METHOD FOR INCREASING THE CONTENT OF TREHALOSE IN ORGANISMS THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATION THEREOF WITH THE CDNA OF THE TREHALOSE-6-PHOSPHATE SYNTHETASE/PHOSPHATASE OF SELAGINELLA LEPIDOPHYLLA

摘要

The invention discloses the cloning and determination of the nucleotide sequence of a complete molecule of complementary DNA which codes for the bifunctional enzyme trehalose-6-phosphate synthetase/phosphatase of plants. The complementary DNA molecule codes for a bifunctional enzyme which synthetizes trehalose. The complementary DNA can be subcloned into vectors appropriate for the expression thereof in host cells. The transformed cells produce trehalose, contrary to non transformed cells, thereby increasing the tolerance to stress induced by heat, cold, salinity and dryness. This invention can be used to improve the thermotolerance and osmotolerance of plants cultivated in dry and semidry areas and will also contribute to reduce the use of water for watering purposes. Also, the trehalose produced in transgenic plants could extend the shelf-life of agricultural products, preserving them during long periods of time in dehydrated condition without losing the odour, taste and texture characteristics, once they are rehydrated. Finally, the over-production of trehalose in bacteria, yeasts, fungi, animal cells or transgenic plants will constitute an economical source of said product to be used as additive to preserve various biological products or processed food products.