Phytodyne, Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with Loyola University of Chicago to license worldwide rights to a plant retrovirus for use in developing gene modification tools for plants. The retrovirus was discovered by Loyola biology professor Howard M. Laten.

"Plant retroviruses are natural genetic engineers," said Laten. "As part of their infectious cycle, they splice their DNA into the chromosomes of organisms they co-exist with. What's exciting is that this characteristic should make it relatively easy to get a new gene into plant seeds. Phytodyne's technology will use these retroviruses to modify plant genes and create new crop varieties."

SIRE-1, as the retrovirus is called in the scientific community, is the second of only two plant retroviruses known to exist. Phytodyne already holds a license to the other such retrovirus, discovered at Iowa State University by Professor Daniel Voytas and David Wright, the co-founders of Phytodyne.

"The SIRE-1 license will significantly accelerate the development of our gene modification tools," said Jon Leafstedt, chief operating officer of Phytodyne. "It strengthens our global leadership position in developing plant retroviruses as gene modification tools and broadens our intellectual property portfolio."

Phytodyne is utilizing these plant retroviruses to develop their proprietary RetroGene gene transformation system, Leafstedt said. Research indicates this technology will provide seed and plant biotechnology companies a more effective, efficient, and less costly method of gene transformation applicable to a wider range of crop species than traditional transformation methods.

In December, the US Patent and Trademark Office approved the patent application for the Iowa State plant retrovirus. US and international patent applications for SIRE-1 are pending.

Phytodyne is developing plant genome modification technologies that accelerate the creation of transgenic plant varieties by leading biotechnology companies for agricultural, pharmaceutical and industrial use.