Regulating metabolism by modifying the level of trehalose-6-phosphate

Abstract

Method for the inhibition of carbon flow in the glycolytic direction in a cell by increasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate.

1 . Method for the stimulation of photosynthesis in a cell by increasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate. 
     
     
         2 . Method for the stimulation of sink-related activity by increasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate. 
     
     
         3 . Method for obtaining a dwarfed organism by increasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate. 
     
     
         4 . Use of compounds influencing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate to affect the carbon flow in the glycolytic pathway. 
     
     
         5 . Method for the prevention of cold sweetening by increasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said increase of the intracellular concentration of trehalose-6-phosphate is effected by a decrease in TPP activity. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that said increase of the intracellular concentration of trehalose-6-phosphate is effected by a decrease in TPP activity. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said increase of the intracellular concentration of trehalose-6-phosphate is effected by a decrease in TPP activity. 
     
     
         9 . Method for the inhibition of carbon flow in the glycolytic direction in a plant cell by increasing the intracellular availability of trehalose-6-phosphate by transformation of said plant cell with a vector comprising an antisense fragment of a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) coding region, which upon expression is able to inhibit functional activity of the endogenous trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) gene. 
     
     
         10 . A cloning vector which comprises an antisense fragment of a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) coding region, which upon expression is able to inhibit functional activity of the endogenous trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) gene in a plant cell. 
     
     
         11 . Plant characterized in that it or one of its ancestors is transformed with a vector comprising an antisense fragment of a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) coding region, which upon expression is able to inhibit functional activity of the endogenous trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) gene in a cell of said plant, said plant still containing said antisense fragment.