Abstract: Compositions and methods to aid in protecting plants from invading pathogenic organisms are provided. The compositions of the invention comprise anti-pathogenic genes, including their promoters, and proteins encoded by the anti-pathogenic genes. The compositions find use in methods for reducing or eliminating damage to plants caused by plant pathogens. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided having enhanced disease resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are novel nucleotide sequences for pollen-preferred promoters isolated from a gene unit for SF3. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the pollen-preferred promoters of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated WRKY nucleic acids and their encoded proteins. The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering WRKY concentration and/or composition of plants. The present invention also relates to transcriptional regulatory regions of WRKY polynucleotides and their use to regulate heterologous gene expression. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic plants.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for enhancing the resistance of plants to pests and for altering the level of biotin in plants are provided. Nucleotide sequences isolated from soybean, rice, maize, and wheat are provided. The nucleotide sequences encode orthologs of sunflower SCIP-1. Also provided are the SCIP-1 proteins encoded by such nucleotide sequences. The methods involve transforming plants with the SCIP-1 nucleotide sequences to enhance the plant's resistance to plant pests or to alter the level of biotin in the plant. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds are also provided.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided that encode maize UDPGdH variant UDPGdH, and mutant UDPGdH proteins. These nucleic acid molecules can be used to produce transgenic plants having altered quality or quantity of starch. Also provided are vectors capable of expressing such nucleic acid molecules, host cells containing, such vectors, and polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense response are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding maize rhoGAP proteins are provided. The sequence can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense response. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to mechanisms of gene expression in plants and more specifically to regulation of expression of genes in plants in a “tissue-preferred” manner. A method for isolation of transcriptional regulatory elements that contribute to tissue-preferred gene expression is disclosed. Transcriptional regulatory elements isolated using the methods of this invention are demonstrated to direct tissue-preferred gene expression of genes within certain tissues of a plant. DNA molecules representing tissue-preferred transcriptional regulatory elements, vectors containing said DNA molecules and plants transformed with said vectors are demonstrated. Said transcriptional regulatory units are utilized to drive tissue-preferred expression of a gene that confers a selective advantage upon a plant.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to mechanisms of gene expression in plants and more specifically to regulation of expression of genes in plants in a "tissue-preferred" manner. A method for isolation of transcriptional regulatory elements that contribute to tissue-preferred gene expression is disclosed. Transcriptional regulatory elements isolated using the methods of this invention are demonstrated to direct tissue-preferred gene expression of genes within certain tissues of a plant. DNA molecules representing tissue-preferred transcriptional regulatory elements, vectors comprising said DNA molecules and transgenic plants comprising said vectors are demonstrated. These transcriptional regulatory units are utilized to drive tissue-preferred expression of a gene that confers a selective advantage upon a plant.

Abstract: Synthetic elements for enhancing expression of genes in plant cells are disclosed. These include a promoter with a "TATA to start" sequence containing 64% or greater GC content and an synthetic upstream element incorporating several OCS binding motifs and novel flanking sequences. Upstream activating regions (UARs) are also disclosed that can further increase the constitutive transcriptional activity when they are operably linked to said promoter and/or the synthetic upstream element. In particular, the nucleotide sequence of the UAR of the maize Ubi-1 gene is provided and its use in expression cassettes and vectors containing these promoter elements. Cells and plants transformed with these vectors are further provided. These include a transgenic sunflower expressing an exogenous oxalate oxidase gene at a high level under the transcriptional control of a recombinant promoter having at least one upstream activating region of the 35S CaMV promoter.