Abstract: The present invention is directed to 5' regulatory regions of a sunflower albumin gene. The 5' regulatory regions, when operably linked to either the coding sequence of a heterologous gene or a sequence complementary to a native plant gene direct expression of the coding sequence or complementary sequence in a plant seed. The regulatory regions are useful in expression cassettes and expression vectors for the transformation of plants.Also provided are methods of modulating the levels of a heterologous gene or native plant gene such as a fatty acid synthesis or lipid metabolism gene by transforming a plant with the subject expression cassettes and expression vectors.

Abstract: A gene encoding spinach acyl carrier protein-I-Gly.sup.76 (ACP-I) was fused to a gene encoding the F.sub.c -binding portion of staphylococcal protein A. The gene fusion can be expressed in E. coli thereby resulting in the production of an appropriately sized protein possessing ACP activity in acyl ACP synthetase reactions, plant MCT reactions, and plant fatty acid synthesis. This gene fusion, under the control of the .lambda.P.sub.R promoter, expresses high levels of a 42 kDa fusion protein in E. coli. This protein functions as a affinity moiety in purification methods for the isolation of enzymes involved in fatty acid synthetase, acyl ACP synthetase and malonyl-CoA:ACP tranacylase reactions.

Abstract: A synthetic gene which encodes for acyl carrier protein (ACP) has been designed. Construction, cloning, and expression in E. coli of spinach ACP-I has been demonstrated. In vitro production of ACP by appropriate expression vectors carrying the synthetic gene will augment the meager supply of this protein. Analogous genes designed for expression of ACP in plants would be a useful tool for controlling fatty acid synthesis and metabolism.