Abstract: A site-specific recombination system and methods of use thereof are disclosed for manipulating the plastid genome of higher plants.

Abstract: A site specific recombination system and methods of use thereof are disclosed for manipulating the genome of higher plants. Compositions and methods for expressing immunogenic proteins using the site specific reombination system are also provided.

Abstract: Prrn promoter elements for enhancing expression of heterologous molecules, including RNA and proteins in the plastids of higher plants are disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for manipulating the plastid genome of higher plants are provided.

Abstract: DNA constructs containing translational control elements are provided. These 5? regulatory segments facilitate high level expression of transgenes introduced into the plastids of higher plants.

Abstract: DNA constructs containing translational control elements are provided. These 5? regulatory segments facilitate high level expression of transgenes introduced into the plastids of higher plants.

Abstract: Prrn promoter elements for enhancing expression of heterologous molecules, including RNA and proteins in the plastids of higher plants are disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for introducing heterologous sequences encoding a gene of interest into the plastid genome which do not rely on homologous recombination are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoter elements useful for stably transforming the plastids of higher plants. The constructs described herein contain unique promoters that are transcribed by both nuclear encoded plastid RNA polymerases, plastid encoded plastid RNA polymerases or both. Use of the novel constructs of the invention facilitates transformation of a wider range of plant species and enables ubiquitous expression of a transforming DNA in plastids of multicellular plants.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and compositions for obtaining Arabidopsis and Brassica plants. Specifically, the method provides culturing protocols and compositions that facilitate the regeneration of transformed plants following delivery of beneficial DNA molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoter elements useful for stably transforming the plastids of higher plants. The constructs described herein contain unique promoters that are transcribed by both nuclear encoded plastid RNA polymerases, plastid encoded plastid RNA polymerases or both. Use of the novel constructs of the invention facilitates transformation of a wider range of plant species and enables ubiquitous expression of a transforming DNA in plastids of multicellular plants.

Abstract: A site specific recombination system and methods of use thereof are disclosed for manipulating the genome of higher plants. Compositions and methods for expressing immunogenic proteins using the site specific reombination system are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel DNA constructs and methods for stably transforming the plastids of higher plants. The constructs described herein contain unique promoters that are transcribed by both nuclear encoded plastid polymerases and plastid encoded plastid polymerases. Use of the novel constructs of the invention facilitates transformation of a wider range of plant species and enables tissue specific expression of a transforming DNA in plastids of multicellular plants.

Abstract: DNA constructs are provided for stable transformation of plastids of multicellular plants and expression of foreign proteins in plastids. The DNA constructs comprise a transforming DNA which is targeted to a pre-determined location on the plastid genome and inserted into the plastid genome by homologous recombination with targeting segments comprising DNA sequences homologous to the pre-determined region of the plastid genome. The transforming DNA contains a non-lethal selectable marker gene which confers a selectable phenotype on cells having plastids in which substantially all of the genomes therein contain the transforming DNA (i.e., homoplasmic cells or tissues). The transforming DNA further comprises at least one insertion site 4 for an additional DNA segment, such as a gene encoding a protein for improving a characteristic of the transformed plant.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for obtaining transplastomic Arabidopsis plants. Specifically, the method provides culturing protocols and compositions that facilitate the regeneration of transformed plants following delivery of exogenous DNA molecules.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel DNA constructs for selecting plastid transformants in higher plants. Also disclosed are editing based selectable marker genes which require editing at the transcriptional level for expression of the selectable marker gene. Vectors including such edited upstream sequences operably linked to slectable marker genes facilitate the isolation of plastid, rather than nuclear transformants in higher plants.

Abstract: DNA constructs are provided for stable transformation of plastids of multicellular plants and expression of foreign proteins in plastids. The DNA constructs comprise a transforming DNA which is targeted to a pre-determined location on the plastid genome and inserted into the plastid genome by homologous recombination with targeting segments comprising DNA sequences homologous to the pre-determined region of the plastid genome. The transforming DNA contains a non-lethal selectable marker gene which confers a selectable phenotype on cells having plastids in which substantially all of the genomes therein contain the transforming DNA (i.e., homoplasmic cells or tissues). The transforming DNA further comprises at least one insertion site 4 for an additional DNA segment, such as a gene encoding a protein for improving a characteristic of the transformed plant.

Abstract: Novel compositions and methods useful for genetic engineering of plant cells to provide increased expression in the plastids of a plant or plant cell of the Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system for plants, which is based on modification of the plastid genome. The CMS system comprises three transgenes: a "plastid male sterility" (pms) gene, regulated by a "nuclear male sterility" (rims) gene and a "restorer of male fertility" (rmf) gene. The pms gene is either an inactive gene encoding a toxic gene product or an actively expressed gene encoding an essential gene product. The runs gene is controlled by an anther-specific promoter, and encodes a plastid-directed polypeptide that regulates the pms gene, either by activating expression of the inactive toxic pms gene or by repressing expression of the essential pms gene, which causes plastid and cellular disablement or death in anther tissue, thereby preventing formation of viable pollen. The rmf gene encodes a gene product that prevents the rims gene from regulating the pms gene.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for obtaining a plant cell of a multicellular plant, the plastids of which cell have been stably transformed by a foreign DNA of interest. These methods employ selectable markers some of which are nonlethal, some of which are designed to insert into the plastid genome and some of which are designed to be expressible only from the plastid genome and not from the nuclear genome. This invention also provides cells and multicellular plants the plastids of which have been stably transformed by a foreign DNA of interest.