Nucleic acid molecules encoding wrinkled1-like polypeptides and methods of use in plants

Abstract

Isolated nucleic acids and proteins associated with lipid and sugar metabolism regulation are provided. In particular, lipid metabolism proteins (LMP) and encoding nucleic acids originating from Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Glycine max, Oryza sativa , and Triticum aestivum are provided. The nucleic acids and proteins are used in methods of producing transgenic plants and modulating levels of seed storage compounds. Preferably, the seed storage compounds are lipids, fatty acids, starches, or seed storage proteins. The nucleic acids and proteins also are used in methods of modulating the seed size, seed number, seed weight, root length, and leaf size of plants.

1 . An isolated Lipid Metabolism Protein (LMP) nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a polynucleotide sequence as defined in SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 46, or SEQ ID NO: 47;   b) a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide as defined in SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 45, or SEQ ID NO: 48;   c) a polynucleotide sequence having at least 70% sequence identity with the full-length LMP nucleic acid of a) or b) above;   d) a polynucleotide sequence that is complementary to the full-length LMP nucleic acid of a) or b) above; and   e) a polynucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the full-length LMP nucleic acid of a) or b) above;   wherein the isolated LMP nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide that functions as a modulator of a seed storage compound in a plant.   
     
     
         2 . The isolated LMP nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid is located in an expression vector. 
     
     
         3 . The expression vector of  claim 2 , wherein the LMP nucleic acid is operatively linked to a heterologous promoter selected from the group consisting of a seed-specific promoter, a root-specific promoter, and a non-tissue-specific promoter. 
     
     
         4 . The expression vector of  claim 2 , wherein the LMP nucleic acid is operatively linked to the ptxA promoter. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a transgenic plant having a modified level of a seed storage compound comprising, transforming a plant cell with an expression vector comprising a lipid metabolism protein (LMP) nucleic acid and generating from the plant cell the transgenic plant, wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide that functions as a modulator of a seed storage compound in the plant, and wherein the nucleic acid comprises the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the level of total oil content in a seed is modified. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the level of a seed storage compound is increased in the transgenic plant as compared to an untransformed wild type variety of the plant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the LMP nucleic acid is operatively linked to a heterologous promoter selected from the group consisting of a seed-specific promoter, a root-specific promoter, and a non-tissue-specific promoter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the LMP nucleic acid is operatively linked to the ptxA promoter. 
     
     
         10 . A method of modulating the level of a seed storage compound in a plant comprising, modifying the expression of a Lipid Metabolism Protein (LMP) nucleic acid in the plant, wherein the LMP nucleic acid comprises the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the level of total oil content in a seed is modified. 
     
     
         12 . A method of modulating the number and/or size of one or more plant organs in a plant comprising, modifying the expression of a Lipid Metabolism Protein (LMP) nucleic acid in the plant, wherein the LMP nucleic acid comprises the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the seed size, seed number, and/or seed weight is modulated. 
     
     
         14 . The method of claim  24 , wherein the plant root length is increased. 
     
     
         15 . The method of claim  24 , wherein the number and/or size of leaves is increased. 
     
     
         16 . A transgenic plant made by a method comprising, transforming a plant cell with an expression vector comprising a lipid metabolism protein (LMP) nucleic acid, and generating from the plant cell the transgenic plant, wherein the nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide that functions as a modulator of a seed storage compound in the plant, and wherein the LMP nucleic acid comprises the isolated nucleic acid of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The transgenic plant of  claim 16 , wherein the level of total oil content in a seed is modified. 
     
     
         18 . The transgenic plant of  claim 16 , wherein the plant is a dicotyledonous plant. 
     
     
         19 . The transgenic plant of  claim 16 , wherein the plant is a monocotyledonous plant. 
     
     
         20 . The transgenic plant of  claim 16 , wherein the level of the seed storage compound is increased in the transgenic plant as compared to an untransformed wild type variety of the plant.