CA2421215A1 - Genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel DNA sequence, which encodes a previously unidentified lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD) that regulates the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. Also provided are methods for incorporating this novel SAD gene sequence or substantially similar sequences into a plant genome for genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants.

Description

GENETIC ENGINEERING OF SYRINGYL-ENRICHED LIGNIN IN PLANTS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/230,086, filed on September 5, 2000, and is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
This invention was made with United States Government support awarded by the Energy Biosciences Program, and the United States Department of Agriculture, research grant numbers USDA 99-35103-7986, USDA O1-03749, and DOE DE-FG02-OlER15179. The United States Government has certain rights in this invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a novel DNA sequence, which encodes a previously unidentified lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD), that regulates the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. Methods for incorporating this novel SAD gene sequence or sequences similar to this SAD gene into plant genome for genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants are also provided.
Lignin, a complex phenolic polymer, is a major part of the supportive structure of most woody plants including angiosperm and gymnosperm trees which, in turn, are the principal sources of fiber for making paper and cellulosic products. Lignin generally constitutes about 25% of the dry weight of the wood, making it the second most abundant organic compound on earth after cellulose. Lignin provides rigidity to wood for which it is well suited due, in part, to its resistance to biochemical degradation.
Despite its importance to plant growth and structure, lignin is nonetheless problematic to post-harvest, cellulose-based wood/crop processing for fiber, chemical, and energy production because it must be removed or degraded from cellulose at great expense. Certain structural constituents of lignin, such as the guaiacyl moiety, promote monomer cross-linkages that increase lignin resistance to degradation (Sarkanen, 1971;
Chang and Sarkanen, 1973; Chiang and Funaoka, 1990). In angiosperms, lignin is composed of a mixture of guaiacyl and syringyl monolignols, and can be degraded at considerably less energy and chemical cost than gymnosperm lignin, which consists almost entirely of guaiacyl moieties (Freudenberg, 1965). It has been estimated that, if syringyl lignin through genetic engineering, could be incorporated into gymnosperm guaiacyl lignin or into angiosperms to increase the syringyl lignin content, the annual saving in processing of such genetically engineered plants as opposed to their wild types would be in the range of $6 to $10 billion in the U.S. alone. Consequently, there has been long-standing incentive to understand the biosynthesis of syringyl monolignol to genetically engineer plants to contain more syringyl lignin, thus, facilitating wood/crop processing (Trotter, 1990; Bugos et al., 1991; Boudet et al., 1995; Hu et al., 1999).
Although it has been known that syringyl lignin is derived from guaiacyl lignin, only a partial syringyl monolignol pathway and its genes encoding the enzymes that catalyze the steps of the pathway have been uncovered. This partial syringyl monolignol pathway, which diverges from guaiacyl pathway at coniferaldehyde, is mediated by genes encoding the enzymes coniferyl aldehyde 5-hydroxylase (CAldSH) (Osakabe et al., 1999) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde O-methyltransferase (AIdOMT) (Li et al., 2000), respectively, for the formation of sinapaldehyde (see, Fig. 1). However, sinapaldehyde must be enzymatically converted into sinapyl alcohol, the syringyl monolignol, for the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants (see, Fig. 1). The gene encoding such an enzyme, i.e., a sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD), has never been identified nor cloned and represents a missing gene that is indispensable for genetic engineering of syringyl lignin in plants. Thus, there is a need for the identification and isolation of this key gene (SAD) for genetic augmentation of syringyl monolignol biosynthesis in plants and for the methods for such genetic manipulation comprising the use of this key gene.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an isolated complete DNA sequence encoding a novel enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase, SAD, that is obligatory to and plays a dominant role in the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. SAD catalyzes the conversion of sinapaldehyde to sinapyl alcohol, the syringyl monolignol. The production of SAD, and hence, the production of syringyl monolignol may be increased by supplying extra copies of the SAD gene, or decreased by insertion of the SAD
gene or a portion thereof into the genome of a plant, in antisense orientation so that the amount of SAD for catalyzing the sinapyl alcohol is reduced, if so desired.
In one aspect, the invention provides whole gymnosperm plants containing genes which increase production of syringyl lignin and repress production of guaiacyl lignin.
Thus the invention addresses the problem of providing gymnosperm species which are easier to delignify in pulping processes.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for malting an expression cassette insertable into a gymnosperm cell for the purpose of inducing formation of syringyl lignin in a gymnosperm plant derived from the cell.
In an additional aspect, the present invention provides a method for modifying genes involved in lignin biosynthesis in gymnosperm species so that production of syringyl lignin is increased while production of guaiacyl lignin is suppressed.
The invention advantageously identifies, isolates, andlor clones those genes in angiosperms responsible for production of syringyl lignin. The invention also advantageously provides for identification and isolation of a polynucleotide encoding a sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD) from an angiosperm species and for the use of such polynucleotide to alter the lignin biosynthesis in a gymnosperm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of plant monolignol pathways for production of coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol;
Figure 2 illustrates a SAD polynucleotide DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) and its corresponding SAD amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2), Figure 2A and 2B
respectively;
Figure 3 is a phylogenetic analysis of Aspen SAD and plant CADs;
Figure 4 illustrates molecular characterization of Aspen PtCAD and PtSAD;
Figure 5 illustrates HPLC-UV/MS analysis of recombinant PtCAD and PtSAD
reactions;
Figure 6 illustrates inhibition kinetics of PtCAD and PtSAD;
Figure 7 illustrates the location of guaiacyl and syringyl lignins in Aspen stem;
Figure 8 illustrates the immunolocalization of PtCAIdSH, and PtSAD proteins in Aspen stem;

