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Contacts:
CNAP Director,
Professor Ian Graham
CNAP Manager, Dr Caroline Calvert
CNAP, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
CNAP - Centre for Novel Agricultural Products
Licensing Opportunities
- Transgenic Cells Expressing Nucleic Acids that Encode Glucosyltransferases
- Bioreactor Containing Cells Expressing Glycosyltransferase Nucleic Acids
- Glycosyltransferase Activity
- Monoterpenoid modifying enzymes
- Regulation of Plant Metabolism
Transgenic Cells Expressing Nucleic Acids that Encode Glucosyltransferases
Summary
The patent application discloses and claims transgenic cells transformed with nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases that modify antioxidants, in particular monolignols. A total number of 32 sequences were described in this application. Through the up- or down-regulation of the expression of these sequences, the lignin content and composition in planta may be altered and therefore could be useful to paper industry, horticulture industry and bio-refinery. In addition, this application also offers the tools to glucosylate antioxidants including the lignin precursor caffeic acid, and flavonoids such as luteolin and quercetin.
Possible commercial opportunity
The technology may allow the production of trees that can be processed at lower financial and environmental cost into paper and related products.
Bioreactor Containing Cells Expressing Glycosyltransferase Nucleic Acids
Summary
The claims encompass a method for producing glucosides of small molecules without the requirement of supplementary UDP-glucose. Examples were demonstrated using bioreactors comprising transgenic cells transformed with nucleic acids encoding glucosyltransferases to regioselectively glucosylate a number of small molecules including natural products with antioxidant activity such as quercetin and esculetin, and a class of phytohormones, cytokinins, such as trans-zeatin, dihydrozeatin, N6-isopentenyladenine, N6-benzyladenine and kinetin. This application offers the opportunity to synthesize glucosides of small molecules in a simple route which can be further optimised for large-scale fermentation. The 12 glycosyltransferases disclosed in this application provide the foundation for synthesizing a range of glucosides of the molecules described.
Possible commercial opportunity
May allow the production of highly soluble and bioavailable, active compounds of therapeutic value at low cost.
Summary
Transgenic bacterial cells transformed with plant nucleic acids that encode UDP/dTDP-rhamnose synthases were demonstrated as the tool for synthesizing UDP/dTDP-rhamnose in this application. When glycosyltransferases capable of using nucleotide rhamnose as donor sugar were co-expressed with the rhamnose synthases, the transgenic host cells were found to possess the ability to rhamnosylate the aglycone substrate present in the culture medium. This application offers the opportunity to manufacture UDP-rhamnose, which is not commercially available currently due to the difficulty in chemical synthesis, and a simple route to produce rhamnosides of small molecules by-passing the need of the unavailable donor sugar.
Commercial opportunity
The technology facilitates the production of compounds that can not currently be produced by chemical means; specifically the production of rhamnosides that may have utility as drugs or pro-drugs.
Monoterpenoid modifying enzymes
Summary
The patent application discloses glucosyltransferases that glucosylate monoterpenoids, for example perillyl alcohol, linalool, menthol, geranoil, which are used as anti-cancer and anti-microbial agents and also flavour and scent additives in foods and cosmetics.
Claims are directed to glycosylated esters; pharmaceutical compositions comprising glycosylated esters; methods to treat cancer, bacterial and fungal infections; the use of glycosylated perillyl alcohol as an immunosuppressant in organ transplantation; the use of for example glycosylated esters in cosmetics and foods; transgenic cells and plants expressing the glycosyltransferase nucleic acids and bioreactors for the preparation of glycosylated esters.
Possible commercial opportunity
Low cost method for the production of scent additives and therapeutic products with novel properties, for example, less volatile or more soluble.
Regulation of Plant Metabolism
This patent relates to plant cells and plants that are modified to enhance the production of plant oils and fatty acids and including methods for the processing of plant derived biomass materials.
The claims are directed to transgenic plants that are modified to inhibit the expression of genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and including claims to the production of oils and fatty acids in the modified plants.
Possible commercial opportunity
Could be utilised in processes that require “ low oil content” plants, e.g. bioremediation of heavy metals as such plants are easier to convert to ash than high oil content plants. Alternatively, high oil plants could be combined with novel oil plants to increase yield.
For more information on Amaethon contact Judith Mitchell: judith.mitchell@york.ac.uk