Abstract: By this invention, compositions and methods of use of plant desaturase enzymes, especially ?-9 desaturases, are provided. Of special interest are methods and compositions of amino acids and nucleic acid sequences related to biologically active plant desaturases as well as sequences, especially nucleic acid sequences, which are to be used as probes, vectors for transformation or cloning intermediates. Biologically active sequences may be found in a sense or anti-sense orientation as to transcriptional regulatory regions found in various constructs.

Abstract: By this invention, compositions and methods of use of plant desaturase enzymes, especially ?-9 desaturases, are provided. Of special interest are methods and compositions of amino acids and nucleic acid sequences related to biologically active plant desaturases as well as sequences, especially nucleic acid sequences, which are to be used as probes, vectors for transformation or cloning intermediates. Biologically active sequences may be found in a sense or anti-sense orientation as to transcriptional regulatory regions found in various constructs.

Abstract: By this invention, modification of the fatty acid composition of a plant seed may be achieved as a result of the activity of a DNA sequence foreign to the plant species to be modified. In particular, it has been found that a plant oil having a modified fatty acid composition can be obtained upon the expression of genes derived from plants of different species than the host plant, upon the expression of genes derived from bacteria, and from the transcription of anti-sense sequences which are complementary to endogenous genes of the plant host cell. In a preferred embodiment, transcription of the fatty acid modifying foreign DNA sequence is restricted to the developing seed tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fatty acid desaturases able to catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid, linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid, or of alpha-linolenic acid to stearidonic acid. Nucleic acid sequences encoding desaturases, nucleic acid sequences which hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising a desaturase gene, and recombinant host microorganism or animal expressing increased levels of a desaturase are described. Methods for desaturating a fatty acid and for producing a desaturated fatty acid by expressing increased levels of a desaturase are disclosed. Fatty acids, and oils containing them, which have been desaturated by a desaturase produced by recombinant host microorganisms or animals are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions, infant formulas or dietary supplements containing fatty acids which have been desaturated by a desaturase produced by a recombinant host microorganism or animal also are described.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns novel Bacillus thuringiensis strains containing parasporal proteins with pesticidal properties against whitefly, aphid, jassid, and possibly other sucking insects of agronomic importance, and peptide sequences to these proteins that can be used to obtain structural genes. The spores or crystals of these microbes, or mutants thereof, are useful to control hymenopteran pests in various environments. The genes of the invention can be used to transform various hosts wherein the novel toxic proteins can be expressed.

Abstract: This invention relates to genes involved in the biosynthesis of trehalose. The genes encode trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (trehalose synthase) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (trehalose phosphatase).

Abstract: Compositions containing structured triglycerides of genetically engineered annuals and food products containing the same.

Abstract: This invention relates to plant LPAATs, means to identify such proteins, amino acid and nucleic acid sequences associated with such protein, and methods to obtain, make and/or use such plant LPAATs. Purification, especially the removal of plant membranes and the substantial separation away from other plant proteins, and use of the plant LPAAT is provided, including the use of the protein as a tool in gene isolation for biotechnological applications. In addition, nucleic acid sequences encoding LPAAT protein regions are provided, and uses of such sequences for isolation of LPAAT genes from plants are considered.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel plant promoter derived from the figwort mosaic virus and methods of use of same.

Abstract: A geminivirus based vector system for obtaining controlled expression of a nucleic acid fragment of interest is disclosed. Tissue specific regulatory regions are identified employing cDNA screening and the resulting tissue-specific regulatory regions are manipulated for use in geminivirus constructs to provide for transcription and/or expression of nucleic acid sequences nonindigenous to the geminivirus vector for introduction into plant cells. The vector system may be used to provide transformed plants having cells, tissues or parts with a modified phenotypic property.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fatty acid .DELTA.5-desaturase able to catalyze the conversion of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid. Nucleic acid sequences encoding a .DELTA.5-desaturase, nucleic acid sequences which hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising a .DELTA.5-desaturase gene, and recombinant host microorganism or animal expressing increased levels of a .DELTA.5-desaturase are described. Methods for desaturating a fatty acid at the .DELTA.5 position and for producing arachidonic acid by expressing increased levels of a .DELTA.5 desaturase are disclosed. Fatty acids, and oils containing them, which have been desaturated by a .DELTA.5-desaturase produced by recombinant host microorganisms or animals are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions, infant formulas or dietary supplements containing fatty acids which have been desaturated by a .DELTA.5-desaturase produced by a recombinant host microorganism or animal also are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fatty acid desaturases able to catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid, linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid, or of alpha-linolenic acid to stearidonic acid. Nucleic acid sequences encoding desaturases, nucleic acid sequences which hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising a desaturase gene, and recombinant host microorganism or animal expressing increased levels of a desaturase are described. Methods for desaturating a fatty acid and for producing a desaturated fatty acid by expressing increased levels of a desaturase are disclosed. Fatty acids, and oils containing them, which have been desaturated by a desaturase produced by recombinant host microorganisms or animals are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions, infant formulas or dietary supplements containing fatty acids which have been desaturated by a desaturase produced by a recombinant host microorganism or animal also are described.