Figure 9 illustrates the immuno-reactivity of CAD and SAD proteins in various plants.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gene that encodes sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD), the last key enzyme in syringyl monolignol biosynthesis and provides an isolated complete DNA sequence encoding the novel enzyme, SAD. The invention further provides a method of altering the lignin composition, i.e., producing syringyl-enriched lignin in plants, by transforming the plants with the SAD
gene wherein the gene is expressed and causes an increased syringyl content of the lignin polymer.
The present invention is of particular value to the paper and pulp industries because lignin containing higher syringyl monomer content is more susceptible to chemical delignification. Currently, vast amounts of energy and time are consumed in the delignification process. Woody plants transformed with an active SAD gene offer a significant advantage in the delignification process over conventional paper feedstocks.
Similarly, modification of the lignin composition in grasses by the insertion and expression of a heterologous SAD gene offers a unique method for increasing the digestibility of grasses and is of significant potential economic benefit to the farm and agricultural industries.
The invention provides a gene and a DNA construct useful for the transformation of plant tissue to alter the lignin monomer composition. Plants suitable for transformation in accordance with the present invention include plants that naturally lack syringyl lignin or those that accumulate lignin with a high guaiacyl-syringyl ratio. Plants also suitable for transformation in accordance with the present invention include plants whose lignin could be modified using antisense transformation constructs that reduce the syringyl contents of the transgenic plants' lignin if such an alteration is desirable.
Specifically, suitable plants include, but are not limited to gymnosperms, angiosperms, grasses, legumes, forage crops and the like.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the invention and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the person of skill in the art in describing the compositions and methods of the invention and how to make and use them. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified term.
Likewise, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments.
As used herein, "gene" refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific protein including the regulatory sequences preceding (5' noncoding) and following (3' noncoding) the coding region. "Native" gene refers to the gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences.
"Non-coding region" refers to that portion of the gene that does not directly encode a polypeptide. The boundaries of the non-coding region are located before the start codon and after the stop codon. The non-coding region includes the untranslated regions of the genomic DNA.
"Endogenous gene" refers to the native gene normally found in its natural location in the genome.
"Transgene" refers to a gene that is introduced by gene transfer into the host organism.
"Coding sequence" refers to that portion of the gene that contains the information for encoding a polypeptide. The boundaries of the coding sequence are determined by a start codon at the 5' (amino) terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3' (carboxyl) terminus. A coding sequence can include, for example, prokaryotic sequences, cDNA
from eukaryotic mRNA, genomic DNA, and even synthetic DNA sequences.
"Promoter" (or promoter sequence) refers to a DNA sequence, in a given gene, which sequence controls the expression of the coding sequence by providing the recognition site for RNA polymerase and other factors required for proper transcription.
Most genes have regions of DNA sequence that are promoter sequences which regulate gene expression. Promoter regions are typically found in the 5' flanking DNA
sequence upstream from the coding sequence in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. A
promoter sequence provides for regulation of transcription of the downstream gene sequence and typically includes from about 50 to about 2000 nucleotide base pairs. Promoter sequences also contain regulatory sequences such as enhancer sequences that can influence the level of gene expression. Some isolated promoter sequences can provide for gene expression of heterologous DNAs, that is DNA different from the natural homologous DNA. Promoter sequences are also known to be strong or weak or inducible. A strong promoter provides for a high level of gene expression, whereas a weak promoter provides for a very low level of gene expression. An inducible promoter is a promoter that provides for turning on and off of gene expression in response to an exogenously added agent or to an environmental or developmental stimulus. An isolated promoter sequence that is a strong promoter for heterologous DNAs is advantageous because it provides for a sufficient level of gene expression to allow for easy detection and selection of transformed cells, and provides for a high level of gene expression when desired. A promoter may also contain DNA sequences that are involved in the binding of protein factors which control the effectiveness of transcription initiation in response to physiological or developmental conditions.
"Regulatory sequence(s)" refers to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5'), within, and/or downstream (3') of a coding sequence, which control the transcription and/or expression of the coding sequences in conjunction with the protein biosynthetic apparatus of the cell. Regulatory sequences include promoters, translation leader sequences, transcription termination sequences and polyadenylation sequences.
"Encoding" and "coding" refer to the process by which a gene, through the mechanisms of transcription and translation, provides the information to a cell from which a series of amino acids can be assembled into a specific amino acid sequences to produce an active enzyme. It is understood that the process of encoding a specific amino acid sequence includes DNA sequences that may involve base changes that do not cause a change in the encoded amino acid, or which involve base changes which may alter one or more amino acids, but do not affect the functional properties of the protein encoded by the DNA sequence. It is therefore understood that the invention encompasses more than the specific exemplary sequences. Modifications to the sequences, such as deletions, insertions or substitutions in the sequence which produce silent changes that do not substantially affect the functional properties of the resulting protein molecule are also contemplated. For example, alterations in the gene sequence which reflect the degeneracy of the genetic code, or which result in the production of a chemically equivalent amino acid at a given site, are contemplated. Thus, a codon for the amino _7_ acid alanine, a hydrophobic amino acid, may be substituted by a codon encoding another less hydrophobic residue, such as glycine, or a more hydrophobic residue, such as valine, leucine or isoleucine. Similarly, changes which result in substitution of one negatively charged residue for another, such as aspartic acid for glutamic acid, or one positively charged residue for another, such as lysine for arginine, can also be expected to produce a biologically equivalent product. Nucleotide changes which result in alteration of the N-terminal and C-terminal portions of the protein molecule would also not be expected to alter the activity of the protein. In some cases, it may in fact be desirable to make mutants of the sequence to study the effect of retention of biological activity of the protein. Each of these proposed modifications is well within the routine skill in the art, as is the determination of retention of biological activity in the encoded products.
Moreover, the skilled artisan recognizes that sequences encompassed by this invention are also defined by their ability to hybridize, under stringent condition, with the sequences exemplified herein.
"Expression" is meant to refer to the production of a protein product encoded by a gene. "Overexpression" refers to the production of a gene product in transgenic organisms that exceed levels of production in normal or non-transformed organisms.
"Functional portion" or "functional fragment" or "functional equivalent" of an enzyme is that portion, fragment, or equivalent which contains the active site for binding one or more reactants or is capable of improving or regulating the rate of reaction. The active site may be made up of separate portions present on one or more polypeptide chains and will generally exhibit high substrate specificity.
"Enzyme encoded by a nucleotide sequence" includes enzymes encoded by a nucleotide sequence which includes partial isolated DNA sequences.
"Transformation" refers to the transfer of a foreign gene into the genome of a host organism and its genetically stable inheritance.
"% identity" refers to the percentage of the nucleotides/amino acids of one polynucleotide/polypeptide that are identical to the nucleotides/amino acids of another sequence of polynucleotide/polypeptide as identified by a program such as GAP
from Genetics Computer Group Wisconsin (GCG) package (version 9.0) (Madison, WI).
GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453, 1970) to find the alignment of two complete sequences that maximizes the number of matches and _g_ minimizes the number of gaps. When parameters required to run the above algorithm are not specified, the default values offered by the program are contemplated.
"Substantial homology" or "substantial similarity" refers to a 70% or more similarity or 70% homology wherein "% similarity" or "% homology" between two polypeptide sequences is a function of the number of similar positions shared by two sequences on the basis of the scoring matrix used divided by the number of positions compared and then multiplied by 100. This comparison is made when two sequences are aligned (by introducing gaps if needed) to determine maximum homology. The PowerBlast program, implemented by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, can be used to compute optimal, gapped alignments. GAP program from Genetics Computer Group Wisconsin package (version 9.0) (Madison, WI) can also be used.
"Lignin monomer composition" refers to the relative ratios of guaiacyl monomer and syringyl monomer found in lignified plant tissue.
"Plant" includes whole plants and portions of plants, including plant organs (e.g., roots, stems, leaves, etc).
"Angiosperm" refers to plants that produce seeds encased in an ovary. A
specific example of an angiosperm is Liquidambar styraciflua (L.)[sweetgum].
"Gymnosperm" refers to plants that produce naked seeds, i.e., seeds that are not encased in an ovary. A specific example of a gymnosperm is Pir~us taeda (L.)[loblolly pine].
"Isolated" and/or "purified" in reference to a nucleic acid molecule or polypeptide are meant to refer to in vitro isolation of a nucleic acid or polypeptide molecule from its natural cellular environment, and from association with other components of the cell so that it can be sequenced, replicated and/or expressed.
"Vector" is a recombinant nucleic acid construct, such as a plasmid, phage, genome, virus genome, cosmid, or artificial chromosome, to which a polynucleotide of the present invention may be attached. In a specific embodiment, the vector may bring about the replication of the attached segment, e.g., in the case of a cloning vector.
"Sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase" or "SAD" refers to the enzyme in the plant phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway, which catalyzes the conversion of sinapaldehyde to sinapyl alcohol and permits the production of syringyl lignin. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the SAD DNA sequence (Fig. 2A) was identified from quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides. It is understood that this sequence can be used as a probe to clone its equivalent (i.e., with substantial homology or substantial identity is defined herein) from any plant species by techniques (EST, PCR, RT-PCR, anti-SAD antibodies, anti-SAD polypeptide antibodies, etc.) well known in the art. SAD
DNA sequence is defined herein as any DNA sequences that encode enzymes capable of catalyzing specifically the conversion of sinapaldehyde into sinapyl alcohol according to the enzyme assay methods described herein.
The Phenyl Propanoid Biosynthetic Pathway:
Reference is made to Figure 1 which shows different steps in the biosynthetic pathways from 4-coumarate (1) to guaiacyl (coniferyl alcohol (6)) and syringyl (sinapyl alcohol (9)) monolignols for the formation of guaiacyl-syringyl lignin together with the enzymes responsible for catalyzing each step. The enzymes indicated for each of the reaction steps are: 4-coumaric acid 3-hydroxylase (C3H) which converts 4-coumarate (1) to caffeate (2); 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) converts caffeate (2) to caffeoyl CoA
(3) which in turn is converted to feruloyl CoA (4) by caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT); cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) converts feruloyl CoA (4) to coniferaldehyde (5); coniferyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) converts coniferaldehyde (5) to the guaiacyl monolignol coniferyl alcohol (6); at coniferaldehyde (5), the.pathway splits wherein coniferaldehyde (5) can also be converted to 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde (7) by coniferaldeyde 5-hydroxylase (CAldSH); 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde O-methyltransferase (AIdOMT) converts 5-hydroxconiferaldehyde (7) to sinapaldehyde (8) which, in turn, is converted to the syringyl monolignol, sinapyl alcohol (9) by sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD).
It had been previously reported that this final step to the formation of sinapyl alcohol was catalyzed by CAD. The present invention is the first disclosure of a separate enzyme for the formation of sinapyl alcohol from sinapaldehyde. CAD and SAD
together regulate the quantity and composition of guaiacyl-syringyl lignin.
The present invention provides an isolated SAD protein and SAD cDNA clones, which can now be used to modify lignification. SEQ ID NO 1 gives the sequence listing for the SAD
cDNA from Populus tremuloides, while SEQ ID NO 2 gives the sequence listing for the deduced SAD polypeptide.
A comparison of the amino acid sequences of all reported CAD-like enzymes to the novel SAD enzyme of the present invention is provided in Table 1 below.
CAD has been characterized for several different species. The values listed in Table 1 indicate the percent amino acid identity. Table 1 illustrates that SAD exhibits only about 50% amino acid sequence identity to all other known CADs, demonstrating that SAD is a different and novel enzyme with different biochemical function from other CADS.
Therefore, the SAD protein sequence is phylogenetically distinguishable from the sequences of all currently known monolignol CADs.
Table 1. Comparison of all CAD-like protein sequences available in the database.
Values indicate % amino acid sequence identity.

