Abstract: The invention provides a synthetic phytase polynucleotide which is optimized for expression in plants and which encodes at thermotolerant phytase, as well as isolated thermotolerant phytase enzyme. Also provided are feed or food products comprising a thermotolerant phytase, and transgenic plants which express the thermotolerant phytase. Further provided are methods for making and using thermotolerant phytases, e.g., a method of using a thermotolerant phytase in feed and food processing.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for making and using thermotolerant phytases, e.g., a method of using a thermotolerant phytase in feed and food processing and feed or food products comprising a thermotolerant phytase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid promoter or untranslated region comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3. The invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid promoter or untranslated region comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2 or 3. The invention further relates to chimeric genes comprising the isolated nucleic acid promoter or untranslated region of SEQ ID NO:1, 2 or 3 operatively linked to the coding sequence of a gene of interest. The invention also relates to plant transformation vectors comprising the chimeric genes of the invention. The invention further relates to transgenic plants, plant cells, plant seeds, plant tissues, or plant plastids, comprising the chimeric genes of this invention.

Abstract: The invention provides polynucleotides, preferably synthetic polynucleotides, which encode processing enzymes that are optimized for expression in plants. The polynucleotides encode mesophilic, thermophilic, or hyperthermophilic processing enzymes, which are activated under suitable activating conditions to act upon the desired substrate. Also provided are “self-processing” transgenic plants, and plant parts, e.g., grain, which express one or more of these enzymes and have an altered composition that facilitates plant and grain processing. Methods for making and using these plants, e.g., to produce food products having improved taste and to produce fermentable substrates for the production of ethanol and fermented beverages are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a synthetic phytase polynucleotide which is optimized for expression in plants and which encodes at thermotolerant phytase, as well as isolated thermotolerant phytase enzyme. Also provided are feed or food products comprising a thermotolerant phytase, and transgenic plants which express the thermotolerant phytase. Further provided are methods for making and using thermotolerant phytases, e.g., a method of using a thermotolerant phytase in feed and food processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of primers in polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of fungal pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum, Alternaria spp., and Cladosporium carpophilum. Specific primers are identified as being useful for the identification of fungal isolates using PCR based techniques. Also described are novel extraction buffer solutions for use in isolating DNA from an organism, methods of extracting DNA from tissue, and methods of performing PCR analysis on DNA extracted from tissue.

Abstract: Primers specific for races of pathogenic fungi which are resistant to certain fungicides are used in polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of fungal pathogens. The use of these primers enables the detection of specific isolates of fungal pathogens and the monitoring of disease development in plant populations. The invention includes DNA sequences which show variability between different fungal pathotypes. Such DNA sequences are useful in the method of the invention as they can be used to derive primers for use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assays. These primers generate unique fragments in PCR reactions in which the DNA template is provided by specific fungal pathotypes and can thus be used to identify the presence or absence of specific pathotypes in host plant material before the onset of disease symptoms.

Abstract: A method of producing an erythroid cell which is substantially undifferentiated but which is capable of expressing a heterologous protein under the control of a globin promoter thereof, which method comprises maintaining growing uninduced erythroid cells in culture for sufficient period of time that the protein is expressed, and isolating a subclone which expresses said protein. Erythroid cells produced by the method, and methods of detecting the interaction of an insect G-protein coupled receptor with an endogenous signaling cascade of erythroid cells are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of catalyzing in vitro reactions using seeds containing enhanced amounts of enzymes is disclosed. The method involves adding transgenic, non-wild type seeds, preferably in a ground form, to a reaction mixture, especially a bakery process and allowing the enzymes in the seeds to increase the rate of reaction. By directly adding the seeds to the reaction mixture the method provides a solution to the expensive and problematic process of extracting and purifying the enzyme. Methods of treatment are also provided whereby a subject lacking a sufficient supply of an enzyme is administered the enzyme in the form of seeds containing enhanced amounts of the enzyme.

Abstract: The invention provides novel stress tolerant transgenic plants which express trehalose 6-phosphate synthase and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase in their plastids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to confer resistance or tolerance to more than one virus from the group consisting of furovirus, potyvirus, tospovirus, and cucomovirus, using sense and antisense RNA fragments of a sequence from their genomes. The sense and antisense RNA fragments are capable of pairing and forming a double-stranded RNA molecule, thereby reducing expression of the viral genome.

