Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding insect protoxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to a plant protease or an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of the modified protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by a protease produces an active insect toxin. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention further provide modified insect protoxin compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules tat encode defensive polypeptides and methods of their use in enhancing disease resistance of a plant to a fungal pathogen. Vectors, expression cassettes, viruses, cells, and plants comprising a nucleotide sequence of the invention are farther provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a root-preferred promoter for the gene encoding Cyclo1. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stabling incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence. The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a root-preferred promoter for the gene encoding Cr1Bio. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method includes stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules that encode Fus6 defensive polypeptides and methods of their use in enhancing disease resistance of a plant to a fungal pathogen. Vectors, expression cassettes, viruses, cells, and plants comprising a nucleotide sequence of the invention are further provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to plant defensin polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of use thereof. The invention also relates to a chimeric protein containing all or a portion of the plant defensin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a maize metallothionein promoter for the gene encoding metallothionein. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a maize metallothionein 2 promoter for the gene encoding metallothionein. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The methods and compositions of the present invention find use in impacting microbial pathogens and in enhancing disease resistance to pathogens, particularly by plants. The compositions of the invention include polypeptides that possess antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties, and the encoding nucleic acid molecules. The polypeptides of the invention are isolated from the hemolymph and fat bodies of insect larvae induced by injection of plant pathogenic fungi. Further provided are plant cells, plants, and seed thereof, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention so as to confer disease resistance on the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for an inducible promoter for the gene encoding a maize 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises stably incorporating into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence operably linked to the root-preferred promoter of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding scorpion toxins that are K-channel agonists. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the K-channel agonists, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the K-channel agonists in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acids, and variants and fragments thereof, obtained from strains of Bacillus thuringiensis encoding ?-endotoxins having pesticidal activity against insect pests. The invention further provides mutagenized nucleic acids that have been modified to encode pesticidal polypeptides such as endotoxins having improved pesticidal activity and/or altered pest specificity. Particular embodiments of the invention provide isolated nucleic acids encoding pesticidal proteins that may be optimized as well as pesticidal compositions, expression cassettes, and transformed microorganisms and plants comprising a nucleic acid of the invention. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests.

Abstract: The methods and compositions of the present invention find use in impacting microbial pathogens and in enhancing disease resistance to pathogens, particularly by plants. The compositions of the invention include polypeptides that possess antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties, and the encoding nucleic acid molecules. The polypeptides of the invention are isolated from the hemolymph and fat bodies of insect larvae induced by injection of plant pathogenic fungi. Further provided are plant cells, plants, and seed thereof, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention so as to confer disease resistance on the plant.

Abstract: The methods and compositions of the present invention find use in impacting microbial pathogens and in enhancing disease resistance to pathogens, particularly by plants. The compositions of the invention include polypeptides that possess antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties, and the encoding nucleic acid molecules. The polypeptides of the invention are isolated from the hemolymph and fat bodies of insect larvae induced by injection of plant pathogenic fungi. Further provided are plant cells, plants, and seed thereof, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention so as to confer disease resistance on the plant.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a thioredoxin protein. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the thioredoxin protein, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chemeric gene results in production of altered levels of the thioredoxin protein in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The methods and compositions of the present invention find use in impacting microbial pathogens and in enhancing disease resistance to pathogens, particularly by plants. The compositions of the invention include nucleic acid molecules encoding Fus6 polypeptides derived from Agrotis ipsilon that possess antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties. Further provided are plant cells plants, and seed thereof, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention so as to confer disease resistance on the plant.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant defensins. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant defensin, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of plant defensins in a transformed host cell.