Abstract: Provided are DNA sequences encoding cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) as well as to methods for obtaining the same. Furthermore, vectors comprising said DNA sequences are described, wherein the DNA sequences are operatively linked to regulatory elements allowing expression in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic host cells. In addition, proteins encoded by said DNA sequences, antibodies to said proteins and methods for their production are provided. Furthermore, regulatory sequences which naturally regulate the expression of the above described DNA sequences are described. Also described is a method for controlling or altering growth characteristics of a plant and/or a plant cell comprising introduction and/or expression of one or more cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) functional in a plant or parts thereof and/or one or more DNA sequences encoding such proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology. In particular, it describes the use of a regulatory nucleic acid sequence of the rice gene GOS2 for the regulation of gene expression in plant cells derived from plants other than monocotyledonous plants. The use of the regulatory sequence of the present invention results in constitutive expression with expression levels similar to that of CaMV 35S. The present invention also relates to vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acid sequences. The invention further relates to transgenic cells and plants comprising these sequences and to methods for obtaining such cells and plants.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated CCP nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel cell cycle associated polypeptides. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing CCP, nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and transgenic plants in which a CCP gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated CCP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-CCP antibodies. Agricultural, diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions or the invention are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics relative to corresponding wild type plants. More specifically, the present invention concerns a method for improving plant growth characteristics comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a class I homeodomain leucine zipper (HDZip) hox5 polypeptide or a homologue thereof; or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a nitrate transporter protein (NRT) or a homologue thereof; or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide denoted Yield Enhancing Protein 16 (YEP16); or comprising modulating expression in a plant of a Group I glycogen synthase kinase (Group I shaggy-like kinase) or a homologue thereof.

Abstract: Provided are DNA sequences encoding cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) as well as to methods for obtaining the same. Furthermore, vectors comprising said DNA sequences are described, wherein the DNA sequences are operatively linked to regulatory elements allowing expression in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic host cells. In addition, proteins encoded by said DNA sequences, antibodies to said proteins and methods for their production are provided. Furthermore, regulatory sequences which naturally regulate the expression of the above described DNA sequences are described. Also described is a method for controlling or altering growth characteristics of a plant and/or a plant cell comprising introduction and/or expression of one or more cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) functional in a plant or parts thereof and/or one or more DNA sequences encoding such proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology. In particular, it describes the use of a regulatory nucleic acid sequence of the rice gene GOS2 for the regulation of gene expression in plant cells derived from plants other than monocotyledonous plants. The use of the regulatory sequence of the present invention results in constitutive expression with expression levels similar to that of CaMV 35S. The present invention also relates to vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acid sequences. The invention further relates to transgenic cells and plants comprising these sequences and to methods for obtaining such cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new Arabidopsis thaliana nucleotide sequence and polypeptide sequence having a molecular weight of about 10.5 kDa. Modulation of the expression of the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences according to the invention has an advantageous influence on plant cell division characteristics especially on the endoreduplication whereby plant cell size and storage capacity of plant cells is influenced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology. In particular, it describes the use of a regulatory nucleic acid sequence of the rice gene GOS2 for the regulation of gene expression in plant cells derived from plants other than monocotyledonous plants. The use of the regulatory sequence of the present invention results in constitutive expression with expression levels similar to that of CaMV 35S. The present invention also relates to vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acid sequences. The invention further relates to transgenic cells and plants comprising these sequences and to methods for obtaining such cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a genome wide expression profiling technology in combination with the detection of the presence of secondary metabolites of interest to isolate genes that can be used to modulate the production of secondary metabolites in organisms and cell lines derived therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of metacaspases. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of metacaspases, preferably plant metacaspases to process a protein at a cleavage site comprising an arginine or a lysine at the P1 position, and to the use of such metacaspases to modulate cell death.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for altering characteristics of a plant. The invention describes the identification of genes that are upregulated or downregulated in transgenic plants overexpressing E2Fa/DPa and the use of such sequences to alter plant characteristics. A preferred way for altering characteristics of a plant comprises modifying expression of one or more nucleic acid sequences and or modifying level and/or activity of one or more proteins, which nucleic acids and/or proteins are essentially similar to any one or more of SEQ ID NO 1 to 2755. Some of the genes identified in the present invention have an E2Fa target consensus sequence in their 5? upstream region. The identified genes play a role in a variety of biological processes, such as DNA replication, cell wall biosynthesis, nitrogen and/or carbon metabolism, transcription factors etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying and validating plant targets for agrochemicals, comprising the steps of determining gene or protein expression profiles in function of the progression of an essential biological process in a plant, and the subsequent downregulation of expression of said gene or protein in a plant cell. More particularly, the effects of downregulation of the candidate target gene were directly monitored on plants locally infected with a vector mediating viral induced gene suppression in that infected plant area. The invention also relates to isolated plant genes encoding proteins involved in plant growth and development. The invention also relates to plants tolerant to agrochemicals such as herbicides or pesticides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for modifying plant growth and development processes by affecting cell cycle regulation comprising modulating expression of members of the plant E2F transcription factor family. More specific the invention relates to methods for stimulating cell division in a plant. The invention further relates to transgenic plants produced by the methods of the invention having altered plant growth and development characteristics compared to their isogenic counterparts. Preferably, the plant characteristics modified by the present invention include enlarged cotyledons, enhanced growth rate, stress resistance and seedling survival, more cells, more tillers, more panicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more genes, encoding a protein of the elongator complex to modulate plant growth. More specifically, the invention relates to the overexpression of the DRL1 gene, to simulate growth of leaves and roots.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to isolate plant genes or gene fragments that are regulated by stress, preferably oxidative stress. The method includes isolation of plant material, adaptation of the plant material to stress, differential expression of genes or gene fragments in adapted and nonadapted plant material, and isolation of the differentially expressed genes or gene fragments. The invention further relates to the genes or gene fragments that can be obtained by this method and to the use of these genes or gene fragments to modulate plant stress tolerance.

