Abstract: Disclosed is are gene sequences encoding ?-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme ?-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of ?-tocopherol to yield ?-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. ?-tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a ?-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered ?-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have ?-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Abstract: Disclosed is are gene sequences encoding ?-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme ?-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of ?-tocopherol to yield ?-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. ?-tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a ?-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered ?-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have ?-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Abstract: Disclosed is are gene sequences encoding ?-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme ?-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of ?-tocopherol to yield ?-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. ?-tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a ?-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered ?-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have ?-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genes, proteins and methods comprising carotenoid monooxygenases in the cytochrome P450 family. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to altering carotenoid ratios in plants and microorganisms using LUT1 ?-hydroxylases and/or CYP97A ?-hydroxylases.

Abstract: Disclosed is are gene sequences encoding &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of &ggr;-tocopherol to yield &agr;-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have &agr;-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gene sequence which has been identified as encoding 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase from synechoeystis. By introducing a genetic construct having a 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered 2-methyl-6-phytylplastoquinol/2-methyl-6-solanylplastoquinol-9 methyltransferase expression, to effect changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have altered tocopherol levels in their tissues.

Abstract: The present invention describes the gene encoding beta-cyclase from marigolds. In particular, the present invention provides the DNA sequence for the gene encoding marigold beta-cyclase as well as vectors containing the same and bacteria and plants transformed with the vectors.

Abstract: The tomato polygalacturonase (PG) .beta.-subunit promoter has been isolated and sequenced. The promoter can be used to make gene constructs including a protein-coding nucleotide sequence not natively associated with the promoter and a sufficient portion of the promoter such that the portion actuates the preferential expression of the protein-coding nucleotide sequence in tomato tissue. While other .beta.-subunit genes are found in tomato, the tomato fruit PG .beta.-subunit promoter is particularly useful as a both tissue specific and developmentally regulated promoter.

Abstract: A cDNA clone from Arabidopsis thaliana, pHPP1.5, SEQ ID NO:1, which encodes the enzyme p-hydroxyphenyl pyruvic acid dioxygenase, is disclosed. A vector and microbial host containing a DNA sequence coding for the expression of Arabidopsis thaliana p-hydroxyphenyl pyruvic acid dioxygenase, and a genetic construct containing a DNA sequence coding for the expression of Arabidopsis thaliana p-hydroxyphenyl pyruvic acid dioxygenase, together with a promoter located 5' to the DNA coding sequence and a 3' termination sequence, are also disclosed. A method of creating a transgenic plant comprising said genetic construct is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of creating transgenic tomatoes containing a lowered level of polygalacturonase isoform 1 are disclosed. The isolation of a DNA sequence encoding the polygalacturonase beta-subunit is disclosed. The beta-subunit sequence can be used to construct both sense and antisense plant expression constructions which can be transformed into tomato plants. The transgenic tomato plants have altered levels of polygalacturonase isoforms in that the level of isoform 1 is dramatically reduced. The resulting tomato fruit has a polygalacturonase activity level that is more heat labile, and thus more convenient for processing, and an increased level of soluble pectins.