Polycomb genes from maize - Mez1 and Mez2

Abstract

The present invention relates to polycomb genes and polypeptides isolated from Zea mays.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3 and conservatively modified and polymorphic variants thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated and purified nucleotide acid of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide is at least 15 nucleotides in length.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide having at least 60% identity to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         4 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide having at least 70% identity to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide having at least 80% identity to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide having at least 90% identity to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         7 . An isolated and purified nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide having at least 95% identity to a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 3.  
     
     
         8 . An isolated and purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 and conservatively modified and polymorphic variants thereof.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated and purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         10 . An isolated and purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 70% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         11 . An isolated and purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         12 . An isolated and purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         13 . An isolated and purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% identity to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4.  
     
     
         14 . An expression cassette comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . The expression cassette of  claim 14  further comprising a polyadenylation signal operably linked to the polynucleotide.  
     
     
         16 . The expression cassette of  claim 14  wherein the promoter is a constitutive or tissue specific promoter.  
     
     
         17 . A bacterial cell comprising the expression cassette of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         18 . The bacterial cell of  claim 17  wherein the bacterial cell is an  Agrobacterium tumefaciens  cell or an  Agrobacterium rhizogenes  cell.  
     
     
         19 . A plant cell transformed with the expression cassette of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         20 . A transformed plant containing the plant cell of  claim 19 .  
     
     
         21 . The transformed plant of  claim 20  wherein the plant is  Zea mays.    
     
     
         22 . Seed from the transformed plant of  claim 20 .  
     
     
         23 . Transformed plant seed containing the plant cell of claim  20 .