Abstract: Methods are provided for altering grain characteristics by introducing into plants, isolated nucleic acid molecules that can be used to produce transgenic plants characterized by altered number, type, or configuration of aleurone cells within the seed. Also provided are isolated nucleic acids that encode maize superal proteins, vectors capable of expressing such nucleic acid molecules, host cells containing such vectors, and polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for altering the levels of reversibly glycosylated polypeptide (RGP) in plants are provided. The present invention recognizes that by altering the level of expression of RGP, plants and seeds having beneficial qualities can be obtained. The invention involves controlled suppression of RGP expression to obtain plants and seeds having decreased amounts of hemicellulose and arabinose. Controlled suppression of RGP, particularly in vegetative tissues and seeds, leads to plants with desirable characteristics, including altered cell wall structure, reduced grain fiber content, increased seed protein, increased oil content, and altered arabinoxylan or xyloglucan levels. Compositions of the invention include constructs for the suppression of RGP and transformed plants and seeds having the altered phenotype of the invention.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating expression of gene products are provided. Compositions comprise suppression cassettes that comprise a convergent promoter pair operably linked to a silencing element that, upon expression, is capable of decreasing the expression of one or more target polynucleotides of interest. Compositions of the invention also include transformed plants, plant cells, plant tissues, and plant seeds. Methods of transformation and regeneration of plants comprising the novel constructs are provided. The methods find use in regulating gene expression, particularly genes associated with agronomic traits of interest. Further provided are promoter sequences, cells, plants, and vectors comprising these promoter sequences and methods of their use.

Abstract: The present invention provides in vitro methods for culturing cereal endosperm that allow for the development of the endosperm in a manner that is analogous to endosperm development in planta. The methods involve isolating fertilized embryo sacs and exposing the embryo sac or portion thereof to a plant culture medium for an extended period of time so as to promote the growth and development of the endosperm therein or the growth and development of both the endosperm and embryo therein. The invention further provides methods for introducing polypeptides and polynucleotides into the cultured fertilized embryo sacs or portions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful for altering the functional properties of soybean seed storage proteins. It is the novel finding of the present invention that the functional properties of seed storage proteins can be altered by reducing the expression of one or more vacuolar processing enzymes in plant seed. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention provides a method for altering the functional properties of one or more soybean seed storage proteins. The method comprises transforming a soybean plant cell with at least one expression cassette capable of expressing a polynucleotide that reduces the activity of a vacuolar processing enzyme in the seed of said soybean plant, regenerating a transformed plant from the transformed plant cell, and collecting seed from the regenerated transformed plant. Plants that are genetically modified or mutagenized to alter the functional properties of one or more seed storage proteins, and the transgenic seed of such plants are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions directed to the production of polypeptides in plant protein storage tissue. Methods of the invention include methods for producing polypeptides in protein storage tissues by decreasing the level of protease activity in the plant protein storage tissue. Compositions of the invention include plants that are genetically modified such that the activity of one or more proteases is reduced or eliminated, transformed seeds obtained from these genetically modified plants, and sequences encoding a novel member of the VPE cysteine protease family found in seed, ?-VPE. These methods and compositions find utility in altering the nutritional or other qualities of seed, and in producing useful proteins including pharmacological or industrial proteins.