Isoforms of eIF-5A: senescence-induced eIF-5A; wounding-induced eIF-5A; growth eIF-5A: and DHS

Abstract

The present invention relates to unique isoforms of eukaryotic initiation Factor 5A (“eIF-5A”): senescence-induced eIF-5A; wounding-induced eIF-5A; and growth eIF-5A, as well as polynucleotides that encode these three factors. The present invention also relates to methods involving modulating the expression of these factors. The present invention also relates to deoxyhypusine synthase (“DHS”), polynucleotides that encode DHS, and methods involving modulating the expression of DHS.

1 . An isolated  Arabidopsis  wounding-induced eIF-5A. 
     
     
         2 . An isolated tomato wounding-induced eIF-5A. 
     
     
         3 . An antisense polynucleotide of  Arabidopsis  wounding-induced eIF-5A. 
     
     
         4 . An antisense polynucleotide of tomato wounding-induced eIF-5A. 
     
     
         5 . An expression vector for the transformation of plants comprising the antisense polynucleotide of  claim 3  and regulatory sequences operatively linked to the antisense polynucleotide to provide transcription of said polynucleotide. 
     
     
         6 . An expression vector for the transformation of plants comprising the antisense polynucleotide of  claim 4  and regulatory sequences operatively linked to the antisense polynucleotide to provide transcription of said polynucleotide. 
     
     
         7 . A method of inhibiting expression of endogenous wounding-induced eIF-5A in a plant, comprising incorporating into the genome of at least one cell of a plant a vector comprising an antisense polynucleotide of wounding-induced eIF-5A and regulatory sequences operatively linked to the antisense polynucleotide to provide transcription of said antisense polynucleotide, and whereby said transcription of said antisense polynucleotide inhibits expression of endogenous wounding-induced eIF-5A in the plant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said inhibiting expression confers an increased resistance to virulent damage arising from pathogen ingression as compared to wild-type plants. 
     
     
         9 . An isolated  Arabidopsis  growth eIF-5A. 
     
     
         10 . An isolated tomato growth eIF-5A. 
     
     
         11 . An isolated canola growth eIF-5A. 
     
     
         12 . An expression vector for the transformation of plants comprising a growth eIF-5A polynucleotide in sense orientation an regulatory sequences operatively linked to the polynucleotide to provide transcription of said polynucleotide. 
     
     
         13 . A method of increasing expression of growth eIF-5A in a plant, comprising incorporating into the genome of at least one cell of a plant a vector comprising a polynucleotide of growth eIF-5A and regulatory sequences operatively linked to the polynucleotide to provide transcription of said polynucleotide, and whereby said transcription of said polynucleotide increases expression of growth eIF-5A in the plant. 
     
     
         14 . An isolated canola DHS. 
     
     
         15 . An isolated alfalfa DHS. 
     
     
         16 . An isolated banana DHS. 
     
     
         17 . An isolated cottonwood DHS. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An isolated antisense polynucleotide of alfalfa DHS. 
     
     
         20 . An isolated antisense polynucleotide of banana DHS. 
     
     
         21 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An expression vector for the transformation of plants comprising the antisense polynucleotide of  claim 20  and regulatory sequences operatively linked to the antisense polynucleotide to provide transcription of said antisense polynucleotide. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of delaying browning in lettuce by inhibiting expression of DHS, the method comprising incorporating into the genome of at least one cell of a lettuce plant comprising,
 a) an antisense polynucleotide of lettuce DHS, and   b) regulatory sequences operatively linked to the antisense polynucleotide such   that the antisense polynucleotide is expressed and such expression inhibits endogenous expression of DHS, to produce a transgenic lettuce plant with inhibited expression of DHS, and wherein said inhibition of endogenous expression of DHS results in said transgenic lettuce plants that display a delay of browning as compared to browning in wild type lettuce.