Promoters and UAS from opine synthase genes – Specific Patent Information

• Earliest priority – 19 November 1993
• Filed – 31 July 1996
• Granted – 21 September 1999
• Expected expiry – 19 November 2013

The claims are directed to:

• A cassette for inducible expression of a foreign gene operably linked to a regulatory region having
  • a promoter and an UAS  from the mas gene and
  • at least one UAS  from an ocs gene.

The term “operably linked” is not explicitly defined but in the context of the disclosure appears to refer to a gene sequence present on the same nucleic acid molecule as a promoter sequence and whose expression is under the control of that promoter sequence.

• A chimeric regulatory region for expressing genes in plants having at least 3 UAS derived from an ocs gene linked to a promoter derived from a mas gene. A cassette, a plasmid,  a method of expressing a foreign gene in a plant using this regulatory region, methods for nematode inducible expression of a foreign gene, and a transgenic plant are also claimed.
• A chimeric regulatory region for expressing genes in plants having
  • 4 UASs,
  • at least 3 UASs from an ocs gene and one UAS from a mas gene linked to a mas gene promoter.
  •  A cassette, a method of expressing a foreign gene in a plant using this regulatory region and a transgenic plant are also claimed.

The disclosure describes that a “foreign gene”  includes “any DNA that is sought to be expressed in [a] transgenic plant. In this context, the gene, no matter the source, is inserted into the plant genome and is thus foreign to that plant in the location of insertion, even if the gene originated from the plant being transformed.” So a foreign gene can be a plant gene and may even be from the plant being transformed if inserted into a different genomic location from where it is usually found.

A cassette, as described in the patent, does not necessarily include an origin of replication.  As claimed, a cassette could encompass a plasmid or a portion of a plasmid (e.g., a linear fragment).

Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation

& Purdue Research Foundation

• Earliest priority – 19 November 1993
• Filed – 17  November 1994
• Granted – 5 March 1998
• Expected expiry – 16 November 2014

The claim elements are:

• A chimeric regulatory region for expressing genes in plants comprising a promoter derived from a mas gene and an UAS derived from an ocs gene.
• A chimeric regulatory region for expressing genes in plants having at least 2 UAS elements and a promoter from an opine synthase gene. One of the UAS elements derives from a different opine gene than the promoter.
• A cassette for inducible expression of a foreign gene linked to a regulatory region having a promoter and a UAS from a mas gene.
• A cassette for inducible expression of a foreign gene linked to a regulatory region having a promoter and a UAS from a mas gene and a UAS from an ocs gene.
• A chimeric regulatory region for expressing genes in plants having at least 3 UAS elements from an ocs gene linked to a promoter from a mas gene.
• A chimeric regulatory region for expressing genes in plants having at least 3 UAS elements and a promoter from an opine synthase gene. One of the UAS is from a different opine gene than the promoter.
• Chimeric regulatory regions comprising at least 2 and at least 3 UAS elements from an opine synthase gene and a promoter also from an opine synthase gene.
• Cassettes containing the mentioned chimeric regulatory regions and methods for expressing a gene in a plant are also claimed.

• Earliest priority – 19 November 1993
• Filed – 4 September 1996
• Granted – 12 August 2005
• Expected expiry – 3 September 2016

The number of claims in this granted European patent was reduced to nine with only one independent claim as follows:

• Earliest priority – 19 November 1993
• Filed – 24 April 1996
• Granted – 15 March 2005
• Expected expiry – 23 April 2016

This Canadian patent claims an additional method of expressing a gene in a plant using a chimeric regulatory region with at least 3 UAS from ocs gene and a promoter from a mas gene.

Remarks