1: M. sativa, AF083332; 2: PtCAD, AF217957; 3: P. deltoides, z19568; 4: A.
corada, D13991; 5: N. tabacum, x62343; 6: N. tabacufn, x62344; 7: E. globulus, 15 AF038561; 8: E. gunraii, x65631; 9: Z. mays, aj005702; 10: Z. mays, y13733;
11: S.
ofjr-Cfziuarum, AJ231135; 12: P. radiada, u62394; 13: P. taeda, z37992; 14: P.
taeda, z37991; 15: P. abies, x27675;16: PtXAD (renamed PtSAD).

DNA Constructs According to the present invention, there is provided a DNA construct which is a plant DNA having a promoter sequence, a coding region and a terminator sequence. The coding region encodes the SAD enzyme essential to lignin biosynthesis. The coding region is suitably a minimum size of 50 bases. The gene promoter is positioned at the 5' end of a transgene (the transgene may be SAD alone or SAD together with another enzyme from the plant monolignols as described hereinafter) for controlling the transgene expression and a gene termination sequence that is located at the 3'-end of the transgene for signaling the end of the transcription of the transgene.
The DNA construct in accordance with the present invention is suitably incorporated into the genome of a plant by transformation to alter lignin biosynthesis, e.g., to provide syringyl-enriched lignin. The DNA construct may include clones provided herein, namely PtXAD (later renamed PtSAD), described hereinafter, and variants thereof such as are permitted by the degeneracy of the genetic code or the functional equivalents thereof.
The DNA constructs of the present invention may be inserted into plants to regulate production of the SAD enzyme. Depending on the nature of the construct, the production of the protein may be increased or reduced, either throughout or at particular stages in the life of the plant. For example, the orientation of the DNA
coding sequence, promoter, and termination sequence can serve to either suppress lignin formation or amplify lignin formation. For the down-regulation of lignin synthesis, the DNA
is in the antisense orientation. For the amplification of lignin biosynthesis, the DNA
is in the sense orientation, thus to provide one or more additional copies of the DNA in the plant genome. In this case, the DNA is suitably a full-length cDNA copy. It is also possible to target expression of the gene to specific cell types of the plants, such as the epidermis, the xylem, the roots, etc. Constructs in accordance with the present invention may be used to transform cells of both monocotyledons and dicotyledons plants in various ways known in the art. In many cases, such plant cells may be cultured to regenerate whole plants which subsequently reproduce to give successive generations of genetically modified plants. Examples of plants that are suitably genetically modified in accordance with the present invention, include but are not limited to, trees such a aspen, poplar, pine and eucalyptus.

Promoters and Termination Sequences Various gene promoter sequences are well known in the art and can be used in the DNA constructs of present invention. The promoter in a construct of the present invention can provide for expression of the linked DNA segment. The promoter can also be inducible so that gene expression can be turned on or off by an exogenously added agent. It may also be preferable to combine the desired DNA segment with a promoter that provides tissue specific expression or developmentally regulated gene expression in plants.
The promoter may be selected from promoters known to operate in plants, e.g., CaMV35S, GPAL2, GPAL3 and endogenous plant promoter controlling expression of the SAD enzyme, i.e., the endogenous promoter of the SAD gene. Use of a constitutive promoter such as the CaMV35S promoter (Odell et al. 1985), or CaMV 19S (Lawton et al., 1987) can be used to drive the expression of the transgenes in all tissue types in a target plant. Other promoters are hos (Ebert et al. 1987), Adh (Walker et al., 1987), sucrose synthase (Yang et al., 1990), a-tubulin, ubiquitin, actin (Wang et al., 1992), cab (Sullivan et al., 1989), PEPCase (Hudspeth et al., 1989) or those associated with the R
gene complex (Chandler et al., 1989). On the other hand, use of a tissue specific promoter permits functions to be controlled more selectively. The use of a tissue-specific promoter has the advantage that the SAD enzyme is only produced in the tissue in which its action is required. Suitably, tissue-specific promoters, such as those that confine the expression of the transgenes in developing xylem where lignification occurs, may be used in the inventive DNA constructs.
A DNA segment can be combined with the promoter by standard methods as described in Sambrook et al., 2nd ed. (1982). Briefly, a plasmid containing a promoter such as the CaMV 35S promoter can be constructed as described in Jefferson (1987) or obtained from Clontech Lab, Palo Alto, California (e.g., pBI121 or pBI221).
Typically, these plasmids are constructed to provide for multiple cloning sites having specificity for different restriction enzymes downstream from the promoter. The DNA segment can be subcloned downstream from the promoter using restriction enzymes to ensure that the DNA is inserted in proper orientation with respect to the promoter so that the DNA can be expressed.

The gene termination sequence is located 3' to the DNA sequence to be transcribed. Various gene termination sequences known in the art may be used in the present inventive constructs. These include nopaline synthase (NOS) gene termination sequence (see, e.g., references cited in co-pending, commonly-owned PCT
Application "Method to Introduce Multiple Genes into Plants", Serial No. PCT/LTS00/27704, filed October 6, 2000).
Marker Genes A marker gene may also be incorporated into the inventive DNA constructs to aid the selection of plant tissues with positive integration of the transgene.
"Marker genes"
are genes that impart a distinct phenotype to cells expressing the marker gene and thus, allow such transformed cells to be distinguished from cells that do not have the marker.
Many examples of suitable marker genes are known to the art and can be employed in the practice of the invention, such as neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) gene that confers resistance to kanamycin or hygromycin antibiotics which would kill the non-transformed plant tissues containing no NPT II gene (Bevan et al., 1983).
Numerous other exemplary marker genes are described in co-pending, commonly owned PCT
Application "Method to Introduce Multiple Genes into Plants", Serial No.
PCT/US00/27704, filed October 6, 2000, incorporated herein by reference.
Transformation Transformation of tissues or cells from plants, fox instance, trees, with the inventive DNA construct and the subsequent production of transgenic plants can be achieved by a variety of techniques known in the art. For example, Agrobacterium- and microprojectile-mediated techniques for transferring a DNA construct into host plant tissues are particularly suitable for tree species (Tsai et al., 1994; Ellis et al. 1993; and others described in co-pending, commonly owned PCT Application, PCT/LTS00/27704, filed October 6, 2000 "Method to introduce multiple genes into plants", incorporated herein by reference). After transformation, transgenic plant tissues resistant to, e.g., antibiotics, such as kanamycin, can be selected and cultured to regenerate whole plants, using techniques also well known in the art (Tsai et al., 1994; Ellis et al.
1993; and others described in co-pending, commonly owned PCT Application, PCT/LJS00/27704(supra)).

