LexA DNA binding domain optimized for arabidopsis species

Abstract

A synthetic nucleotide sequence encodes the LexA DNA binding domain, the nucleotide sequence having been modified to bring the codon usage in conformity with the preferred codon usage of Arabidopsis thaliana. The preferred sequence of the gene is provided as SEQ ID NO: 1. DNA constructs, transformed host cells and transgenic plants comprising the synthetic nucleotide sequence are also provided.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A synthetic nucleotide sequence encoding the LexA DNA binding domain, comprising at least one codon optimized for usage by an Arabidopsis species.  
     
     
         2 . A synthetic nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1 , wherein over about 50% of the codons of the sequence are optimized for usage by an Arabidopsis species.  
     
     
         3 . A synthetic nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1 , wherein over about 80% of the codons of the sequence are optimized for usage by an Arabidopsis species.  
     
     
         4 . A synthetic nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence has the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         5 . A synthetic nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic nucleotide sequence is optimized for usage by  Arabidopsis thaliana.    
     
     
         6 . A synthetic LexA DNA binding domain protein codon optimized for usage by an Arabidopsis species.  
     
     
         7 . A synthetic LexA DNA binding domain protein according to  claim 6 , wherein the synthetic LexA DNA binding domain protein is codon optimized for usage by  Arabidopsis thaliana.    
     
     
         8 . A synthetic LexA DNA binding domain protein according to  claim 6  that has the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         9 . A DNA construct comprising the synthetic nucleic acid sequence of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . A DNA construct according to  claim 9 , wherein the synthetic nucleic acid sequence has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         11 . A DNA construct according to  claim 9 , further comprising a heterologous nucleic acid sequence.  
     
     
         12 . An eukaryotic cell comprising the DNA construct of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . An eukaryotic cell comprising the DNA construct of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         14 . An eukaryotic cell according to  claim 12 , wherein the eukaryotic cell is a plant cell.  
     
     
         15 . An eukaryotic cell according to  claim 14 , wherein the plant cell is a dicot cell.  
     
     
         16 . An eukaryotic cell according to  claim 15 , wherein the dicot cell is an  Arabidopsis thaliana  cell.  
     
     
         17 . A transgenic plant comprising a cell of  claim 13 .  
     
     
         18 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 17 , wherein the plant is a dicot.  
     
     
         19 . A transgenic plant according to  claim 18 , wherein the plant is an  Arabidopsis thaliana  plant.  
     
     
         20 . A transgenic seed produced by the plant of  claim 17.