Digital Journal.com, September 18, 2014

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. biotech company Kultevat has strengthened its technology portfolio by signing an exclusive license for technology developed by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to control gene expression in plants, including for applications in production of natural rubber in Taraxicum species.

The technology was developed under the direction of Roger Beachy, Ph.D., chief science officer at Kultevat and former president of the Danforth Plant Science Center, and is used to introduce natural genetic elements to plants for the purpose of closely controlling seed maturation and germination. The gene switch technology controls expression of genes by use of a well-characterized chemical activator or by seed specific gene promoters that ‘switch on’ desired genes. The promoters control expression of genes that lead to production of plant hormones that regulate the timing of seed maturation and germination. (read more)