Transformation and regeneration protocols are readily adaptable to many plant species. Many transformation and regeneration protocols have been published for plant species. (See, co-pending, commonly-owned PCT Application Serial No.
PCT/LTS00/27704 (supra)).
DNA Clones A guaiacyl pathway gene encoding coniferyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, Fig.
1) from Populus trerrauloides (GenBank #AF217957) was first cloned. This cDNA
was designated as PtCAD (GenBank #AF217957). E. coli-expressed recombinant PtCAD
protein was characterized for its catalytic activity with coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde. Because monolignol biosynthetic pathway intermediates are present together in lignifying tissues (Osakabe et al., 1999; Li et al. 2000), the PtCAD enzyme activity with a mixture of coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde was assayed. As shown in Fig. 5 (a) and (c), the reaction mixture was separated by HPLC after the enzyme reaction.
Only coniferyl alcohol was formed from coniferaldehyde, as corroborated by mass spectrometry-based chemical structural analysis, and PtCAD had no reaction with sinapaldehyde. Thus, PtCAD has a specific catalytic reaction function with coniferaldehyde for the biosynthesis of guaiacyl monolignol, coniferyl alcohol (Fig. 1).
CAD's substrate specificity for coniferaldehyde also confirms that there is a need for another enzyme, SAD of the present invention, in the biosynthesis of syringyl monolignol, sinapyl alcohol, as illustrated in Fig. 1.
A differential cloning strategy was designed to isolate candidate SAD genes based on their discernable sequences from that of CAD, as described above. Low-and high-stringency differential screening (further described in Example 2 herein below) of 1.8 x 104 pfu from the Populus tremuloides xylem cDNA library using PtCAD cDNA
as a probe resulted in the isolation of two groups of positive clones, based on sequence analysis, i.e., Group 1 sequences and Group II sequences. Group I sequences of clones were identical to PtCAD, and the sequences of group II cDNAs were identical to each other but different from PtCAD. Two of the 8 clones in group II were full-length cDNAs and designated as PtSAD. PtSAD cDNA (SEQ ID NO: 1) is 1,446-by long, encoding an OR.F of 362 amino acids (SEQ ID NO: 2) with a calculated MW of 38,991 and a pI of 6.69. Co-factor and zinc binding sequences identified in common alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) (Jornvall et al., 1987; O'Malley et al., 1992; Galliano et al., 1993) were found in PtSAD cDNA. Znl binding motif and the structural Zn2 consensus were located at amino acid residues 71 to 85 and residues 91 to 117, respectively. An NADP-binding site was identified at residues 191 to 196.
Furthermore, PtSAD exhibited only about 50% amino acid sequence identity to all the other known full-length monolignol CADS (see, Table 1 supra). However, it showed insignificantly low amino acid sequence identity (10-40%) to those ADHs considered to be associated with pathogen-defense functions (Jornvall et al., 1987; Brill et al., 1999). These sequence characteristics confirm that PtSAD belongs to a novel class of ADHs, discernable from the commonly known monolignol CADs. This is fully supported by the phylogenetic analysis of PtSAD and available full-length monolignol CAD protein sequences showing that these monolignol CADS (Fig. 3) form a cluster distinctly separated from PtSAD. This cluster of monolignol CADs is guaiacyl-specific in view of the extensive amino acid sequence similarity (~80 to 98%) of these genes with the guaiacyl-specific PtCAD and with CADs from loblolly pine and spruce, the single-copy gene involved in the biosynthesis of guaiacyl monolignol in gymnosperms (O'Malley et al., 1992; Galliano et al., 1993; MacKay et al. 1995). Thus, the phylogenetic analysis may reflect an ancient divergence of the guaiacyl CAD
phylogenetic group into a more syringyl-specialized one, to which PtSAD
belongs.
Repeated screening of independent sets of pfu from Populus trernuloides xylem cDNA
libraries with either PtCAD or PtSAD cDNA probes always resulted in the isolation of clones identical to either PtCAD or PtSAD, indicating the two predominant monolignol ADHs in lignifying xylem, CAD and SAD.
To demonstrate the biochemical function of PtSAD gene, PtSAD cDNA was expressed in E. coli to produce its recombinant protein. When coniferaldehyde alone was incubated with PtSAD recombinant protein, HPLC-MS analysis of the enzyme reaction production demonstrated that PtSAD had a specific activity of 786 nmol/min/mg protein with coniferaldehyde. However, PtSAD had a specific activity of 6964 nmol/min/mg protein with sinapaldehyde, indicating that the catalytic efficiency of PtSAD with sinapaldehyde is 9 times higher than with coniferaldehyde. Thus, PtSAD is specific for sinapaldehyde and SAD sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of sinapaldehyde to sinapyl alcohol.
Proof of the sinapaldehyde-specific nature of PtSAD came from the PtSAD
recombinant protein reaction with a mixture of coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde.

HPLC-MS analysis (Fig. 5) of the reaction of PtSAD with a mixture of coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde demonstrated conclusively that sinapyl alcohol is the exclusive product from sinapaldehyde and that in an in vivo situation PtSAD would not react with coniferaldehyde.
Thus, taken together, CAD is guaiacyl-specific for the formation of guaiacyl monolignol, coniferyl alcohol, and SAD catalyzes the exclusive biosynthesis of syringyl monolignol, sinapyl alcohol. Furthermore, these results suggest discrete roles in plants for CAD and SAD proteins in coordinating cell-specific biosynthesis of guaiacyl and syringyl lignins.
A cDNA encoding this SAD enzyme has now been cloned for the first time. It was concluded that the presence of SAD enzyme is essential for the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants, and that the incorporation of an SAD gene into transgenic plants is a viable mechanism for successful engineering of syringyl lignin in plants.
The invention will be further described by the following non-limiting examples.
Example 1r Isolation of SAD cDNA from aspen Populus tremuloides An aspen developing xylem cDNA library was constructed in ~,gt22A vector according to manufacturer's protocols (GIBCO BRL). The aspen CAD cDNA
(GenBank #AF217957) was used as a probe to differentially screen the cDNA
library under high and low stringency hybridization conditions. About 6,000 pfu from the cDNA library were lifted onto 4 individual nylon membranes. Two such blotted membranes were hybridized with 32P-labeled CAD cDNA probe under low stringency conditions (50°C) and the other two under high stringency (65°C). In this way, a total of 1 x,000 pfu were screened. High density hybridization signals were detected on membranes probed under either high or low stringency conditions. However, low density signal were detected only on membranes probed under low stringency condition.
The high density signals on high stringency membrane were perfectly aligned with the high density signals on low stringency membrane, allowing a differential isolation of positive clones with low density signal. The high density clones were confirmed to be aspen CAD cDNA. The positives with low density signal were further screened until a single clone was isolated. The purified ~,gt22A clones were then subcloned into pBluescriptS/K plasmid vector through NotI and EcoRI cloning sites. The sequencing results indicated that the isolated cDNA clone is 1,425-by long (SEQ ID NO: 1) and encodes a 362 amino acid protein (SEQ ID NO: 2) which shows a 53% sequence identity with aspen CAD protein. This cDNA clone was first designated as PtXAD and then renamed as SAD after its biochemical function was confirmed.
Sequences of clones that hybridized with the probe only under low stringency conditions were identical to each other but distinct from PtCAD. Two of these low stringency probe-hybridizing clones were found to be full-length cDNAs; they were designated PtSAD and sequenced (ABI310; Perkin-Elmer) in both directions (GenBank accession number AF273256).
Example 2: Cloning of a Novel Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene, PtSAD, from Aspen To test the hypothesis of distinct CAD and SAD genes in angiosperms, CAD
cDNA, PtCAD, was cloned from developing xylem of aspen and used to screen for related sequences in the same species. Low- and high-stringency differential screening of 2.4 x 104 plaque-forming units from an aspen xylem cDNA library (Wu et al., 2000) resulted in the isolation of two groups of positive clones. Group I contained 12 cDNAs with sequences identical to PtCAD. Sequences of the eight cDNAs constituting group II
were identical to each other but differed from PtCAD. Two of the eight clones in group II were full-length cDNAs and were tentatively named PtSAD.
The open reading frame of PtSAD was 1086 bp, encoding a 39-kD protein with a pI of 6.69. The deduced amino acid sequence of PtSAD was 53% identical to that of PtCAD and ~50% identical to that of other angiosperm monolignol CADS, but it exhibited insignificant identity (10 to 40%) with the sequences of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) associated with pathogen defense (Brill et al., 1999).
PtCAD, on the other hand, showed extensive amino acid sequence identity with CADs from Populus trichocarpa X Populus deltaides (97%) (PtCADA; Van Doorsselaere et al., 1995), Eucalyptus gunnii (81%) (pEuCAD2; Grima-Pettenati et al., 1993), tobacco (82%) (pTCADI4; Knight et al., 1992), lucern (79%) (MsaCad2; Brill et al., 1999), and other reported angiosperms (~80%) (Brill et al., 1999). Therefore, PtSAD
belongs to a novel class of ADHs.
Cofactor and zinc binding sequences conserved in ADHs (Jornvall et al., 1987) were present in PtSAD (Figure 1). The Znl binding motif and structural Zn2 consensus regions (Jornvall et al., 1987; MacKay et al., 1995) were located at amino acid residues 71 to 85 and 91 to 117, respectively. A NADP binding site (Jornvall et al., 1987) was identified at residues 191 to 196. Repeated screening of the aspen xylem cDNA
library with either PtCAD or PtSAD cDNA probes always resulted in the isolation of clones identical to either PtCAD or PtSAD, indicating that they are the two predominant monolignol-related ADHs in lignifying xylem.
Phylogenetic analysis of PtSAD and available full-length monolignol CAD
protein sequences showed that gymnosperm and angiosperm CADs form a cluster that does not include PtSAD (Figure 2). The angiosperm monolignol CADs in this cluster share ~70% amino acid sequence identity with gymnosperm CADS but ~50% with PtSAD, suggesting that all of these putative angiosperm monolignol CADS may be guaiacyl specific. These results also may reflect a divergence of the guaiacyl CAD
phylogenetic group into a more syringyl-specialized group, to which PtSAD
belongs.
Example 3: DNA and RNA GeI Blot Analysis Aspen genomic DNA and total RNA from various aspen tissues were isolated as described (Li et al., 1997; Hu et al., 1998). To determine whether there are other PtCAD
and PtSAD related sequences in aspen, a gel blot analysis was done with aspen genomic DNA digested by various restriction enzymes and hybridized with either PtCAD
(Figure 4A) or PtSAD (Figure 4B) full-length cDNA probes. DNA and RNA gel blot hybridizations were performed under high stringency conditions (Hu et al., 1998).
Probes were PtCAD or PtSAD cDNA labeled with a-32P-dATP (Amersham) using the DECA prime labeling system (Ambion, Austin, TX).
There was a strong single band in each lane, but a weak single band also was de tected in each lane, perhaps evidence of a distantly related sequence.
Together with our cDNA screening results, we interpret these data to indicate that PtCAD and PtSAD likely are the predominant members of a small gene family in aspen.
DNA gel blot analysis also clearly demonstrated that PtCAD and PtSAD did not cross-hybridize with each other. Thus, using the same hybridization conditions and PtCAD and PtSAD full-length cDNA probes, RNA gel blot analysis was conducted to investigate the tissue-specific expression of PtCAD and PtSAD in aspen. The greatest PtCAD expression was found in tissue types containing a large amount of lignifying xylem, but its expression was lower in phloem-enriched tissues (internodes 1 to 3; Figure 4C). Strong expression of PtSAD was detected in tissues undergoing rapid phloem (internodes 1 to 3; Figure 4D) and xylem (internodes 4 to 9; Figure 4D) development.

