Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved systems and methods for reducing costs and increasing yields of cellulosic ethanol. In particular, the present invention provides plants genetically transformed for increased biomass, expression of lignocellulolytic enzymes, and simplification of harvesting and downstream processing. Also provided are methods for using these transgenic plants in the production of clean, marketable feedstocks for production of renewable fuels and chemicals and in other applications including phytoremediation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, among other things, to using secondary metabolites in the mevalonate pathway (such as, for example, HMG) and/or structurally related compounds to mediate biological activities (e.g., for therapeutic applications) and/or as diagnostic agents. In some embodiments, the biological activities comprise one or more pleiotropic effects of statins (such as, for example, angiogenesis, promoting vascular function, anti-inflammatory action, immunomodulation, etc.). Also provided are methods of screening for mevalonate pathway secondary metabolites, methods of producing HMG, and methods of diagnosing comprising measuring amount of mevalonate pathway secondary metabolites.

Abstract: Nucleic acids, vectors, and expression vectors comprising novel plant gene regulatory elements from poplar that can drive heterologous gene expression in plants. Novel transgenic plants expressing heterologous genes under the control of novel gene regulatory elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved systems and methods for reducing costs and increasing yields of cellulosic ethanol. In particular, the present invention provides plants genetically transformed for increased biomass, expression of lignocellulolytic enzyme polypeptides, and/or simplification of harvesting and downstream processing. Also provided are methods for processing biomass from these transgenic plants that involve less severe and/or less expensive pre-treatment protocols that are typically employed. Such methods allow, among other things, reduced costs associated with externally applied lignocellulolytic enzyme polypeptides.

Abstract: Nucleic acids, vectors, and expression vectors comprising novel plant gene regulatory elements from sorghum. Novel transgenic plants expressing heterologous genes under the control of novel gene regulatory elements.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for reducing costs and increasing yields of cellulosic ethanol including compositions of matter comprising plant biomass and cell wall-modifying enzyme polypeptides and transgenic plants expression cell wall-modifying enzyme polypeptides.

Abstract: A process for removal of metal ions from soil and methods for effecting such removal are described. The process is based on manipulating the growth of crop and crop-related members of the plant family Brassicaceae in metal-containing soils so that the metal in the soils is made more available to the plants. These particular plants will absorb metals into their roots making the metals non-leachable from the soils or will absorb the metal into their roots and transfer them to the shoots and/or roots which can be easily harvested.