Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the use of the Arabidopsis “BREVIPEDICELLUS” (BP) gene for alteration of plant architecture, in particular alteration of the morphology of the inflorescence of a flowering plant. The methods of the present invention provide a means to alter the development of the peduncle, notably the inflorescence branches, and the pedicels that subtend the individual flowers as well as aspects of flower structure such as the style, and subsequent seed pods, of a flowering plant. The invention also relates to methods to identify and isolate polynucleotides encoding genes with BP-related functions from other plant species and methods for utilizing said polynucleotides to alter the inflorescence of said plant species. Furthermore, the invention encompasses transgenic plants generated by the methods disclosed, and nucleotide sequences for use in generating the transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a genetically transformed plant which has an altered content of at least one product of a secondary metabolic pathway. The method consists of introducing into a plant cell capable of being transformed and regenerated to a whole plant a DNA expression cassette. The expression cassette includes DNA sequences required for transformation and selection in plant cells. It also includes a DNA sequence that, under the control of a promoter active in plant cells, encodes a protein capable of modifying the utilization of a substrate in the secondary metabolic pathway. The substrate is not a primary metabolite of the group selected from glucose, amino acids, common fatty acids and nucleotides. A plant or plant tissues including seeds can then be recovered having an altered content of at least one product of the secondary metabolic pathway. The invention also provides for feed products derived from the plants and seeds obtained according to the method.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for genetically transforming a plant so that it expresses a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase that is feedback-defective. The feedback-defective enzyme raises levels of glycerol and glycerol-3-phosphate in comparison to the wild-type, leading to increased osmotic stress tolerance, and altered fatty acid content in glycerolipids.

Abstract: The anther recruits a number of specific-genes to support microspore development. Here we report identification of a novel gene, RAFTIN1, from bread wheat and rice, encoding a protein containing a BURP domain hallmarked with 4 CII repeats at its C-terminus. This single copy gene (per haploid complement in cereals) is exclusively expressed in the tapetum during postmeiotic stages when the young microspore undergoes rapid expansion. RAFTIN1 is biosynthesized in the tapetum, transported into the Ubisch body, and further deposited onto the microspore exinewall. Transgenic rice, in which RAFTIN1 expression is down-regulated, shows normal growth and development hut also shows male sterility. In the RAFTIN1-less anther, tapetal degeneration is retarded and pollen lacks contents. Thus, RAFTIN1 assembly in the Ubisch body and the microspore exinewall is required for microspore development, probably for regulation of metabolite transport from the tapetum to the microspore.

Abstract: Data Model Prediction tries to emulate the existing non-programmable interfaces by accurately predicting the data structures and operations required to provide the programmable interfaces.

Abstract: Information flow between network elements in a network enables a management system to capture a security knowledge base and to perform a static analysis of the network. In one embodiment, a method for performing a network security audit based on information flows among network elements comprises the machine-implemented steps of obtaining a network inventory that identifies one or more network elements of a packet-switched network; determining how information packets flow through the one or more network elements; determining a first threat level for each of the one or more network elements; determining a second threat level for the network as a whole; and providing a report of a network security audit based on the first and second threat levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the use of the Arabidopsis “BREVIPEDICELLUS” (BP) gene for alteration of plant architecture, in particular alteration of the morphology of the inflorescence of a flowering plant. The methods of the present invention provide a means to alter the development of the peduncle, notably the inflorescence branches, and the pedicels that subtend the individual flowers as well as aspects of flower structure such as the style, and subsequent seed pods, of a flowering plant. The invention also relates to methods to identify and isolate polynucleotides encoding genes with BP-related functions from other plant species and methods for utilizing said polynucleotides to alter the inflorescence of said plant species. Furthermore, the invention encompasses transgenic plants generated by the methods disclosed, and nucleotide sequences for use in generating the transgenic plants.

Abstract: Late embryogenesis abundant (Lea) proteins accumulate in maturing seeds after many of the storage compounds have been synthesized, and they are considered relevant to maturation. We report here the molecular organization and expression of BnLea3-1, a novel Group 3 Lea gene from Brassica napus. BnLea3-1 contains a coding region of 798 bp, sharing 84.4% homology at the amino acid level with Lea76 of B. napus. Two tandem 11-mer repeats are truncated from the coding region of BnLea3-1, compared to the 13 conserved 11-mer repeats of Lea76. Substitutions of consensus residues are found at various positions within the 11-mer repeats. A 1561 bp 5′ flanking promoter fragment of BnLea3-1 fused to E. coli &bgr;-glucurondiase (GUS) coding region conferred seed-specific GUS expression in stable transgenics of B. napus, tobacco and in transiently-transformed pea.