The expression of PtCAD and PtSAD was not observed in leaves in which vascular mid veins were removed.
Protein gel blot analysis was also conducted to verify the tissue-specific expression of PtCAD and PtSAD. Polyclonal antisera was obtained against affinity-purified PtCAD and PtSAD recombinant proteins produced in Eschehchia coli and protein gel blotting was used to verify the specificity of PtCAD and PtSAD
antibodies against PtCAD and PtSAD recombinant proteins. For the various recombinant protein amounts (up to 75 ng) tested, PtCAD antibody did not cross-react with PtSAD
protein (Figure 4E), and PtSAD antibody did not cross-react with PtCAD protein (Figure 4F).
The PtCAD protein exhibited the expected molecular mass of ~39 kD and was more abundant in protein extracts from xylem than from phloem tissue (Figure 4E).
In contrast, the strongest signal using PtSAD antibody was detected in phloem protein extracts (Figure 4F). RNA and protein gel blot analyses consistently indicated that both PtCAD and PtSAD were associated with lignification. Strong PtSAD expression in syringyl lignin-enriched phloem (Grand et al., 1982) suggests a specialized role for PtSAD in syringyl monolignol biosynthesis. Therefore, characterized herein are the biochemical functions of the PtCAD and PtSAD genes.
Example 4: Determination of Enzyme Activity To determine the enzyme activity of Aspen SAD having the amino acid SEQ ~
NO: 2, the following experiments were conducted:
(i) Expression and Purification of PtCAD and PtSAD Recombinant Proteins and Preparation of Plant Protein Extracts The coding sequences of PtCAD and PtSAD were amplified by polymerise chain reaction (PCR) using primers designed to introduce Ndel and Notl sites immediately upstream of their start and stop codons, a sense primer SEQ ll~ NO: 3 (5'GGCATATGTCCAAGTCACCAGAA3') and an antisense primer SEQ ID NO: 4 (5'TGCGGCCGCGGGCTTCGTAGCTGCCAA3'). The PCR product was cloned into the Ndel and Notl sites of pET23 b+ vector (Novagen, Madison, WI) to fuse a His tag at the Carboxyl terminus of the cloned sequence. After sequence confirmation, the engineered pET23 b+ construct was transferred into Escherichia coli host strain BL21(DE3) (Novagen). Induction and purification of recombinant PtCAD and PtSAD

were performed as described (Li et al., 2000). Differentiating stem xylem was collected during the growing season from aspen, hophorn beam (Ostrya virginiana), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red maple (Acer rubrum), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and used to isolate crude protein extracts as described (Li et al., 2000).
(ii) Preparation of Anti-PtCAD and Anti-PtSAD Antibodies and Protein Gel Blot Analysis The affinity-purified PtCAD and PtSAD recombinant proteins were used to immunize rabbits (Alpha Diagnostic, San Antonio, TX). The antibodies, diluted 1:3000, were used in protein gel blot analyses of xylem crude proteins (Osakabe et al., 1999).
Protein concentrations were determined by the Bio-Rad protein assay system.
(iii) SAD enzyme activity assay The SAD enzyme reactions were conducted in a final volume of 300 ~.1 containing 100 mM sodium phosphate buffer, 500,uM substrate syringyl aldehyde (or coniferyl aldehyde), l~.g recombinant SAD protein, 2.5 mM (3-mercaptoethanol and 500 ~,M NADPH, with varying pHs (5.4, 6.0, 6.4, 7.0, 7.4, 8.0 or 8.4). After 10 min at 30°C, the reaction was terminated and extracted with 0.5 ml ethyl acetate. The extraction was repeated 4 times and the combined ethyl acetate was evaporated and dissolved in the HPLC mobile phase for LC-MS identification and quantitation of the reaction products as we did before (Osakabe et al., 1999; Li et al. 2000). An optimal pH of 7.0 was found for SAD reactions. The SAD reactions with mixed substrates, sinapaldehyde and coniferyl aldehyde, were therefore conducted at the optimal pH 7.0 under above described conditions.
(iv) HPLC-UV/MS Analysis of Enzyme Functions and Reaction Kinetics The basic enzyme reaction mixture contained 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, 5 mM (3-mercaptoethanol, 500 ~.M NADPH or NADP, purified recombinant protein (boiled protein was used as a control), and phenolic substrate in a final volume of 500 E.iL
For the substrate specificity test, 500 ~,M aldehyde substrate and 1 ~,g of purified recombinant PtCAD or PtSAD protein (~25 pmol) were used. To characterize the enzyme pH optima, the substrate and recombinant PtCAD or PtSAD protein concentrations described above were used in sodium phosphate buffers, pH 5 to 8.5. All reactions were for 10 minutes at 30 C.
For normal and inhibition kinetic analyses, the reaction time was 4 min and pH
was 8.0 for PtCAD (1.2 ~,g of purified recombinant protein) and 7.0 for PtSAD
(0.1 ~,g).
For kinetics, varying concentrations (0.5 to 200 E.~M) of p-coumaraldehyde, caffealdehyde, coniferaldehyde, 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde, or sinapaldehyde were used to measure K",, V",~, and the enzyme turnover number, k~at. For inhibition kinetics, the PtCAD-mediated reduction of sinapaldehyde (1 to 200 i,iM) was assayed in the presence of 1 to 5 E.~M coniferaldehyde, and the PtSAD-catalyzed reduction of coniferaldehyde (1 to 200 E,iM) was assayed in the presence of 1 to 5 ~.M sinapaldehyde. All reactions were terminated by the addition of 10 ~,I, of 6 N HCI (to bring the pH to 2) and 500 ng of internal standard o-coumaric acid and analyzed by HPLC-UV/MS.
An aliquot of 100 ~T. of reaction mixture was injected directly onto a Supelcosil LC-ABZ column (15 cm x 4.6 mm x 5 pm; Supelco, Bellefonte, PA) with automatic sample injection and separated isocratically with a Hewlett-Packard (HP) 1100 liquid chromatography system at 40°C and a flow rate of 0.25 mT /min. The gradient program was 20% acetonitrile in lOmM formic acid, pH 2.5, for 12 min, 20 to 100%
acetonitrile from 12 to 16 min, and hold at 100% acetonitrile for 5 to 10 min; detection was with an HP 1100 diode array detector and an HP 1100 liquid chromatography-MS detector system with an atmospheric pressure onization-electrospray source in negative ion mode.
The reaction products were identified and confirmed by comparing the ion fragmentation patterns of the product and the authentic standard in MS scanning mode at 70 V. The product quantity and K",, V",~, k~az, and apparent inhibition constant (Ki) values (means ~SE) were determined as described (Osakabe et al., 1999; Li et al., 2000). The results of the inhibition kinetics for both the CAD enzyme (i.e. Table 2) and the SAD
enzyme (i.e., Table 3) using a variety of substrates are illustrated below.

Table 2 Kinetic Properties of the Recombinant PtCAD Protein Substrate Km Vmax kcata Vmax~m (,uM) (nmol min -1 (min 1) ~,g 1) p-Coumaraldehyde 6.21.1 0.170.04 6.80.2 30.1 Caffealdehyde 37.05.4 0.150.03 6Ø02 4.4 Coniferaldehyde 2.30.8 0.210.03 8.40.3 100 5-Hydroxyconiferaldehyde 0.170.04 6.80.4 10.6 17.52.5 Sinapaldehyde 9.11.2 0.100.01 4.0 12.0 akcat~ enzyme turnover number Values are means SE for three independent assays.

