Glutamine-rich maize seed protein and promoter

Abstract

Provided is a nucleotide sequence encoding a 55 kDa maize prolamin family protein. Also provided is a nucleotide sequence derived from the promoter of the 55 kDa maize gene that can be used to express heterologous sequences in plants, and methods of using the disclosed nucleotide sequences.

1 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . A method of targeting a protein of interest to a structure of a plant cell selected from the group consisting of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and apoplast, the method comprising: 
 (a) fusing a nucleic acid molecule encoding a signal sequence of a  Zea mays  Q protein in frame to a nucleotide sequence encoding the protein of interest, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encoding a signal sequence of a  Zea mays  Q protein and the nucleotide sequence encoding the protein of interest are operably linked to a promoter to produce a plant expression construct; and    (b) transforming the plant cell with the plant expression construct,    whereby the protein of interest is targeted to the structure.    
     
     
         46 . A method of producing a plant seed with an increased nutritional value, the method comprising: 
 (a) transforming a plant cell with an expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment or derivative thereof;    (b) regenerating a plant from the transformed plant cell; and    (c) isolating a seed from the regenerated plant,    whereby a seed with an increased nutritional value is produced.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the increased nutritional value is selected from the group consisting of an increased level of an essential amino acid, an improved amino acid balance, and an improved amino acid digestibility, when compared to a seed from a non-transformed plant of the same species.  
     
     
         48 . A method of targeting a protein of interest to a protein body in a plant, the method comprising: 
 (a) fusing a nucleic acid molecule encoding SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment or derivative thereof, in frame to a nucleotide sequence encoding the protein of interest, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encoding SEQ ID NO: 2, or the fragment or derivative thereof, and the nucleotide sequence encoding the protein of interest are operably linked to a promoter to produce a plant expression construct; and    (b) transforming the plant cell with the plant expression construct,    whereby the protein of interest is targeted to a protein body in the plant.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule encoding a signal sequence of a  Zea mays  Q protein encodes an amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 1-19 of SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 comprises amino acids 1-19 of SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 comprises amino acids 1-19 of SEQ ID NO: 2.