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: Compositions and methods related to transgenic glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant maize plants are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides maize plants having a DP-098140-6 event which imparts tolerance to glyphosate and at least one ALS-inhibiting herbicide. The maize plant harboring the DP-098140-6 event at the recited chromosomal location comprises genomic/transgene junctions having at least the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 and/or 6. The characterization of the genomic insertion site of the DP-098140-6 event provides for an enhanced breeding efficiency and enables the use of molecular markers to track the transgene insert in the breeding populations and progeny thereof. Various methods and compositions for the identification, detection, and use of the maize DP-098140-6 events are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for identifying novel genes that share regions of homology with known genes from target groups of genes of interest are provided. The methods comprise systematically designing oligonucleotide primers that are specific for regions of homology within the nucleotide sequences of a target group of known genes and performing successive rounds of PCR amplification of nucleic acid material from an organism of interest. The PCR steps are intended to identify and amplify nucleic acids comprising both known and novel genes. Nucleic acid molecules comprising known genes are detected and eliminated from further consideration by dot blot analysis using oligonucleotide probes specific for the known genes in the target group. Potentially novel genes are subjected to further sequence analysis to confirm novelty and assayed for biological activity.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, novel polynucleotides and the pesticidal polypeptides they encode are provided. Methods of using the novel polynucleotides and pesticidal polypeptides of the invention to protect a plant from an insect pest are further provided. Particular embodiments of the invention provide pesticidal compositions and formulations, DNA constructs, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, novel polynucleotides and the pesticidal polypeptides they encode are provided. Methods of using the novel polynucleotides and pesticidal polypeptides of the invention to protect a plant from an insect pest are further provided. Particular embodiments of the invention provide pesticidal compositions and formulations, DNA constructs, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for identifying novel pesticidal gene homologues are provided. Specifically, the methods of the invention comprise systematically designing oligonucleotide primers that are specific for a pesticidal gene of interest and performing successive rounds of PCR amplification of nucleic acid material from a microorganism, particularly a Bacillus thuringiensis strain, to identify novel homologues of known pesticidal genes. Oligonucleotide primers that can be used to practice the present methods are further disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, novel polynucleotides and the pesticidal polypeptides they encode are provided. Methods of using the novel polynucleotides and pesticidal polypeptides of the invention to protect a plant from an insect pest are further provided. Particular embodiments of the invention provide pesticidal compositions and formulations, DNA constructs, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.

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: Methods of creating and enhancing insect resistance in plants by introducing non-plant lipases into plants are provided. Plants with enhanced insect resistance and seed from plants thereof are provided. DNA sequences encoding insecticidal lipases and insecticidal lipase gene products that are useful in the practice of this invention are also provided. The compositions and methods of the invention may be used in a variety of agricultural systems for controlling pests, including propagating lineages of insect-resistant crops and targeting expression of these insecticidal lipases to plant organs that are particularly susceptible to infestation, such as roots and leaves.

Abstract: Methods of creating and enhancing insect resistance in plants by introducing non-plant lipases into plants are provided. Plants with enhanced insect resistance and seed from plants thereof are provided. DNA sequences encoding insecticidal lipases and insecticidal lipase gene products that are useful in the practice of this invention are also provided. The compositions and methods of the invention may be used in a variety of agricultural systems for controlling pests, including propagating lineages of insect-resistant crops and targeting expression of these insecticidal lipases to plant organs that are particularly susceptible to infestation, such as roots and leaves.

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: Methods of creating and enhancing insect resistance in plants by introducing non-plant lipases into plants are provided. Plants with enhanced insect resistance and seed from plants thereof are provided. DNA sequences encoding insecticidal lipases and insecticidal lipase gene products that are useful in the practice of this invention are also provided. The compositions and methods of the invention may be used in a variety of agricultural systems for controlling pests, including propagating lineages of insect-resistant crops and targeting expression of these insecticidal lipases to plant organs that are particularly susceptible to infestation, such as roots and leaves.

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: Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for expressing a polynucleotide of interest are provided. Compositions comprise an enhancer domain set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 10, 15, or 16 and active variants and fragments thereof. Further provided are DNA constructs comprising at least one transcriptional enhancer sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 10, 15, or 16 or an active variant or fragment thereof, operably linked to a heterologous promoter. Such chimeric transcription regulatory regions can be operably linked any polynucleotide of interest. Further provided are cells, plants, plant parts, and germplasm comprising the DNA construct. Methods of using the chimeric transcriptional regulatory region are also provided. In specific embodiments, methods of expressing a polynucleotide of interest, including for example, sequences that confer tolerance to herbicides, and methods to select a cell having the DNA construct are provided.

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 relates to methods of designing nucleic acid molecules for improved expression of the encoded polypeptides in plants. In such methods, codon usage frequencies are biased towards codon usage frequencies of a plant virus, group of plant viruses, or a subset of nucleic acid molecules therefrom. In preferred embodiments, the encoded polypeptide affects the phenotype of the plant. The invention also pertains to nucleic acid molecules encoding insecticidal polypeptides wherein the nucleic acid molecules have been designed to have plant virus codon-biased. The invention also pertains to transgenic plants and progeny thereof with increased expression of insecticidal polypeptides for improved resistance to insects and other pests that are detrimental to plants of agricultural value.

Abstract: Methods for creating and enhancing insect resistance in plants are provided. The methods comprise stably introducing into a plant a combination of polynucleotides comprising a sequence encoding a lipase polypeptide having insecticidal activity and a sequence encoding a Bt insecticidal protein, where each of these coding sequences is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in a plant cell. Plants with enhanced insect resistance and seed thereof are also provided. The methods of the invention may be used in a variety of agricultural systems for controlling insect pests, including propagating lineages of insect-resistant crops and targeting coexpression of insecticidal lipase and Bt insecticidal protein to plant organs that are particularly susceptible to infestation.