Structural and functional characterization of triketone dioxygenase from Oryza Sativa.

The transgenic expression of rice triketone dioxygenase (TDO; also known as HIS1) can provide protection from triketone herbicides to susceptible dicot crops such as soybean. Triketones are phytotoxic inhibitors of plant hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases (HPPD). The TDO gene codes for an iron/2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxidoreductase.

Phenotypic effects from the expression of a deregulated AtGAD1 transgene and GABA pathway suppression mutants in maize.

Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD; EC 4.1.1.

Mechanistic insights into the first Lygus-active β-pore forming protein.

The cotton pests Lygus hesperus and Lygus lineolaris can be controlled by expressing Cry51Aa2.834_16 in cotton. Insecticidal activity of pore-forming proteins is generally associated with damage to the midgut epithelium due to pores, and their biological specificity results from a set of key determinants including proteolytic activation and receptor binding.

The enzymology of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) isoforms from Hordeum vulgare and other organisms, and the HvAlaAT crystal structure.

In this paper we describe the expression, purification, kinetics and biophysical characterization of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) from the barley plant (Hordeum vulgare). This dimeric PLP-dependent enzyme is a pivotal element of several key metabolic pathways from nitrogen assimilation to carbon metabolism, and its introduction into transgenic plants results in increased yield. The enzyme exhibits a bi-bi ping-pong reaction mechanism with a K(m) for alanine, 2-oxoglutarate, glutamate and pyruvate of 3.

A kinetic comparison of asparagine synthetase isozymes from higher plants.

Four previously identified maize asparagine synthetase (AsnS) genes and a soy AsnS gene have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzymes have been purified and kinetically characterized. The plant AsnS proteins were expressed mainly in the inclusion bodies although small amounts of one form (ZmAsnS2) were recovered in the soluble fraction.

Phylogenetic and expression analysis of sucrose phosphate synthase isozymes in plants.

In plants and microbes, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) is an important enzyme in sucrose biosynthesis. Several different isozymes of SPS exist in plants. Genomic and EST sequence data from Arabidopsis, rice and maize has been analyzed.

The carboxyterminal processing protease of D1 protein: expression, purification and enzymology of the recombinant and native spinach proteins.

The carboxyterminal processing protease of D1 protein (CtpA) is predicted to be an excellent target for a general broad-spectrum herbicide. The gene for spinach CtpA has been expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein that was found mainly in inclusion bodies has been purified and refolded on a nickel-chelate column.