Table 3 Kinetic Properties of the Recombinant PtSAD Protein Substrate Km Vmax kcata Vmax~m (~,1VI) (nmol min -1 (min ~.g 1) l) p-Coumaraldehyde 15.61.4 2.90.3 11611 27.4 Caffealdehyde 140.09.1 2.00.1 804 2.2 Coniferaldehyde 12.71.5 2.30.2 926 26.6 5-Hydroxyconiferaldehyde 3.80.4 15216 15.5 36.12.3 Sinapaldehyde 7.41.1 5.00.3 20013 100 akcat~ enzyme turnover number Values are means SE for three independent assays.

Example 5: Chemical Synthesis and Thioacidolysis Analysis of Aspen Stem Monolignol composition All aldehydes and their alcohol derivatives were obtained from Sigma/Aldrich, except the following: p-coumaraldehyde, p-coumaryl alcohol, caffealdehyde, caffeyl alcohol, 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde, and 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol were prepared chemically from their corresponding benzaldehyde derivatives as described (Osakabe et al., 1999; Li et al., 2000). The structural identities of these compounds were confirmed by iH-NMR. p-Coumaraldehyde: 8 (acetone-d6; standard carbon numbers were used) 6.48(1H, dd, JI = 15.9, J2 = 7.8, C8H), 6.80 (2H, m, Ar-H), 7.46 (1H, d, J =
15.8, C~H), 7.48 (2H, m, Ar-H), 9.50 (1H, d, C9H); p-coumaryl alcohol: ~ (acetone-d6) 4.18 (2H, dd, JI = 4, J2 = 1, C9H), 6.19 (1H, dt, JI = 15.9, JZ = 5.5, C8H). 6.49 (1H, d, J
= 15.9, CAM), 6.78 (2H, m, Ar-H), 7.26 (2M, m, Ar-H); caffealdehyde: 8 (acetone-d6) 6.53 (1H, dd, JI = 15.7, J2 = 7.6, C8H), 6.90 (1H, d, J = 7.9, CSH), 7.10 (1H, dd, Jl =
7.9, J2 = 2.1, C6H), 7.20(1H, d, J 2.1, CZH), 7.51 (1H, d, J = 15.7, C~H), 9.61 (1H, d, J =
7.6, C9H);
caffeyl alcohol: 8 (acetone-ds) 4.17 (2H, d, J 5.5, C9H), 6.14 (1H, dt, Jl =
15.9, J2 = 5.5, CgH), 6.43 (1H, dt, JI = 15.9, J2 = 1.5, C~H), 6.75 (2H, d, J = 1.5, CSH, C6H), 6.92 (1H, d, J = 1.5, C2H); 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde: ~ (acetone-d6) 3.88 (3H, s, OCH3), 6.60 (1H, dd, Jl = 15.6, J2 = 7.8, C8H), 6.88 (1H, d, J = 1.7, C6H), 6.95 (1H, d, J
= 1.7, C2H), 7.50 (1H, d, J = 15.6, C~H), 9.61 (1H, d, J = 7.8, C9H); 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol: b (acetone-d6) 3.87 (3H, s, OCH3), 4.28 (2H, t, J = 5.5, C9H), 6.20 (1H, dt, JI
= 15.9, J2 =
5.5, C8H), 6.47 (1H, d, J = 15.9, C~H), 6.51 (1H, d, J = 1.8, C6H), 6.64 (1H, d, J = 1.8, C2H). For analysis of monolignol composition, aspen stem internodes were extracted with benzene/alcohol and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS)-based thioacidolysis (Rolando et al., 1992; Tsai et al., 1998).
Example 6: Histochemical Lignin Analysis, Immunolocalizatlon, and Microscopy For histochemical localization of lignin, fresh hand-cut sections (~20 ~m thick) from stem internodes of 4-month-old, greenhouse-grown aspen plants (clone 271) were incubated immediately in freshly prepared saturated chlorinated water for 10 min at 4°C.
After three washes with water, the sections were incubated in 4% sodium sulfite at room temperature for 5 min, mounted in 50% glycerol, and photographed using a Nikon (Tokyo, Japan) Eclipse 400 fluorescence microscope. Segments (~1 mm thick) from the same internodes used for histochemical analysis were used for immunolocalization on the basis of the protocol of Wittich et al. (1999) with modifications. The segments were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M PBS (4 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.4, and 200mM NaCI) for 12 hr at 4°C. After washing in PBS for 2 hr at 4°C, the segments were dehydrated in an ethanol series, infiltrated, and embedded in butyl methyl methacrylate.
Polymerization was performed under UV light (365 nm) for 40 hr at -20°C in a UVC2 CRYO Chamber (PELCO, Redding, CA). Sections (3 pin thick) were prepared with a Leica (wetzlar, Germany) RM 2155 microtome and mounted on Superfrostlplus (Fisher) slides. Slides were rinsed with acetone to remove butyl methyl methacrylate from the sections, which were rehydrated in an ethanol series and blocked first with 0.1 M hydroxyammonium chloride for 5 min and then with 1% BSA for 30 min at room temperature. After incubation with anti-PtCAD, anti-PtCAIdSH (Osakabe et al., 1999), anti-PtAIdOMT (Li et al., 2000), or anti-PtSAD antibodies (in 1:500 dilution) for 2 hr at 37°C, slides were washed in PBS containing 0.1% BSA and incubated with goat anti-rabbit antibody conjugated with alkaline phosphatase (1:100; Boehringer Mannheim) for 1.5 hr at 37°C. After washing in PBS, slides incubated with anti-PtSAD, antiPtCAldSH, or anti-PtAIdOMT antibodies were reacted at pH 9.5 with a mixture of dimethylformamide and nitroblue tetrazolium/5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate, and those incubated with anti-PtCAD antibodies were treated with Fast Red TR/Naphthol AS-MX (Sigma); both treatments were for 20 to 30 min at room temperature. Pre immune serum was used as the control. The slides then were mounted in 50%
glycerol and observed with a Nikon Eclipse 400 microscope, and images were taken using a Sony (Tokyo, Japan) DKC-5000 digital photo camera.
Example 7: Histochemical and Chemical Detection of Guaiacyl and Syringyl Lignin Distributions in Aspen Stem Vascular Tissues The ih situ relationship between PtCAD/PtSAD and guaiacyl syringyl lignin biosynthesis was identified by analyzing the distribution of guaiacyl and syringyl lignins in vascular systems of the aspen stem. Syringyl lignin can be distinguished chromogenically from guaiacyl lignin irz situ by CrossBevan or Maule color reaction (Nakano and Meshitsuka, 1992). The lignin-based chromophore-forming mechanisms in these two methods are similar. The chlorination of the syringyl nucleus leads to a pink (lignifying cells) or red (lignified cells) color, whereas the guaiacyl nucleus produces a light (lignifying cells) to dark (lignified cells) brown color (Bland, 1966;
Wardrop, 1981). The CrossBevan method was used in these experiments because of its mild reaction conditions, circumventing the problem of thin tissue section destruction that often occurs during Maule color reactions.
In the primary vascular tissues, lignin was observed only in xylem and was of the guaiacyl type, as revealed by the brown staining of protoxylem and metaxylem vessel elements between stem internodes 1 and 4 (Figures 7A and 7B). This was further confirmed by thioacidolysis analysis of stem lignin, which demonstrated the exclusive detection of guaiacyl monomers (Figure 7D). The primary xylem remained as the only stem tissue containing pure guaiacyl lignin (Figures 7E to 7G). Guaiacyl-syringyl lignin appeared during the differentiation of secondary vascular systems, as indicated by the chemical analyses of stem internodes 5 and beyond (Figure 7H). However, the deposition of syringyl lignin in the secondary xylem followed that of guaiacyl lignin, as manifested by the color change from bright light brown to pink and then red in developing, partially lignified, and extensively lignified secondary xylem elements, respectively (Figure 7G). This is consistent with the reported sequential deposition of guaiacyl followed by syringyl lignins in xylem cells of angiosperms (Terashima et al., 1986; Saka and Goring, 1988).
Aggregated protophloem parenchyma cells, the precursors of primary phloem fibers (Esau, 1965), were present in primary growth tissues (Figures 7A to 7C), but these cells were not stained for lignin, likely because of their lack of secondary wall thickening. They also failed to stain for guaiacyl lignin once lignification and secondary thickening began (Figure 7I). Instead, syringyl-positive pink (Figure 7I) to red (Figures 7E and 7F) coloration prevailed in these cells as they differentiated into fibers. Indeed, phloem fibers are known for their enrichment in syringyl lignin, but they do accumulate guaiacyl-syringyl lignin (Grand et al., 1982). Together, these observations indicate that in direct contrast to the lignification sequence in secondary xylem elements, the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin precedes and overwhelms that of guaicyl lignin in primary phloem fibers.
Immunolocalization was used to verify whether PtCAD is associated with guaiacyl lignin-synthesizing primary xylem and whether the distribution of PtCAD and PtSAD is in line with the guaiacyl and syringyl lignin deposition patterns in phloem and xylem elements. The distribution of another syringyl pathway protein, PtCAdSH, also was analyzed.
Example 8: Immunolocalization of PtCAD, PtCAdSH, and PtSAD in Aspen Stem Internodes Conditions similar to those present during protein gel blot analyses, by which the specificities of PtCAD and PtSAD antibodies were verified (Figures 4E and 4F), were applied to cellular immunolocalization. PtSAD and PtCAIdSH were visualized in tissue sections after the anti-rabbit IgG-alkaline phosphatase reaction with nitroblue tetrazolium/5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate substrate. PtCAD signals were visualized with Fast Red substrate. Serial sections were analyzed. Pre-immune serum used at the same protein concentration as the anti-PtCAD, anti-PtSAD, or anti-PtCAIdSH
antiserum gave no immunolabeling signal (data not shown). At the third internode, PtCAD was detected almost exclusively in developing metaxylem vessels (Figure 8A).
PtSAD was not detected in metaxylem vessels but was most conspicuous in protophloem parenchyma cells and in the parenchymatous storage tissue, the medullary sheath (Figure 8B).
The cellular distribution of PtCAIdSH (Figure 8C) conformed with that of PtSAD. At the third internode, the lignification and secondary wall thickening had begun in metaxylem vessels but not in protophloem parenchyma cells (Figures 7A
to 7C). Consistently, no lignin color reaction was observed in protophloem parenchyma cells (Figure 7A), despite the detection in these cells of PtSAD and PtCAIdSH
(Figures 8B and 8C). However, at internode 6, both syringyl lignin deposition (Figure 7I) and PtSAD signals (data not shown) were observed in these cells undergoing differentiation into primary phloem fibers. At the eighth internode, PtSAD signals diminished in these differentiating fiber cells (Figure 8E), signifying the near completion of syringyl mono-lignol biosynthesis in these cells (Figure 7E).
At this stage, PtCAD became more conspicuous than PtSAD in these maturing fibers (Figure 8D), indicative of an active biosynthesis of guaiacyl monolignol. As the primary phloem continued its centripetal course of differentiation, new protophloem parenchyma cells appeared adjacent to the maturing fibers toward the center of the stem.
These new primary phloem fiber precursors (Esau, 1965) were labeled with PtSAD
(Figure 8E) but not yet with PtCAD (Figure 8D). At internode 12, PtSAD signals disappeared in primary phloem fibers (Figure 8I), suggesting the completion of syringyl monolignol biosynthesis in these cells. However, PtCAD signals remained strong in these maturing fibers (Figure 8H). At internode 15, neither PtCAD nor PtSAD
was detected in these fibers that became fully lignified (data not shown). These results agree with those of histochemical lignin localization indicating that the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin precedes that of guaiacyl lignin in primary phloem fibers.
However, these procambium-derived primary phloem elements and the secondary xylem exhibited contrasting lignification sequences. PtCAD appeared in xylem fusiform initials before PtSAD (Figures 8H and 8I), consistent with chemical and histochemical evidence that the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin lags behind that of guaiacyl lignin in the secondary xylem. Furthermore, in the differentiating secondary xylem, PtCAD
signals were most conspicuous in maturing vessels (Figures 8F and 8H) but also were strong in developing fiber and ray cells. PtSAD signals were strongest in syringyl lignin-enriched radial and axial ray cells (Figure 8G) (Wardrop and Dadswell, 1952;
Musha and Goring, 1975) and were conspicuous in maturing fiber cells but were nearly absent from developing vessels (Figures 8G and 8I). These protein distribution patterns in the secondary xylem were sustained through older internodes (data not shown).
These results and histochemical observations consistently demonstrated that PtCAD is associated with cells specializing in guaiacyl lignin synthesis and that PtSAD
and PtCAdSH are associated with vascular elements containing enriched syringyl lignin.
Example 9: Production of syringyl-enriched lignin in transformed plants The following genetic transformations illustrate production of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants.
A. To produce syringyl-enriched lignin in angiosperm plants, angiosperm plants are genetically transformed with sense SAD gene driven by any appropriate promoter and via any appropriate genetic transformation system.
B. To produce syringyl-enriched lignin in gymnosperm plants, gymnosperm plants are genetically transformed with sense SAD genes driven by any appropriate promoter and via any appropriate genetic transformation system.
The invention has now been described and exemplified with some specificity, those skilled in the art will appreciate the various modifications, including variation, additions and omissions, that may be made in what has been described.
Accordingly, it is intended that these modifications also be encompassed by the present invention and that the scope of the present invention be limited solely by the broadest interpretation that lawfully can be accorded the appended claims.

