Isolated plant deoxyhypusine synthase and nucleotides encoding same

Abstract

Regulation of expression of programmed cell death, including senescence, in plants is achieved by integration of a gene or gene fragment encoding senescence-induced deoxyhypusine synthase, senescence-induced eIF-5A or both into the plant genome in antisense orientation. Plant genes encoding senescence-induced deoxyhypusine synthase and senescence-induced eIF-5A are identified and the nucleotide sequences of each, alone and in combination are used to modify senescence in transgenic plants.

1 - 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . An isolated plant deoxyhypusine synthase comprising the amino acid motif of E-F-D-G-S-D-S-G-A-R-P-D-E-A-X 1 -S-W-G-K (SEQ ID NO: 46), wherein X 1  is V or I and wherein the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase exhibits deoxyhypusine synthase catalytic activity. 
     
     
         72 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71 . 
     
     
         73 . The plant deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71  further comprising the amino acid motif of C-K-X 1 -F-L-G-F-T-S-N-L-X 2 -S-S-G-V-R (SEQ ID NO: 39), wherein X 1  and X 2  are independently either an I or V. 
     
     
         74 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 73 . 
     
     
         75 . The plant deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71  further comprising the amino acid motif of N-R-I-G-N (SEQ ID NO: 40). 
     
     
         76 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 75 . 
     
     
         77 . The plant deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71  further comprising the amino acid motif of F-T-S-N-L (SEQ ID NO: 41). 
     
     
         78 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 77 . 
     
     
         79 . The plant deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71  further comprising the amino acid motif of G-F-Q-A (SEQ ID NO: 42). 
     
     
         80 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 79 . 
     
     
         81 . The plant deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71  further comprising the amino acid motif of V-T-T-X 1 -G-G X 2 -E-E-D (SEQ ID NO: 43) wherein X 1  is A or T and X 2  is I or V. 
     
     
         82 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 81 . 
     
     
         83 . The plant deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71  further comprising the amino acid motif of 1-L-G-G-G-L-P-K-H-H (SEQ ID NO: 44). 
     
     
         84 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 83 . 
     
     
         85 . The plant deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 71  further comprising the amino acid motif of R-N-G-A-D-X 1 -A-V (SEQ ID NO: 45), wherein X 1  is Y or F. 
     
     
         86 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the isolated deoxyhypusine synthase of  claim 85 .