Abstract: This invention describes a process for gene expression in plants utilizing translational vectors. Said translational vectors cause a gene of interest to be stably integrated into a transcriptionally active host genomic DNA such that the transcription of the gene of interest is controlled by a promoter of the host plant. Said translational vectors are preferably based on internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements that are of plant origin.

Abstract: A process of producing a protein of interest in cells of a predetermined plant, comprising: introducing into said cells a vector encoding a fusion protein comprising from the N-terminus to the C-terminus (i) a transit peptide for targeting said fusion protein into plastids and, contiguous thereto, (ii) said protein of interest, wherein the C-terminal three amino acids X?3X?2X?1 of said transit peptide and the N-terminal amino acid Z of said protein of interest form a cleavage site X?3X?2X?1-Z for cleaving said fusion protein between X?1 and Z for releasing said protein of interest in plastids, whereby for a predetermined amino acid Z of said protein of interest an amino acid sequence X?3X?2X?1 is selected from the set of amino acid sequences X?3X?2X?1 naturally occurring contiguous to Z in plastid-targeted fusion proteins in plants, thereby forming said cleavage site.

Abstract: The invention describes a method of controlling a biochemical process or a biochemical cascade in plants utilizing a process of interaction between a heterologous DNA sequence in a transgenic plant, on one side, and a heterologous DNA sequence in a plant viral transfection vector, on the other. Optionally, the process of interaction further involves a low molecular weight component. The process of interaction makes the infection with a viral transfection vector a gene-“switch” which switches on a biochemical process or cascade of interest via various reactions such as nucleic acid recombination, replication, transcription, restriction, translation, protein folding, assembly, targeting, posttranslational processing, or enzymatic reaction. Further a process for producing a product in a transgenic plant and kit of parts for such a process is provided.

Abstract: A process for producing transgenic plants or plant cells capable of expressing a coding sequence of interest under transcriptional and translational control of host nuclear transcriptional and translational elements is described by introducing into the nuclear genome of host plants or plant cells a vector comprising said coding sequence of interest which is devoid of (a) an upstream element of initiation of transcription functional in the host plants or plant cells and operably linked to said coding sequence of interest and required for its transcription; (b) an upstream element of initiation of translation functional in the host plants or plant cells and operably linked to said coding sequence of interest; and subsequently selecting plant cells or plants expressing said coding sequence of interest.

Abstract: This invention describes a process for gene expression in plants utilizing translational vectors. Said translational vectors cause a gene of interest to be stably integrated into a transriptionally active host genomic DNA such that the transcription the gene of interest is controlled by a promoter of the host organism. Said translational vectors are preferably based on internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements that are of plant origin, plant viral origin, synthetic origin or are isolated from other organisms.