Abstract: Transgenic plant cells and plants which have been genetically modified with nucleic acid molecules which encode expansin polypeptides: the disclosed are methods to alter the composition of plant cell walls, and products comprising plant tissue derived from said transgenic plants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new class of proteins called expansins, and methods related thereto are presented. This class of proteins can be characterized as catalysts of the extension of plant cell walls and the weakening of the hydrogen bonds in pure cellulose. Two proteins have been isolated from washed wall fragments of cucumber hypocotyls, referred to as “cucumber expansin-29” and “cucumber expansin-30”. Moreover, three peptide fragments from the purified cEx-29 protein were sequenced, then oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a portion of the expansin cDNA using polymerase chain reaction with a cDNA template derived from cucumber seedlings, and then the PCR fragment was used to screen a cDNA library to identify full length clones. Another expansin protein has been isolated from oat coleoptiles (oat expansin oEx-29), while three additional expansin sequences have been identified in Arabidopsis and an additional two in rice.

Abstract: The invention relates to the isolation and characterisation of novel expansin gene sequences from heterologous and homologous tree species and re-introducing such novel genes into trees so as to alter expansin levels. Six novel genes have been identified. Eucalyptus has also been transformed using the cucumber EX29 sequence (GenBank, Accession No. U30382-known as Cs-EXP1) (SEQ. ID. NO: 9). A change in the plant height and internode length was observed compared with control plants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new class of proteins called expansins, and methods related thereto are presented. This class of proteins can be characterized as catalysts of the extension of plant cell walls and the weakening of the hydrogen bonds in pure cellulose. Two proteins have been isolated from washed wall fragments of cucumber hypocotyls, referred to as “cucumber expansin-29” and “cucumber expansin-30”. Moreover, three peptide fragments from the purified cEx-29 protein were sequenced, then oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a portion of the expansin cDNA using polymerase chain reaction with a cDNA template derived from cucumber seedlings, and then the PCR fragment was used to screen a cDNA library to identify full length clones. Another expansin protein has been isolated from oat coleoptiles (oat expansin oEx-29), while three additional expansin sequences have been identified in Arabidopsis and an additional two in rice.

Abstract: A new class of proteins and methods related thereto are presented. The proteins, which can be characterized as catalysts of the extension of plant cell walls and the weakening of the hydrogen bonds in pure cellulose, are referred to as expansins. Two proteins have been isolated by fractionation techniques from washed wall fragments of cucumber hypocotyls, referred to as “cucumber expansin-29” and “cucumber expansin-30” (abbreviated cEx-29 and cEx-30, with respect to their apparent relative masses as determined by SDS-PAGE). Moreover, three peptide fragments from the purified cEx-29 protein were sequenced, then oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a portion of the expansin cDNA using polymerase chain reaction with a cDNA template derived from cucumber seedlings, and then the PCR fragment was used to screen a cDNA library to identify full length clones.

Abstract: The sequence is disclosed both as the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 and as the corresponding amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 7. Five other amino acid sequences are also disclosed, two from rice and three from Arabidopsis, SEQ ID NO: 2 through SEQ ID NO:6, respectively.

Abstract: Plant cell expansion is regulated by wall relaxation and yielding, which is thought to be catalyzed by elusive "wall loosening" enzymes. By employing a reconstitution approach, we initially found that a crude protein extract from the cell walls of growing cucumber seedlings possessed the ability to induce the extension of isolated cell walls. This activity was restricted to the growing region of the stem and could induce the extension of isolated cell walls from various dicots and monocots, but was less effective on grass coleoptile walls. Sequential HPLC fractionation of the active wall extract revealed two proteins with molecular masses of 29 and 30 kD, as measured by SDS-PAGE, associated with such activity. Each protein, by itself, could induce wall extension without detectable hydrolytic breakdown of the wall We proposed the name "expansins" for this class of proteins.

Abstract: A new class of proteins and methods related thereto are presented. The proteins, which can be characterized as catalysts of the extension of plant cell walls and the weakening of the hydrogen bonds in pure cellulose, are referred to as expansins. Two proteins have been isolated by fractionation techniques from washed wall fragments of cucumber hypocotyls, referred to as "cucumber expansin-29" and "cucumber expansin-30" (abbreviated cEx-29 and cEx-30, with respect to their apparent relative masses as determined by SDS-PAGE). Moreover, three peptide fragments from the purified cEx-29 protein were sequenced, then oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a portion of the expansin cDNA using polymerase chain reaction with a cDNA template derived from cucumber seedlings, and then the PCR fragment was used to screen a cDNA library to identify full length clones.