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SEQUENCE LISTING
<110> BOARD OF CONTROL OF MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
<120> GENETIC ENGINEERING OF SYRINGYL-ENRICHED LIGNIN IN PLANTS
<130> 066040-9686 <140> Unknown <141> 2001-09-05 <150> 60/230,086 <151> 2000-09-05 <160> 4 <170> PatentIn version 3.0 <210> 1 <211> 1446 <212> DNA , <213> aspen populus tremuloides <400> 1 tttttttttt tttcctagcc ttccttctcg acgatatttc tctatctgaa gcaagcacca tgtccaagtc accagaagaa gaacaccctg tgaaggcctt cgggtgggct gctagggatc aatctggtca tctttctccc ttcaacttct ccaggagggc aactggtgaa gaggatgtga ggttcaaggt gctgtactgc gggatatgcc attctgacct tcacagtatc aagaatgact ggggcttctc catgtaccct ttggttcctg ggcatgaaat tgtgggggaa gtgacagaag ttgggagcaa ggtgaaaaag gttaatgtgg gagacaaagt gggcgtggga tgcttggttg gtgcatgtca ctcctgtgag agttgtgcca atgatcttga aaattactgt ccaaaaatga tcctgacata cgcctccatc taccatgacg gaaccatcac ttacggtggc tactcagatc acatggtcgc taacgaacgc tacatcattc gattccccga taacatgccg cttgacggtg gcgctcctct CCtttgtgCC gggattacag tgtatagtcc cttgaaatat tttggactag atgaacccgg taagcatatc ggtatcgttg gcttaggtgg acttggtcac gtggctgtca aatttgccaa ggcctttgga tctaaagtga cagtaattag tacctcccct tccaagaagg aggaggcttt gaagaacttc ggtgcagact catttttggt tagtcgtgac caagagcaaa tgcaggctgc cgcaggaaca ttagatggca tcatcgatac agtttctgca gttcaccccc ttttgccatt gtttggactg ttgaagtctc acgggaagct tatcttggtg ggtgcaccgg aaaagcctct tgagctacct gccttttctt tgattgctgg aaggaagata gttgccggga gtggtattgg aggcatgaag gagacacaag agatgattga ttttgcagca aaacacaaca tcacagcaga tatcgaagtt atttcaacgg actatcttaa tacggcgata gaacgtttgg ctaaaaacga tgtcagatac cgattcgtca ttgacgttgg caatactttg gcagctacga agccctaagg agaagatccc atgttctcga accctttata aaatctgata acatgtgttg atttcatgaa taaatagatt atctttggga tttttcttta ataaacgaag tgttctcgaa aacttaacat cggcaatacc ctggcagcta cgagaaacgc tttagaattg tttgtaagtt tgtttcatta gggtgatacc atgctctcga gtcctttgta agatccattt atagttgcgt gaatgctatg aacaaataat atgtttgcgg cttctcttca aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa <210> 2 <211> 362 <212> PRT
<213> aspen populus tremuloides <400> 2 Met Ser Lys Ser Pro Glu Glu Glu His Pro Val Lys Ala Phe Gly Trp Ala Ala Arg Asp Gln Ser Gly His Leu Ser Pro Phe Asn Phe Ser Arg Arg Ala Thr Gly Glu Glu Asp Val Arg Phe Lys Val Leu Tyr Cys Gly Ile Cys His Ser Asp Leu His Ser Ile Lys Asn Asp Trp Gly Phe Ser Met Tyr Pro Leu Val Pro Gly His Glu Ile Val Gly Glu Val Thr Glu Val Gly Ser Lys Val Lys Lys Val Asn Val Gly Asp Lys Val Gly Val Gly Cys Leu Val Gly Ala Cys His Ser Cys Glu Ser Cys Ala Asn Asp Leu Glu Asn Tyr Cys Pro Lys Met Ile Leu Thr Tyr Ala Ser Ile Tyr His Asp Gly Thr Ile Thr Tyr Gly Gly Tyr Ser Asp His Met Val Ala Asn Glu Arg Tyr Ile Ile Arg Phe Pro Asp Asn Met Pro Leu Asp Gly Gly Ala Pro Leu Leu Cys Ala Gly Ile Thr Val Tyr Ser Pro Leu Lys Tyr Phe Gly Leu Asp Glu Pro Gly Lys His Ile Gly Ile Val Gly Leu Gly Gly Leu Gly His Val Ala Val Lys Phe Ala Lys Ala Phe Gly Ser Lys Val Thr Val Ile Ser Thr Ser Pro Ser Lys Lys Glu Glu Ala Leu Lys Asn Phe Gly Ala Asp Ser Phe Leu Val Ser Arg Asp G1n Glu Gln Met Gln Ala Ala Ala Gly Thr Leu Asp Gly Ile Ile Asp Thr Val Ser Ala Val His Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Phe Gly Leu Leu Lys Ser His Gly Lys Leu Ile Leu Val Gly Ala Pro Glu Lys Pro Leu Glu Leu Pro Ala Phe Ser Leu Ile Ala Gly Arg Lys Ile Val Ala Gly Ser Gly Ile Gly Gly Met Lys Glu Thr Gln Glu Met Ile Asp Phe Ala Ala Lys His Asn Ile Thr Ala Asp Ile Glu Val Ile Ser Thr Asp Tyr Leu Asn Thr Ala Ile Glu Arg Leu Ala Lys Asn Asp Val Arg Tyr Arg Phe Val Ile Asp Val Gly Asn Thr Leu Ala Ala Thr Lys Pro <210> 3 <211> 23 <212> DNA
<213> aspen populus tremuloides <400> 3 ggcatatgtC caagtcacca gaa <210> 4 <211> 27 <212> DNA
<213> aspen populus tremuloides <400> 4 tgcggccgcg ggcttcgtag ctgccaa

