Abstract: .alpha.-Amylase, an enzyme that hydrolyses starch, can be found in all plants. The modification of potato starch production, in particular, is important in the preparation of various food products. The present invention discloses nucleotide sequences of potato .alpha.-amylase genes and the corresponding amino acid sequences. The present invention also describes DNA probes comprising .alpha.-amylase nucleotide sequences, as well as expression vectors that produce active .alpha.-amylase enzymes. These expression vectors can be used to produce transgenic potato plants.

Abstract: .alpha.-Amylase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes starch, can be found in all plants. The modification of potato starch production, in particular, is important in the preparation of various food products. The present invention pertains to expression vectors for producing antisense .alpha.-amylase RNA which is complementary to, or which hybridizes specifically to, potato .alpha.-amylase mRNA. This invention also includes a vector system which operates to introduce into the genome of a plant an expression vector for producing antisense .alpha.-amylase RNA, and a microorganism of the genus Agrobacterium which contains such a vector system and which is capable of infecting a plant. This invention also provides a genetically modified plant containing in its genome an expression vector for producing antisense .alpha.-amylase RNA.

Abstract: .alpha.-Amylase, an enzyme that hydrolyses starch, can be found in all plants. The modification of potato starch production, in particular, is important in the preparation of various found products. The present invention discloses nucleotide sequences of potato .alpha.-amylase genes and the corresponding amino acid sequences. The present invention also describes DNA probes comprising .alpha.-amylase nucleotide sequences, as well as expression vectors that produce active .alpha.-amylase enzymes. These expression vectors can be used to produce transgenic potato plants.