Executives ... FYI.

Scientists have discovered an antibiotic-producing enzyme in oats that could be used to protect major cereal crops from fungal diseases. The researchers found that an enzyme from oats, Sad2, helps produce a chemical that makes the plant resistant to infections.

One such disease, known as Take-all, is a particularly damaging fungal disease because it infects the roots of the plant and can be passed onto subsequent crops grown in the same field. The researchers found that Sad2 functions in the roots, producing the antimicrobial at the site most vulnerable to fungal attack. The Sad2 gene has evolved from the most ancient and highly conserved cytochrome P450 family by gene duplication and then diverged from its original role in making sterols to adopt a new function producing an antimicrobial chemical called avenacin.

The Sad2 gene technology is the subject of a pending worldwide patent application (International Patent Publication Number WO 2006/044508) assigned to the technology transfer company PBL. PBL is working with DuPont to develop further and commercially exploit applications of the technology. Further commercial partners are also being sought by PBL for certain applications of the technology.

Contact: Anne Osbourn, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. Phone: +44 1603 450000. Fax: +44 1603 450045. Email: anne.osbourn@bbsrc.ac.uk.