Methods for the production of apolipoproteins in transgenic plants

Abstract

Methods for the production of an apolipoprotein in plants are described. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the expression of apolipoprotein in plants comprising: (a) providing a chimeric nucleic acid construct comprising in the 5′ to 3′ direction of transcription as operably linked components: (i) a nucleic acid sequence capable of controlling expression in plant cells; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding an apolipoprotein polypeptide; (b) introducing the chimeric nucleic acid construct into a plant cell; and growing the plant cell into a mature plant capable of setting seed wherein the seed expresses apolipoprotein.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A composition comprising substantially pure oil bodies comprising apolipoprotein obtained from plants. 
     
     
         40 . A nucleic acid sequence encoding apolipoprotein linked to nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid capable of controlling expression in a plant cell. 
     
     
         41 . A nucleic acid sequence according to  claim 40  wherein said plant cell is a seed cell. 
     
     
         42 . A nucleic acid sequence according to  claim 41  wherein said nucleic acid sequence capable of controlling expression in a plant cell is a seed-preferred promoter. 
     
     
         43 . A nucleic acid according to  claim 42  wherein said seed-preferred promoter is the phaseolin promoter. 
     
     
         44 . A nucleic acid sequence according to  claim 41  wherein said nucleic acid sequence capable of controlling expression in plant seeds is a constitutive promoter. 
     
     
         45 . A nucleic acid sequence according to  claim 44  wherein said promoter is the ubiquitin promoter. 
     
     
         46 . A recombinant expression vector suitable for expression in a plant cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an apolipoprotein polypeptide. 
     
     
         47 . A method for preparing substantially pure apolipoprotein comprising: (a) providing a chimeric nucleic acid construct comprising in the 5′ to 3′ direction of transcription as operably linked components: (i) a nucleic acid sequence capable of controlling expression in plant seed cells; and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding an apolipoprotein polypeptide; (b) introducing the chimeric nucleic acid construct into a plant cell; (c) growing the plant cell into a mature plant; and (d) obtaining seed from said plant wherein the seed comprises apolipoprotein; and (e) separating apolipoprotein from the plant seed constituents to obtain substantially pure apolipoprotein. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A composition comprising substantially pure apolipoprotein obtained from a plant.