Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic plants which produce poly-beta-D-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) and related polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). The production of PHB is accomplished by genetically transforming the plants with modified genes from microorganisms. The genes encode the enzymes required to synthesize PHB from acetyl-CoA or related metabolites. PHB is a very useful polymer which is biodegradable.

Abstract: Oligonucleotide analogs are provided having improved nuclease resistance. Modifications of selected nucleotides through substitutions on the pyrimidine ring are disclosed. Certain preferred embodiments comprise the inclusion of said modified nucleotides at a plurality of sites, especially at the 3' end of a selected oligonucleotide analog.

Abstract: Transgenic plants have been produced which have been engineered to produce physiologically significant levels of sugar alcohols, or polyols, which is not natively produced by plants of the species. Transgenic plants have been engineered to express a bacterial mannitol-1-P dehydrogenase which, in the reverse reaction in the plant cells, produces mannitol from fructose in a plant which does not natively produce mannitol. Levels of polyols in plant cells have been associated with osmotic regulation and thereby with water stress tolerance. The transgenic plants have significant research value, and, surprisingly, seem to exhibit enhanced growth rates and vigor, and stress tolerance. Another polyol-producing enzyme gene has been isolated from a stress tolerant plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liver reserve or progenitor cells. In particular, it relates to the isolation, characterization, culturing, and uses of liver reserve cells. Liver reserve cells isolated by density gradient centrifugation can be distinguished from other liver parenchymal cells by their morphology, staining characteristics, high proliferative activity and ability to differentiate in vitro. In long-term cultures described herein, these cells expand in numbers and differentiate into morphologically mature liver parenchymal cells, capable of mediating liver-specific functions. Therefore, isolated liver reserve cells may have a wide range of applications, including, but not limited to, their uses as vehicles of exogenous genes in gene therapy, and/or to replace and reconstitute a destroyed, infected, or genetically deficient mammalian liver by transplantation.

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 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: Vectors for the integration of a gene into genetic material of a mammalian host cell such that the gene may be expressed by the host cell comprise a promoter and the gene and include a dominant ectivator sequence capable of eliciting host cell-type restricted, integration site independent, copy number dependent expression of the gene.

Abstract: A method for controlling the ripening of fruits and vegetables as well as a method for controlling senescence of plant tissue is described. The method generally embraces the expression of an ACC metabolizing enzyme in the fruit or other desired plant tissue to inhibit the production of ethylene in the fruit or plant tissue. The use of the ACC metabolizing enzyme ACC deaminase is described in detail. The ripening or senescence process in the fruit or plant tissue is inhibited by the expression of the ACC deaminase gene such that the shelf-life and marketability of the fruit or plant is enhanced. The ACC metabolizing enzyme may be used in combination with other methods for reducing ethylene production in transformed plants to further reduce the production of ethylene in the fruit or plant. DNA constructs containing the ACC deaminase gene are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved casing spawn that reduces the time between casing and the onset of mushroom production. The casing spawn is prepared from particles containing no available nutrients and with a substantial capacity to hold moisture (nutritionally inert particles). The particles are amended with sufficient nutrients to support the growth of Agaricus bisporus mycelium but less than the amount known to inhibit mushroom primordium formation or allow mold growth. A mixture of these ingredients is moistened, sterilized, and inoculated with Agaricus bisporus mycelium. Following incubation to allow full colonization of the mixture, the colonized material is mixed with casing material in order to inoculate mushroom casing layers. The invention provides a fully functional casing spawn without sacrificing mushroom bed volume or risking the transmission of diseases to the crop.

Abstract: .alpha.-Amylase, an enzyme that hydrolyses starch, can be found in all plants. The modification of potato starch production, in particular, is important in the preparation of various found products. The present invention discloses nucleotide sequences of potato .alpha.-amylase genes and the corresponding amino acid sequences. The present invention also describes DNA probes comprising .alpha.-amylase nucleotide sequences, as well as expression vectors that produce active .alpha.-amylase enzymes. These expression vectors can be used to produce transgenic potato plants.

Abstract: An analog of botanic seed is disclosed which comprises a plant embryo preferably encapsulated, or at least in contact with, a hydrated oxygenated gel. The gel can be oxygenated by passing oxygen gas through a gel solution before curing the gel or by exposing the gel to oxygen gas after curing. The gel is preferably oxygenated by adding to an uncured gel solution a suitably stabilized emulsion of a perfluorocarbon compound or a silicone oil, which compounds are capable of absorbing large amounts of oxygen, and are non-toxic and inert. An analog of botanic seed can further comprise an outer shell at least partially surrounding the gel and embryo, thereby forming a capsule. The outer shell preferably is shaped to aid the radicle of a germinating embryo in protrusively rupturing the capsule, thereby facilitating successful germination and minimizing incidence of seedling malformation.

