Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants comprising 3-Deoxy-D-Arabino-Heptulosonate 7-Phosphate (DAHP) Synthase that is insensitive to feedback inhibition, particularly to feedback inhibition by phenylalanine, producing increased amounts of the Shikimate pathway primary and secondary metabolites, including aromatic amino acids compared to corresponding non-transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants comprising 3-Deoxy-D-Arabino-Heptulosonate 7-Phosphate (DAHP) Synthase that is insensitive to feedback inhibition, particularly to feedback inhibition by phenylalanine, producing increased amounts of the Shikimate pathway primary and secondary metabolites, including aromatic amino acids compared to corresponding non-transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to means and methods for altering the level of at least one of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine and secondary metabolites in plants. Particularly, the present invention discloses transgenic plants comprising polynucleotides encoding chorismate mutase and prephenate dehydratase enzymes, having elevated amounts of at least one of phenylalanine, tyrosine and modified amount of at least one secondary metabolite derived therefrom, and reduced amount of tryptophan and at least one secondary metabolite derived from tryptophan.

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: A chimeric gene construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding an enzyme having aspartate kinase (AK) activity is provided, which is capable of expression in plant cells with subsequent increased production of threonine. Transgenic plants containing in their cells said chimeric gene overproduce threonine and transgenic plants containing in their cells said chimeric gene and a second chimeric gene comprising a DNA sequence coding for an enzyme having dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHPS) activity, overproduce both threonine and lysine. The transgenic plants are resistant to lysine and threonine, to derivatives thereof and to selective inhibitors of the plant enzymes DHPS or AK, and thus these compounds may be used as selective herbicides in locus where the transgenic plants are cultivated.

Abstract: Modified 19kd and 22kd zeins containing lysine are provided. Lysine additions are made by modifying structural genes which encode 19kd and 22kd pre-zeins. Modified zeins produced from the modified structural gene templates are found to retain important properties of unmodified zeins, having similar molecular weights, having the ability to form protein bodies within the rough endoplasmic reticulum of a host cell and being soluble in alcohol.