Polysaccharide synthases (h)

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to polysaccharide synthases. More particularly, the present invention relates to (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthases. The present invention provides, among other things, methods for influencing the level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan produced by a cell and nucleic acid and amino acid sequences which encode (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for modulating the level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan produced by a plant or fungal cell, the method comprising modulating the level and/or activity of a CslH-encoded (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase in the cell, wherein the level and/or activity of the a CslH-encoded (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase is modulated by modulating the expression of a CslH nucleic acid in the cell, and wherein modulating the expression of a CslH nucleic acid in the cell results in modulation of the level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan produced by the cell compared to a wild-type cell of the same taxon, and wherein the CslH nucleic acid comprises:
 (i) a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 72; 
 (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75; or 
 (iii) a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence which is at least 50% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cell is a plant cell. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the cell is a monocot plant cell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the cell is a cereal crop plant cell. 
     
     
         5 . A plant or fungal cell comprising any one or more of:
 a modulated level and/or activity of CslH-encoded (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan synthase relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon; and/or   modulated expression of a CslH nucleic acid relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon,   wherein the cell comprises a modulated level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan relative to a wild-type cell of the same taxon,   wherein the CslH nucleic acid comprises:
 (i) a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 72; 
 (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75; or 
 (iii) a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence which is at least 50% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 75. 
   
     
     
         6 . The cell of  claim 5  wherein the cell is produced according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The cell of  claim 5  wherein the cell is a plant cell. 
     
     
         8 . The cell of  claim 7  wherein the cell is a monocot plant cell. 
     
     
         9 . The cell of  claim 7  wherein the cell is a cereal crop plant cell. 
     
     
         10 . A multicellular structure comprising one or more cells according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         11 . The multicellular structure of  claim 10  wherein the multicellular structure is selected from the list consisting of a whole plant, a plant tissue, a plant organ, a plant part, plant reproductive material or cultured plant tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The multicellular structure of  claim 10  wherein the multicellular structure comprises a cereal crop plant or a tissue, organ or part thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The multicellular structure of  claim 12  wherein the multicellular structure comprises a cereal grain. 
     
     
         14 . The multicellular structure of  claim 11  wherein the multicellular structure comprises a cell having modulated dietary fibre content relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon. 
     
     
         15 . The multicellular structure of  claim 14  wherein the multicellular structure comprises a cell having an increased level of (1,3;1,4)-β- D -glucan relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon and an increased dietary fibre content relative to a wild type cell of the same taxon.