Abstract: The oral vaccine of the present invention is produced in edible transgenic plants and then administered through the consumption of the edible portion of those plants. A DNA sequence encoding for the expression of a surface antigen of a pathogen is isolated and ligated to a promoter which can regulate the production of the surface antigen in a transgenic plant. This gene is then transferred to plant cells using a procedure that results in its integration into the plant genome, such as through the use of an Agrobacterium tumenfaciens plasmid vector system. Preferably, the foreign gene is expressed in an portion of the plant that is edible by humans or animals. The vaccine is administered through the consumption of the edible plant as food, preferably in the form of a fruit or vegetable juice which can be taken orally.

Abstract: Rose plant cells are transformed by incubation with Agrobacterium cells carrying an exogenous DNA sequence. The callus cells may be obtained from various tissue sources, including stamen filaments, leaf explants, and the like, and whole rose plants may be regenerated from the transformed callus cells. The exogenous DNA will be stably incorporated into the chromosomes of the regenerated rose plant which will be able to express gene(s) encoded by the DNA sequence.

Abstract: There is disclosed plasmids for the preparation of transgenic plants, as well as the plants, that are modified through the transfer and the expression of genes influencing the sugar metabolism or the sugar partitioning within a plant, which are localised on these plasmids.The transferred genes cause a modified distribution of assimilates in the transgenic plant which result in significant changes in habit, such as size, leaf shape, internode separation and root formation, as well as improvements in yield.Plasmids are also described which enable foreign proteins to be directed into the vacuoles of transgenic plants.

Abstract: An analog of botanic seed is disclosed which comprises a plant embryo preferably encapsulated, or at least in contact with, a hydrated oxygenated gel. The gel can be oxygenated by passing oxygen gas through a gel solution before curing the gel or by exposing the gel to oxygen gas after curing. The gel is preferably oxygenated by adding to an uncured gel solution a suitably stabilized emulsion of a perfluorocarbon compound or a silicone oil, which compounds are capable of absorbing large amounts of oxygen, and are non-toxic and inert. The seed analog can further comprise an outer shell at least partially surrounding the gel and embryo, thereby forming a capsule. The outer shell preferably is shaped to aid the radicle of a germinating embryo in protrusively rupturing the capsule, thereby facilitating successful germination and minimizing incidence of seedling malformation.

Abstract: By this invention, a solubilized seed-plant fatty acyl reductase protein is provided, wherein said protein is active in the formation of a fatty alcohol from a fatty acyl substrate. Of special interest is a jojoba embryo reductase protein having a molecular mass of about 32 kD or about 47 kD and sequences obtainable therefrom. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from such fatty acyl reductases.

Abstract: Selected plant lectins have been found to be larvicidal against a number of common insect pests of agricultural crops. In a preferred embodiment, plant resistance to these insects is produced by inserting into the cells of a plant a gene whose expression causes production of one or more of these lectins in larvicidal amounts.

Abstract: By this invention, a partially purified seed-plant fatty acyl reductase protein is provided, wherein said protein is active in the formation of a fatty alcohol from a fatty acyl substrate. Of special interest are jojoba embryo reductase proteins having molecular mass of about 54 and 52 kD and sequences obtainable therefrom. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from such fatty acyl reductases.

Abstract: By this invention, a partially purified seed-plant fatty acyl reductase protein is provided, wherein said protein is active in the formation of a fatty alcohol from a fatty acyl substrate. Of special interest are jojoba embryo reductase proteins having molecular mass of about 54 and 52 kD and sequences obtainable therefrom. Also considered are amino acid and nucleic acid sequences obtainable from such fatty acyl reductases, which sequences may be used for preparation of recombinant constructs useful for expression of reductase in host cells, which results in the production of fatty alcohols in said cells.

Abstract: A chimeric gene construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having aspartate kinase (AK) activity is provided, which is capable of expression in plant cells with subsequent increased production of threonine. Transgenic plants containing in their cells said chimeric gene overproduce threonine and transgenic plants containing in their cells said chimeric gene and a second chimeric gene comprising a DNA sequence coding for an enzyme having dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHPS) activity, overproduce both threonine and lysine. The transgenic plants are resistant to lysine and threonine, to derivatives thereof and to selective inhibitors of the plant enzymes DHPS or AK, and thus these compounds may be used as selective herbicides in locus where the transgenic plants are cultivated.

Abstract: A process is provided whereby the constitution of starch produced in a plant is altered without there being a substantial change in the total amount of starch which is produced. In the process a plant cell is transformed using a chimaeric gene comprising an antisense coding sequence from the waxy locus of a plant genome or an antisense similar coding sequence from a non-plant genome.