Polycomb genes from Maize-Mez1 and Mez2

Abstract

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

1 . An isolated nucleic acid for repressing the expression of or inhibiting the repression of a target gene comprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 and a polynucleotide having at least 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . (canceled)  
     
     
         4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . (canceled)  
     
     
         8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . (canceled)  
     
     
         10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . An expression cassette comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to the nucleic acid of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . The expression cassette of  claim 14  further comprising a polyadenylation signal operably linked to the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         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 . A seed that contains the expression cassette of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         23 . A transformed seed of the transformed plant of  claim 20.