Abstract: The present invention makes use of a chimeric gene that, when incorporated into an appropriate host, results in the overproduction of S-adenosylmethionine without the need to supply the host with a source of untransformed methionine. The need for the methionine source is eliminated because the appropriately chosen host manufactures the amino acid on its own, and when the host is modified by the inclusion of a chimeric gene of the present invention, it transforms the methionine that is produced into S-adenosylmethionine. In addition, the same chimeric gene causes accumulation of methionine and increase in folate content in the same host. One form of the present invention is a fused gene encoding for methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) made up of an N-terminal domain from a yeast organism and a C-terminal domain from a plant species. An example of a suitable plant species is Arabidopsis thaliana. An example of a suitable yeast organism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for increasing the nutritional value of plants and plant parts. In illustrative embodiments PEAMT and ?PEAMT polynucleotide and polypeptide compositions are disclosed as well as their use in modulating the levels of lipid compounds, and particularly, regulating the level of phosphatidylcholine, and its precursors in plants and seeds derived therefrom. Also disclosed are methods for modulating the level of glycine betaine and choline-O-sulfate in cells, and increasing the tolerance of transformed plants to osmotic and cryogenic stress.

Abstract: The present invention makes use of a chimeric gene that, when incorporated into an appropriate host, results in the overproduction of S-adenosylmethionine without the need to supply the host with a source of untransformed methionine. The need for the methionine source is eliminated because the appropriately chosen host manufactures the amino acid on its own, and when the host is modified by the inclusion of a chimeric gene of the present invention, it transforms the methionine that is produced into S-adenosylmethionine. In addition, the same chimeric gene causes accumulation of methionine and increase in folate content in the same host. One form of the present invention is a fused gene encoding for methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) made up of an N-terminal domain from a yeast organism and a C-terminal domain from a plant species. An example of a suitable plant species is Arabidopsis thaliana. An example of a suitable yeast organism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract: A full length choline monooxygenase (CMO) cDNA was cloned from spinach and used to transform plants which do not naturally express CMO. A method is presented to improve stress tolerance of crops following engineering of CMO and BADH in plants that lack glycine betaine accumulation. Also provided are fragments useful as probes to isolate other CMO-type genes, and antisense sequences which inhibit the production of CMO. Reduction of glycine betaine as a consequence of antisense expression of CMO in species naturally accumulating glycine betaine, improves the transgenic plant's tolerance toward pathogens and pests and/or enhances its nutritional quality.

Abstract: A melt-away mandrel is disclosed for use in an isostatic pressing process and a flexible sleeve is disclosed for use with the melt-away mandrel. The mandrel is used during pressing of compactible material and then the mandrel is melted away leaving the compacted part. Preferably the sleeve covers the mandrel and this assembly is loaded along with a material charge in a cold isostatic pressing apparatus. The sleeve protects the powder charge from contamination from the material of the mandrel. The isostatic pressing process for forming an uncontaminated part includes assembling the melt-away mandrel in the flexible sleeve, placing the sleeve and mandrel assembly in a containment vessel with the material charge, and submitting the material charge and sleeve and mandrel assembly to pressure for compacting the material charge against the sleeve. After the mandrel is melted, the sleeve is peeled away from the pressed material.

Abstract: A cold isostatic pressing method and apparatus using fluid pressure to compact a material charge held in a flexible mold, including a hard die placed inside the mold, the die defining a receiver which has a longitudinal axis, at least one tooling member and a material charge placed in the receiver, such that when the hard die, tooling member and charge are sealed in the mold, pressure applied to the sealed mold will force the tooling member and the charge together to cause uniaxial compaction of the charge in the receiver along the longitudinal axis of the receiver. Preferably the charge is compacted between at least two tooling members. The charge also may be simultaneously compacted transverse to the longitudinal axis by a lateral tooling member.