Abstract: Provided are DNA sequences encoding cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) as well as to methods for obtaining the same. Furthermore, vectors comprising said DNA sequences are described, wherein the DNA sequences are operatively linked to regulatory elements allowing expression in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic host cells. In addition, proteins encoded by said DNA sequences, antibodies to said proteins and methods for their production are provided. Furthermore, regulatory sequences which naturally regulate the expression of the above described DNA sequences are described. Also described is a method for controlling or altering growth characteristics of a plant and/or a plant cell comprising introduction and/or expression of one or more cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) functional in a plant or parts thereof and/or one or more DNA sequences encoding such proteins.

Abstract: Provided are DNA sequences encoding cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) as well as to methods for obtaining the same. Furthermore, vectors comprising said DNA sequences are described, wherein the DNA sequences are operatively linked to regulatory elements allowing expression in prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic host cells. In addition, proteins encoded by said DNA sequences, antibodies to said proteins and methods for their production are provided. Furthermore, regulatory sequences which naturally regulate the expression of the above described DNA sequences are described. Also described is a method for controlling or altering growth characteristics of a plant and/or a plant cell comprising introduction and/or expression of one or more cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor(s) functional in a plant or parts thereof and/or one or more DNA sequences encoding such proteins.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated ICK nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel plant cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, gene silencing and recombinant expression vectors containing ICK nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and transgenic plants in which an ICK gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated ICK proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-ICK antibodies. Agricultural, diagnostic, and screening methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: An isolated DNA molecule is provided coding for a polypeptide of the 11-12 transmembrane domain transporter family having a Mg2+/H+ or Zn2+/H+ exchange activity, herein designated MHX. The genomic MHX DNA was isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana cv. C-24. Transgenic plants transformed with said DNA and expressing MHX are shown to have a lower content of sodium as compared with corresponding wild-type plants or a higher dry matter weight upon growth in calcium-rich media as compared with corresponding wild-type plants. These transgenic plants are tolerant to stress conditions, particularly high salinity and calcium-rich media, e.g. saline and calcareous soils.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new Arabidopsis thaliana nucleotide sequence and polypeptide sequence having a molecular weight of about 10.5 kDa.