Abstract: This invention relates to plant LPAATs, means to identify such proteins, amino acid and nucleic acid sequences associated with such protein, and methods to obtain, make and/or use such plant LPAATs. Purification, especially the removal of plant membranes and the substantial separation away from other plant proteins, and use of the plant LPAAT is provided, including the use of the protein as a tool in gene isolation for biotechnological applications. In addition, nucleic acid sequences encoding LPAAT protein regions are provided, and uses of such sequences for isolation of LPAAT genes from plants and for modification of plant triglyceride compositions are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the modification of reserve polysaccharides in plants. Specifically, it has been found that host plants can be successfully transformed with a nucleic acid sequence capable of expressing a chimeric reserve polysaccharide modification enzyme gene sequence which will synthesize novel reserve polysaccharides in plants or convert the transformed plant's endogenous starch reserves to novel starch degradation products.

Abstract: Methods of altering substrate specificity of plant acyl-ACP thioesterases, and engineered plant acyl-ACP thioesterases so produced are provided. The C-terminal two thirds portion of plant thioesterases is identified as desirable for such modifications. DNA sequences and constructs for expression of engineered thioesterases, as well as the novel thioesterases produced therefrom are also provided. Such DNA sequences may be used for expression of the engineered thioesterases in host cells, particularly seed cells of oilseed crop plants, for the modification of fatty acid composition. A C12 preferring plant acyl-ACP thioesterase described herein may be altered to obtain a plant thioesterase having approximately equal activity on C14 and C12 substrates. Further modification of the C12 enzyme yields a thioesterase having greater activity on C14 as compared to C12 substrates.

Abstract: By this invention, methods to produce C14 fatty acids in plant seed oils are provided. In a first embodiment, this invention relates to particular C14 preferring acyl-ACP thioesterase sequences from Cuphea palustris, camphor and nutmeg, and to DNA constructs for the expression of these thioesterases in host cells for production of C14 fatty acids. Other aspects of this invention relate to methods for using other plant medium-chain thioesterases or medium-chain thioesterases from non-plant sources to provide C14 fatty acids in plant cells. In this regard, the production of C14 fatty acids in plant cells as the result of expression from an elm medium chain acyl-ACP thioesterase and a bacterial luxD gene is provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for regenerating cotton plants from explant tissue. The improved method allows the generation of embryogenic callus from a cotton tissue explant which is not cultivated on cotton initiation media having exogenous plant hormones. The method can be utilized in the transformation of cotton plants, by cutting cotton tissue to form an explant, co-cultivating the cotton explant tissue with Agrobacterium comprising a DNA sequence of interest, and culturing the co-cultivated explant on cotton initiation media comprising a selective agent but having no exogenous plant hormones. In this fashion transformed cells are induced to produce embryogenic callus on hormone-free selective media.

Abstract: This invention relates to plant LPAATs, means to identify such proteins, amino acid and nucleic acid sequences associated with such protein, and methods to obtain, make and/or use such plant LPAATs. Purification, especially the removal of plant membranes and the substantial separation away from other plant proteins, and use of the plant LPAAT is provided, including the use of the protein as a tool in gene isolation for biotechnological applications. In addition, nucleic acid sequences encoding LPAAT protein regions are provided, and uses of such sequences for isolation of LPAAT genes from plants and for modification of plant triglyceride compositions are considered.

Abstract: Novel compositions and methods are provided for modifying the lipid content of plant tissues of interest, including leaf, root, fruit and seed. The methods involve transforming a plant cell of interest with an expression cassette functional in a plant cell comprising a transcriptional and translational initiation regulatory region, joined in reading frame 5' to a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme capable of modulating the production of fatty acids, and translational and transcriptional termination regions. Expression of the enzyme provides for an increase in fatty acid biosynthesis as a result of altered concentrations of substrate for enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. Of particular interest is the selective control of lipid production in plant tissues such as leaves, root, fruit and seed.

Abstract: Regulation of expression of genes encoded for in plant cell genomes is achieved by integration of a gene under the transcriptional control of a promoter which is functional in the host and in which the transcribed strand of DNA is complementary to the strand of DNA that is transcribed from the endogenous gene(s) one wishes to regulate. The integrated gene, referred to as antisense, provides an RNA sequence capable of binding to naturally existing RNAs, exemplified by polygalacturonase, and inhibiting their expression, where the anti-sense sequence may bind to the coding, non-coding, or both, portions of the RNA. The antisense construction may be introduced into the plant cells in a variety of ways and be integrated into the plant genome for inducible or constitutive transcription of the antisense sequence. A wide variety of plant cell properties may be modified by employing this technique.