Abstract: The invention relates to gene silencing as observed after integration of transgenes into plant genomes. Comparison of transcriptional gene expression between an Arabidopsis line carrying a silent transgene present in multiple copies and its mutant derivative mom1 impaired in silencing of the transgene revealed two cDNA clones which are expressed in the mutant plants, but not in the parental and not in wild type plants. Both clones are derived from the same family of transcripts referred to as TSI (Transcriptionally Silent Information). Genomic templates encoding TSI are repetitive elements with mainly pericentromeric location and conserved organization among various ecotypes. Transcriptional silencing of the genomic TSI templates is specifically released in the mutant. Transcription of TSI can be used as a marker to identify a defective silencing pathway in a plant.

Abstract: Chimeric insect hormone receptors and receptor cassettes are provided as well as methods for their use in regulating expression of target polypeptides in plants in the presence of appropriate chemical ligands. In particular, each receptor cassette encodes a receptor polypeptide that comprises a DNA binding domain, a hinge region, a ligand binding domain and an activation domain. According to one embodiment, the hinge and ligand binding domains are from two different insect ecdysone receptors. According to another embodiment, the receptor cassettes are chimeric in that one or more of the DNA binding or activation domains are obtained from a source heterologous with respect to the other domains present in the chimeric receptor cassette.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of controlling gene expression in plants. Specifically, the method comprises obtaining a transgenic plant comprising at least two receptor expression cassettes and at least one target expression cassette. The first receptor expression cassette comprises a nucleotide sequence for a 5? regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes a first receptor polypeptide, and a 3? termination region. The second receptor expression cassette comprises a nucleotide sequence for a 5? regulatory region operably linked to a nucleotide sequence which encodes a second receptor polypeptide, and a 3? termination region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a genes isolated from an oomycete that encode homologs of an FtsZ protein. The invention includes methods of using these proteins to discover new antimicrobials, based on the essentiality of the gene for normal growth and development. The invention can also be used in screening assays to identify inhibitors that are potential antimicrobials. These antimicrobials may be used in a method of controlling oomycete growth on crop plants and seeds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of primers in polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of a Fusarium proliferatum, F. verticillioides and F. subglutinans. Specific primers are identified as being useful for the identification of fungal isolates using PCR based techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel DNA sequences coding for protoporphyrinogen oxidase (protox) enzymes from soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet, oilseed rape, rice, sorghum, and sugar cane. In addition, the present invention teaches modified forms of protox enzymes that are herbicide tolerant. Plants expressing herbicide tolerant protox enzymes taught herein are also provided. These plants may be engineered for resistance to protox inhibitors via mutation of the native protox gene to a resistant form or they may be transformed with a gene encoding an herbicide tolerant form of a plant protox enzyme. The present invention further provides shuffled DNA molecules encoding protox enzymes having enhanced tolerance to a herbicide that inhibits the protox activity encoded by a template DNA molecule from which the shuffled DNA molecule is derived.

Abstract: Subject of the invention is a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) in which R1-R9 represent, independently of each other hydrogen a substituent; m is 0, 1 or 2; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and the bonds marked with A, B, C, D, E and F indicate, independently of each other, that two adjacent carbon atoms are connected by a double bond, a single bond, a single bond and an epoxide bridge, or a single bond and a methylene bridge, including, where applicable, an E/Z isomer, a mixture of E/Z isomers, and/or a tautomer thereof, in each case in free form or in salt form, which process comprises I) bringing a compound of formula (II); wherein R1-R7, m, n, A, B, C, D, E and F have the same meanings as given for formula (I) above, into contact with a biocatalyst that is capable of specifically oxidising the alcohol at position 4″ in order to form a compound of formula (III), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, m, n, A, B, C, D, E and F have the meanings given for formula (I); and 2) reacting the compou

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for improving resistance or tolerance of a plant to a pathogen, wherein the method comprises integrating a DNA molecule encoding a fusion protein comprising at least two anti-pathogenic proteins or protein domains joined by at least one linker peptide, wherein the first anti-pathogenic protein or protein domain comprises Oc-I&Dgr;D86 or Oc-I and the second anti-pathogenic protein or protein domain comprises CpTI.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of primers in polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of a fungal pathogen of banana, a heretofore unknown species of Mycosphaerella. Specific primers are identified as being useful for the identification of fungal isolates using PCR based techniques.