METHOD OF INCREASING TREHALOSE IN ORGANISMS BY TRANSFORMATION OF SELAGINELLA LEPIDOPHYLIA TREHALOSE-6-PHOSPHATE SINTASE/PHOSPHATASE cDNA.

摘要

The present invention discloses a method for clonning and determining the nucleotidic sequence of a complementary DNA whole molecule, which codifies for trehalose-6-phosphate sintase/phosphatase bifunctional enzime of plants. Said complementary DNA molecule codifies for a bifunctional enzime which synthesizes trehalose. Said complementary DNA can be sub-clonned in appropriate vectors for the expression thereof in host cells. The cells so transformed produce trehalose, in contrast with non-transformed cells, thereby increasing resistance to heat-stress, cold, salinity and dry season. The present invention is useful to improve thermo-tolerance and osmotolerance of plants grown in arid or semi-arid zones, and will also contribute to reduce the use of irrigation water. Trehalose produced in transgenic plants may increase the shelf life of agricultural products, thereby preserving said products for longer periods of time in a dehydrated state without loosing their smell, taste and texture properties once they are rehydrated. Finally, trehalose overproduction using bacteria, yeasts, fungus, animal cells or transgenic plants will constitute a cheap source of this product to be used as additive for preserving a variety of biological products or processed food.