a methoxinine dehydrogenase or a rhizobitoxin synthase which converts directly or indirectly a 2-amino-4-methoxybutanoic acid;   m) a 5-methylthioribose kinase which converts directly or indirectly a 5-(trifluoromethyl)thioribose; and   n) an alcohol dehydrogenase which converts directly or indirectly an allyl alcohol.   
     
     
         15 . The double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the “sense” RNA strand and the “antisense” RNA strand are covalently linked to one another in the form of an inverted repeat. 
     
     
         16 . A transgenic expression cassette, comprising a nucleic acid sequence which codes for a double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 13  and which is functionally linked to a promoter functional in plant organisms. 
     
     
         17 . A transgenic vector, comprising a transgenic expression cassette as claimed in  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A transgenic plant organism, comprising
 a) a double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 13 ,   b) a transgenic expression cassette comprising said double-stranded RNA molecule which is functionally linked to a promoter functional in plant organisms, or   c) a transgenic vector comprising said transgenic expression cassette.   
     
     
         19 . The transgenic plant organism as claimed in  claim 18 , selected from the group of plants consisting of wheat, oats, millet, barley, rye, corn, rice, buckwheat, sorghum, triticale, spelt, linseed, sugar cane, oilseed rape, cress,  arabidopsis,  cabbage species, soybean, alfalfa, pea, bean plants, peanut, potato, tobacco, tomato, eggplant, paprika, sunflower,  tagetes,  lettuce,  calendula,  melon, pumpkin, and zucchini. 
     
     
         20 . A tissue, an organ, a part, a cell, a cell culture or propagation material, derived from a transgenic plant organism as claimed in  claim 18 . 
     
     
         21 . A double-stranded RNA molecule, comprising
 a) a “sense” RNA strand comprising at least one ribonucleotide sequence which is essentially identical to at least a part of the “sense” RNA transcript of a nucleic acid sequence coding for a marker protein, and   b) an “antisense” RNA strand which is fully complementary to the RNA sense strand under a).   
     
     
         22 . The double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the marker protein comprises
 a) a polypeptide encoded by a sequence described by the GenBank accession number S56903, M32238, N0003308, AE009419, AB016260, N0002147, M26950, J02224, V00470, V00467, U10247, M13422, X00221, M60917, U44852, M61151, AF039169, AB025110, AF212863, AC079674, X77943, M12196, AF172282, X04049, or AF253472; or   b) a polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, or 48.   
     
     
         23 . The double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the “sense” RNA strand and the “antisense” RNA strand are covalently linked to one another in the form of an inverted repeat. 
     
     
         24 . The double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the marker protein is selected from the group consisting of
 a) a cytosine deaminase which converts directly or indirectly a 5-fluorocytosine;   b) a cytochrome P-450 enzyme which converts directly or indirectly a proherbicide;   c) an indoleacetic acid hydrolase which converts directly or indirectly an auxin amide compound or a naphthaleneacetamide;   d) a haloalkane dehalogenase which converts directly or indirectly a dihaloalkane;   e) a thymidine kinase which converts directly or indirectly Acyclovir, Ganciclovir, or 1,2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosil-5-iodouracil;   f) a guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, a hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase, or a xanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase which converts directly or indirectly a 6-thioxanthine or an allopurinol;   g) a purine nucleoside phosphorylase which converts directly or indirectly a 6-methylpurine deoxyribonucleoside;   h) a phosphonate monoester hydrolase which converts directly or indirectly a glycerylglyphosate;   i) an indoleacetamide synthase and an indoleacetamide hydrolase which convert directly or indirectly an indolacetamide;   j) an indoleacetamide hydrolase which converts directly or indirectly a naphthaleneacetamide;   k) an adenine phosphoribosyl transferase which converts directly or indirectly a 4-aminopyrazolopyrimidine;   l) a methoxinine dehydrogenase or a rhizobitoxin synthase which converts directly or indirectly a 2-amino-4-methoxybutanoic acid;   m) a 5-methylthioribose kinase which converts directly or indirectly a 5-(trifluoromethyl)thioribose; and   n) an alcohol dehydrogenase which converts directly or indirectly an allyl alcohol.   
     
     
         25 . The double-stranded RNA molecule as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the marker protein comprises
 a) a polypeptide encoded by a sequence described by the GenBank accession number S56903, M32238, N0003308, AE009419, AB016260, N0002147, M26950, J02224, V00470, V00467, U10247, M13422, X00221, M60917, U44852, M61151, AF039169, AB025110, AF212863, AC079674, X77943, M12196, AF172282, X04049, or AF253472; or   b) a polypeptide comprising the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, or 48