Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of increasing the cold tolerance of a plant or part thereof and/or preventing or inhibiting bolting of a plant, comprising deregulating phloem flux and plants or parts thereof having deregulated phloem flux. The invention also extends to the use of genes for deregulating phloem flux in a plant or part thereof; and/or increasing cold tolerance of a plant or part thereof; and/or preventing or inhibiting bolting in a plant. The invention also provides methods of selecting and/or producing a plant with deregulated phloem flux and/or increased cold tolerance and/or delayed or inhibited bolting. The invention also extends to constructs, isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides which can be used to deregulate phloem flux, plant cells transformed with such constructs, and to plants or parts thereof having deregulated phloem flux.

Abstract: A nucleic acid suitable for reducing the enzymatic activity of an invertase for configuring a sucrose storage organ of a plant, wherein the sucrose concentration is increased relative to the sucrose concentration of an unchanged control sucrose storage organ of the same genotype at a comparable stage of development. The increase in sucrose concentration by X percentage points can thereby lead to a changed or unchanged sucrose storage organ yield, wherein, in the case of a reduction in the sucrose storage organ yield, the reduction is a maximum of 5X percent. The invention further relates to a method for increasing the sucrose yield in agricultural production of sugar beet or sugar cane plants, wherein sugar beet or sugar cane plants are used, the genetic makeup thereof being set up for reducing the enzymatic activity of an invertase.

Abstract: The invention relates to the biotechnological production of isomaltulose and isomaltulose-containing compositions and improved means, therefore particularly microbial cells.

Abstract: For the biotechnological production of isomaltulose and compositions containing isomaltulose from saccharose the invention provides improved means, particularly a sucrose mutase with improved product specificity as well as microbial cells containing the improved sucrose mutase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and means for the bioengineered fermentative production of solvents, in particular of butanol, acetone and ethanol, and of short-chained carboxylic acids such as acetic acid and butyric acid, in particular in host cells of the species Clostridium. The invention provides new methods and means for regulating the expression of the enzyme activities involved in acid production and or solvent production of the host cell.

Abstract: For the biotechnological production of isomaltulose and compositions containing isomaltulose from saccharose the invention provides improved means, particularly a sucrose mutase with improved product specificity as well as microbial cells containing the improved sucrose mutase.

Abstract: The invention relates to the biotechnological production of isomaltulose and isomaltulose-containing compositions and improved means, therefore particularly microbial cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and means for the bioengineered fermentative production of solvents, in particular of butanol, acetone and ethanol, and of short-chained carboxylic acids such as acetic acid and butyric acid, in particular in host cells of the species Clostridium. The invention provides new methods and means for regulating the expression of the enzyme activities involved in acid production and or solvent production of the host cell.

Abstract: A nucleic acid suitable for reducing the enzymatic activity of an invertase for configuring a sucrose storage organ of a plant, wherein the sucrose concentration is increased relative to the sucrose concentration of an unchanged control sucrose storage organ of the same genotype at a comparable stage of development. The increase in sucrose concentration by X percentage points can thereby lead to a changed or unchanged sucrose storage organ yield, wherein, in the case of a reduction in the sucrose storage organ yield, the reduction is a maximum of 5X percent. The invention further relates to a method for increasing the sucrose yield in agricultural production of sugar beet or sugar cane plants, wherein sugar beet or sugar cane plants are used, the genetic makeup thereof being set up for reducing the enzymatic activity of an invertase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and means for producing an improved sugar beet, in particular a sugar beet which exhibits an increased content of sucrose, a reduced rate of sucrose breakdown during storage and an improved growth. The invention also relates to the use of at least two gene constructs for generating such a plant and to nucleotide sequences which are employed in this connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a vacuolar invertase and its use for modifying the plant saccharose metabolism, in particular in the vacuole of the cell of a plant storage organ. The present invention also relates to a fragment of the nucleic acid molecule, a vector containing the nucleic acid molecule or a fragment thereof, as well as a host cell, in particular a plant cell that contains the nucleic acid molecule or a fragment thereof. The present invention also comprises a transgenic plant, methods for producing a transgenic plant, as well as methods for modifying the saccharose metabolism of a plant, in particular of a plant part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a vacuolar invertase and its use for modifying the plant saccharose metabolism, in particular in the vacuole of the cell of a plant storage organ. The present invention also relates to a fragment of the nucleic acid molecule, a vector containing the nucleic acid molecule or a fragment thereof, as well as a host cell, in particular a plant cell that contains the nucleic acid molecule or a fragment thereof. The present invention also comprises a transgenic plant, methods for producing a transgenic plant, as well as methods for modifying the saccharose metabolism of a plant, in particular of a plant part.

Abstract: Described are recombinant DNA molecules comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having serine acetyltransferase (SAT) activity and optionally a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having cysteine-&ggr;-synthase (C&ggr;S) activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule(s) are operably linked to regulatory elements allowing the expression of the nucleic acid molecule(s) in plant cells. Also provided are vectors comprising said recombinant DNA molecules as well as plant cells, plant tissues and plants transformed therewith. In addition, the use of the aforementioned recombinant DNA molecules and vectors in plant cell and tissue culture, plant breeding and/or agriculture is described as well as the use of the aforementioned plants, plant tissue and plant cells for the production of food, feed and additives therefor.