Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolated polynucleotide encoding homeobox-leucine zipper protein HAT22 (HD-ZIP protein 22) from the plants Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis and corresponding polypeptide derived thereof. The present invention also relates to the plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a homeobox-leucine zipper HAT22 polypeptide or a homologue thereof, which has the ability to modify, preferably to increase/enhance, the fiber length, plant height, and/or plant biomass. More specifically, the invention relates to polypeptides having homeobox-leucine zipper protein HAT22 activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The present invention further provides vectors, expression constructs and host cells comprising and/or consisting of the nucleotide sequences of the homeobox-leucine zipper protein HAT22 (HD-ZIP protein 22).

Abstract: The present invention discloses isolated polynucleotides encoding WUSCHEL-related homeobox4 proteins from two species of jute plants, namely, the Corchorus olitorius (“C. olitorius”) and Corchorus capsularis (“C. capsularis”), and corresponding polypeptides derived therefrom. The disclosed polynucleotide sequences encode WUSCHEL-related homeobox4 polypeptides (WOX4), which possess catalytic activities in enhancing fiber production in jute. The present invention also relates to the plants having a modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a WOX4 polypeptide, which have enhanced fiber yield relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. Vectors, expression constructs and host cells comprising and/or consisting of the nucleotide sequences of the protein are also provided. Also disclosed are methods for producing the proteins and methods for modifying the proteins in order to improve their desirable characteristics.

Abstract: The invention further relates to vectors, host cells, seeds, and plants comprising such a nucleic acid molecule. One aspect of the invention is an isolated antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a polypeptide molecule of the present invention. One aspect of the invention is a plane or plant cell transfected by a vector of the present invention. One aspect of the invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and fragments thereof encoding enzymes or proteins involved in disease resistance in jute.

Abstract: The present invention discloses isolated polynucleotide encoding enzymes, derived from the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (“M. phaseolina”), responsible for degrading pectin, and it comprises and/or consists of nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID Nos. 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58 and 61, or the complement of such sequences. The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID Nos. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 and 63; a recombinant gene construct comprising the polynucleotide; a transformant and a transgenic fungus comprising the recombinant gene construct, with or having enhanced production of pectin degrading enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences of Macrophomina phaseolina (“M. phaseolina”) that encodes proteins/enzymes with cellulolytic activity, including a cellulase activity, a endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a ?-glucosidase, a a-glucosidase, a xylanase, a mannanse, a ?-xylosidase, a a-xylosidase, a galactosidase, an arabinofuranosidase, a a-fucosidases, a ?-galactanase, an unsaturated ?-glucuronyl hydrolase and/or oligomerase activity. Vectors, expression constructs and host cells comprising and/or consisting of the nucleotide sequences of the enzyme genes are also provided. The invention further provides methods for producing the enzymes and methods for modifying the enzymes in order to improve their desirable characteristics. The enzymes of the invention can be used in a variety of, but not limited to, pharmaceutical, agricultural, food and feed processing, biofuel, energy efficiency and industrial contexts.

Abstract: Disclosed are polynucleotides encoding polypeptides that comprise the biosynthetic pathway for lignin in the jute plant. The present invention relates generally to the field of plant lignin biosynthesis genes, polypeptides encoded by such genes, and the use of such polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences for controlling plant lignin production. Also disclosed are methods for using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to influence the quality and amount of fiber produced by jute.

Abstract: The present invention discloses isolated polynucleotides encoding WUSCHEL-related homeobox4 proteins from two species of jute plants, namely, the Corchorus olitorius (“C. olitorius”) and Corchorus capsularis (“C. capsularis”), and corresponding polypeptides derived therefrom. The disclosed polynucleotide sequences encode WUSCHEL-related homeobox4 polypeptides (WOX4), which possess catalytic activities in enhancing fiber production in jute. The present invention also relates to the plants having a modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a WOX4 polypeptide, which have enhanced fiber yield relative to corresponding wild type plants or other control plants. Vectors, expression constructs and host cells comprising and/or consisting of the nucleotide sequences of the protein are also provided. Also disclosed are methods for producing the proteins and methods for modifying the proteins in order to improve their desirable characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolated polynucleotide encoding homeobox-leucine zipper protein HAT22 (HD-ZIP protein 22) from the plants Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis and corresponding polypeptide derived thereof. The present invention also relates to the plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a homeobox-leucine zipper HAT22 polypeptide or a homologue thereof, which has the ability to modify, preferably to increase/enhance, the fiber length, plant height, and/or plant biomass. More specifically, the invention relates to polypeptides having homeobox-leucine zipper protein HAT22 activity, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The present invention further provides vectors, expression constructs and host cells comprising and/or consisting of the nucleotide sequences of the homeobox-leucine zipper protein HAT22 (HD-ZIP protein 22).

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences of Macrophomina phaseolina (“M. phaseolina”) that encodes proteins/enzymes with cellulolytic activity, including a cellulase activity, a endoglucanase, a cellobiohydrolase, a ?-glucosidase, a a-glucosidase, a xylanase, a mannanse, a ?-xylosidase, a a-xylosidase, a galactosidase, an arabinofuranosidase, a a-fucosidases, a ?-galactanase, an unsaturated ?-glucuronyl hydrolase and/or oligomerase activity. Vectors, expression constructs and host cells comprising and/or consisting of the nucleotide sequences of the enzyme genes are also provided. The invention further provides methods for producing the enzymes and methods for modifying the enzymes in order to improve their desirable characteristics. The enzymes of the invention can be used in a variety of, but not limited to, pharmaceutical, agricultural, food and feed processing, biofuel, energy efficiency and industrial contexts.

Abstract: The present invention discloses isolated polynucleotide encoding enzymes, derived from the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (“M. phaseolina”), responsible for degrading pectin, and it comprises and/or consists of nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ. ID Nos. 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53, 56, 59, 62, 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58 and 61, or the complement of such sequences. The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID Nos. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 and 63; a recombinant gene construct comprising the polynucleotide; a transformant and a transgenic fungus comprising the recombinant gene construct, with or having enhanced production of pectin degrading enzyme.

Abstract: Disclosed are polynucleotides encoding polypeptides that comprise the biosynthetic pathway for lignin in the jute plant. The present invention relates generally to the field of plant lignin biosynthesis genes, polypeptides encoded by such genes, and the use of such polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences for controlling plant lignin production. Also disclosed are methods for using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to influence the quality and amount of fiber produced by jute.

Abstract: The invention further relates to vectors, host cells, seeds, and plants comprising such a nucleic acid molecule. One aspect of the invention is an isolated antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof that specifically binds to a polypeptide molecule of the present invention. One aspect of the invention is a plane or plant cell transfected by a vector of the present invention. One aspect of the invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and fragments thereof encoding enzymes or proteins involved in disease resistance in jute.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated archael and bacterial heme binding protein which reversibly binds oxygen with a low affinity. The heme binding protein may be utilized as a blood substitute. The invention also provides a method for controlled storage of oxygen by contacting a bacterial heme binding protein with oxygen allowing the protein to bind and store oxygen. The also provides methods to sense gaseous ligands using the heme binding protein. In other embodiments, the invention provides chimeric proteins having a heme-binding domain of an isolated heme binding archael bacterial protein and a heterologous signaling domain.