Angiogenin expression in plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to plant-produced angiogenins, to related plant cells, plant calli, plants, seeds and other plant parts and products derived therefrom and to uses of plant-produced angiogenins. The present invention also relates to expression of angiogenin genes in plants and to related nucleic acids, constructs and methods.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part comprising angiogenin as a feedstock or veterinary product for animals or as a composition suitable for human consumption, said method comprising producing the angiogenin in the plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part and preparing the plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part in a suitable form for use as a feed stock or veterinary product for animals or a composition suitable for human consumption. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the angiogenin is a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a functionally active fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part producing angiogenin comprises a nucleic acid encoding angiogenin, where in the nucleic acid encoding angiogenin comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a functional angiogenin protein optimised for expression in a monocotyledon plant cell or a dicotyledon plant cell. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the monocotyledon optimized nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:
 i) SEQ ID NO: 22, and   ii) variants of SEQ ID NO: 22 having at least 95% sequence identity to the full length of SEQ ID NO: 22; or   
       wherein the dicotyledon optimized nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:
 i) SEQ ID NO: 23, and 
 ii) variants of SEQ ID NO 23 having at least 95% sequence identity to the full length of SEQ ID NO: 23. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the nucleotide sequence further comprises an N-terminal plant signal sequence that when expressed as the N-terminus of an angiogenin protein drives angiogenin accumulation in the plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part to a sub-cellular component selected from mitochondria, chloroplast, nucleus and nucleolus. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein
 i) the monocotyledon plant is selected from the group consisting of forage grasses, sorghum, sugarcane, corn, oat, wheat, rice and barley; or   ii) the dicotyledon plant is selected from the group consisting of forage legumes, soybean, lupin, peas, lentils, chickpeas, canola, vegetable brassicas, lettuce, spinach, bananas, citrus, strawberries, apples, oil palm, linseed, cottonseed, and safflower.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein
 i) the forage grass is selected from the group consisting of perennial rye grass, tall fescue, Italian ryegrass, brachiaria and paspalum; and/or   ii) the forage legume is selected from the group consisting of white clover, red clover, subterranean clover and alfalfa.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part producing angiogenin comprises a nucleic acid encoding angiogenin, wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding a functional angiogenin protein selected from the group consisting of:
 (i) SEQ ID NO: 52,   (ii) variants of SEQ ID NO: 52, having at least 95% sequence identity to the full length of SEQ ID NO: 52.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the nucleotide sequence further comprises a C-terminal plant signal peptide that when expressed as the C-terminus of an angiogenin protein drives angiogenin accumulation to a sub-cellular component. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of a grass, a forage legume, soybean, lupin, peas, lentils, chickpeas, vegetable brassica, bananas, citrus, strawberries, apples, oil palm, linseed, cottonseed and safflower. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the composition for human consumption is a food, a beverage, a food supplement, a nutraceutical or a pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         28 . An animal feedstock, veterinary product or composition for human consumption comprising a plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part comprising angiogenin, wherein the angiogenin has been produced in the plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part. 
     
     
         29 . The animal feedstock, veterinary product or composition for human consumption according to  claim 28 , wherein the angiogenin is a polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or a functionally active fragment or variant thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The animal feedstock, veterinary product or composition for human consumption according to  claim 28 , wherein the plant cell, plant callus, plant, seed or other plant part producing angiogenin comprises a nucleic acid encoding angiogenin, where in the nucleic acid encoding angiogenin comprises one of the following:
 i) SEQ ID NO: 22;   ii) variants of SEQ ID NO: 22 having at least 95% sequence identity to the full length of SEQ ID NO: 22;   iii) SEQ ID NO: 23;   iv) variants of SEQ ID NO 23 having at least 95% sequence identity to the full length of SEQ ID NO: 23;   v) SEQ ID NO: 52; and   vi) variants of SEQ ID NO: 52, having at least 95% sequence identity to the full length of SEQ ID NO: 52.   
     
     
         31 . The animal feedstock, veterinary product or composition for human consumption according to  claim 28 , wherein the plant is selected from forage grasses, sorghum, sugarcane, corn, oat, wheat, rice, barley, forage legumes, soybean, lupin, peas, lentils, chickpeas, canola, vegetable brassicas, lettuce, spinach, bananas, citrus, strawberries, apples, oil palm, linseed, cottonseed, and safflower. 
     
     
         32 . The animal feedstock or veterinary product according to  claim 31  wherein:
 i) the forage grass is selected from the group consisting of perennial rye grass, tall fescue, Italian ryegrass, brachiatia and paspalum; and 
 ii) the forage legume is selected from the groups consisting of white clover, red clover, subterranean clover and alfalfa. 
 
     
     
         33 . The animal feedstock, veterinary product or composition for human consumption according to  claim 28 , which is an animal feedstock or a veterinary product. 
     
     
         34 . The animal feedstock, veterinary product or composition for human consumption according to  claim 33 , which is an animal feedstock. 
     
     
         35 . The animal feedstock, veterinary product or composition for human consumption according to  claim 28 , wherein the composition for human consumption is a food, a beverage, a food supplement, a nutraceutical or a pharmaceutical.