Claims (44)

CLAIM(S)

1. An isolated sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD) gene.

2. A cDNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding SAD or a functional fragment thereof.

3. A cDNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence with substantial similarity to that of SAD to exhibit SAD
activity.

4. A cDNA of claim 2 comprising of SEQ ID NO: 1

5. An isolated and purified DNA molecule comprising a DNA segment having a transcriptional regulatory region of a plant SAD gene.

6. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of complements, reverse complements and reverse sequences of a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

7. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to:
(a) SEQ ID NO: 1;

(b) complements of a sequence of (a) (c) reverse complements of a sequence of (a); and (d) reverse sequences of a sequence of (a).

8. A polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that differs only in one or more conservative deletions, insertions or substitutions from:
(a) SEQ ID NO: 1;

(b) complements of a sequence of (a);

(c) reverse complements of a sequence of (a); and (d) reverse sequences of a sequence of (a).

9. A polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 70%
sequence similarity to:

(a) SEQ ID NO: l;

(b) complements of a sequence of (a);

(c) reverse complements of a sequence of (a); and (d) reverse sequences of a sequence of (a).

10. A polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of claim 2, comprising an amino acid sequence having the sequence of SAD, a sequence conservative variant thereof having a amino acid sequence substantially similar to that of SAD or a functional fragment thereof.

11. A polypeptide of claim 10 comprising of SEQ ID NO: 2.

12. A method of altering lignin monomer composition in a plant tissue comprising:

(a) introducing a DNA construct comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding SAD or a polypeptide sequence substantially similar to SAD, wherein the sequence is operably linked to promoter and gene termination sequences functional in a plant host;

(b) regenerating the plant cells to provide a transgenic plant; and (c) expressing the DNA construct in the cells of the transgenic plant in an amount effective to alter the lignin monomer composition of the plant.

13. A method of claim 12, wherein the plant tissue is a plant cell, plant organ, or an entire plant.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the plant tissue is selected from the group consisting of angiosperm and gymnosperm.

15. A method for producing a plant cell having altered lignin structure comprising:

(a) transforming a plant cell with a polynucleotide of claim 9 to yield a transgenic plant cell; and (b) cultivating the transgenic cell under conditions conducive to regeneration and mature plant growth.

16. A method of modifying the activity of an enzyme in a plant comprising stably incorporating into the genome of the plant a polynucleotide of claim 9.

17. A method of altering the content or composition of lignin in a plant, comprising stably incorporating into the genome of the plant by transformation a recombinant DNA
comprising a gene promoter sequence and a gene terminator, and an interposed region comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an DNA sequence which has sufficient sequence similarity to an endogenous plant sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene such that when said nucleotide sequence is expressed the expression of said endogenous plant sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene is inhibited, and wherein said nucleotide sequence is a plant sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene or functional fragment thereof.

18. A method of increasing the activity of sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase in a plant, comprising inserting into the genome of a culture of cells of a plant by transformation a recombinant DNA comprising a gene promoter sequence and a gene terminator, and an interposed region comprising a nucleotide sequence which has sufficient sequence similarity to the endogenous plant gene specifying sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase that when said nucleotide sequence is expressed, expression of the endogenous sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene is increased; selecting cells from the culture which contain the inserted recombinant DNA; regenerating whole plants from the selected cells; and selecting whole plants, regenerated from the selected cells, which have a phenotype characterized by reduced sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and wherein said nucleotide sequence is a plant sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene or functional fragment thereof.

19. A plant having incorporated into its genome a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding SAD.

20. The plant of claim 19 which is a tree.

21. The plant of claim 19 wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding SAD is in the sense orientation.

22. A plant of claim 19, wherein the plant is an angiosperm.

23. A plant of claim 19, wherein the plant is a gymnosperm.

24. A transgenic plant which has substantially altered lignin monomer composition a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide encoding a plant SAD operably linked to a promoter, the recombinant DNA being expressed in an amount effective to alter the lignin monomer composition of the plant.

25. A transgenic plant cell comprising a DNA construct with a promoter sequence, a coding region for SAD and a termination sequence.

26. A plant comprising a transgenic plant cell of claim 25 and fruit, seeds and progeny thereof.

27. A DNA construct for incorporation into the genome of a plant to alter the lignin monomer composition of the plant, comprising an operably linked gene promoter sequence, a nucleotide sequence encoding SAD or a sequence substantially similar thereto, and a gene termination functional in a plant cell.

28. A transgenic plant cell comprising a DNA construct according to claim 27.

29. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the plant is a gymnosperm.

30. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the plant is a angiosperm.

31. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding SAD
is in a sense orientation.

32. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the nucleotide sequence encoding SAD
is in a antisense orientation.

33. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the promoter can be constitutive or tissue-specific.

34. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the promoter can be homologous or heterologous.

35. A DNA construct comprising, in the 5'-3' direction:
(a) a gene promoter sequence, (b) a polynucleotide of any one of the sequences of claims 8 or 9, SEQ ID
NO: 1 or a substantially similar sequence, comprising a gene coding for an enzyme involved in a lignin biosynthetic pathway; and (c) a gene termination sequence.

36. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the non-coding region is in a sense orientation.

37. The DNA construct of claim 27 wherein the non-coding region is in an antisense orientation.

38. The DNA construct of claim 27 , wherein the gene promoter sequence provides for transcription in xylem.

39. A DNA construct comprising a gene promoter sequence, and a gene terminator, and an interposed region comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein which has sufficient sequence similarity to an endogenous plant sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene that when said nucleotide sequence is expressed the expression of said endogenous plant gene is inhibited, said endogenous plant gene being a gene which encodes sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase, and wherein said nucleotide sequence is a plant sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene or functional fragment thereof.

40. A DNA construct comprising, in the 5'-3' direction:
(a) a gene promoter sequence;
(b) a polynucleotide of any one of claims 8 or 9 comprising at least one open reading frame coding for at least one functional portion of an enzyme involved in a lignin biosynthetic pathway; and (c) a gene termination sequence.

41. A method of altering lignin composition in a plant, comprising incorporating into the genome of the plant a DNA construct according to claim 27 in an amount and under conditions effective to allow at least a portion of the plant's cells to incorporate the construct into the plant genome.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the altered lignin composition correlates to an increase in syringyl monolignol relative to a similar control plant that does not incorporate the DNA construct into its genome.

43. A method of obtaining altered expression of sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase in a plant, comprising incorporating into the genome of the plant a DNA construct according to claim 27.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the altered expression correlates to an increase in expression of sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase relative to a similar control plant that does not incorporate the DNA construct into its genome.