Identification of a new class of epsp synthases

Abstract

Compositions and methods for conferring tolerance to glyphosate in bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions include a novel class of EPSPS enzymes, designated Class III, and polynucleotides encoding such enzymes, vectors comprising those polynucleotides, and host cells comprising the vectors. The novel proteins comprise at least one sequence domain selected from the Class III domains provided herein. These sequence domains can be used to identify EPSP synthases with glyphosate resistance activity.

1 . A recombinant polynucleotide other than the polynucleotide sequence listed in SEQ ID NOS:1, 3, 7, 45, 47, and 53 encoding an EPSPS enzyme having at least one sequence domain selected from the group consisting of:
 Domain I:   L-A-K-G-X 1 -S-X 2 -L-X 3 -G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:13), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine, where X 2  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 3  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ia:   L-A-K-G-X 1 , (SEQ ID NO:14), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine;   Domain Ib:   S-X 1 -L-X 2  (SEQ ID NO:15), where X 1  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ic:   G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:16);   Domain II:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V-X 4 -X 5 -X 6 -G (SEQ ID NO:17), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes threonine or glutamic acid, or lysine, where X 5  denotes serine or glycine, where X 6  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain IIa:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V (SEQ ID NO:18), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain IIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G (SEQ ID NO:19), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or lysine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine, where X 3  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain III:   RFLTAA (SEQ ID NO:20);   Domain IV:   KRPI(G/M)P (SEQ ID NO:21)   K-R-P-I-X 1 -P, where X 1  denotes glycine or methionine or leucine;   Domain V:   X 1 -G-C-P-P-V (SEQ ID NO:22), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain VI:   I-G-A-X 1 -G-Y-X 2 -D-L-T (SEQ ID NO:23), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine or leucine, and where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain VII:   W-X 1 -V-X 2 -X 3 -T-G (SEQ ID NO:24), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine, where X 2  denotes alanine or histidine or glutamic acid or serine, where X 3  denotes proline or alanine;   Domain VIII:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W-X 1 -A-X 2 -X 3 -L (SEQ ID NO:25), where X 1  denotes alanine or glycine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glutamine, where X 3  denotes valine or leucine or alanine;   Domain VIIIa:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W (SEQ ID NO:26);   Domain IX:   I-D-X 1 -G (SEQ ID NO:27), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or leucine;   Domain X:   F-X 1 -Q-P-D-A-K-A (SEQ ID NO:28), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain XI:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A-X 5 -X 6 -X 7 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 8 -A-V-X 9 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:29), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine, where X 5  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 6  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 7  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 8  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 9  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIa:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A (SEQ ID NO:30), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine;   Domain XIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 4 -A-V-X 5 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:31), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 3  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 4  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 5  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIc:   G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T (SEQ ID NO:32);   Domain XII: P-V-R-F-X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:33), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIa:   P-V-R-F (SEQ ID NO:34);   Domain XIIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:35), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIc:   N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R (SEQ ID NO:36);   Domain XIII:   E-G-D-D-L-X 1 -X 2  (SEQ ID NO:37), where X 1  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain XIV:   X 1 -P-X 2 -L-A-G (SEQ ID NO:38), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or asparagine, where X 2  denotes alanine or serine or threonine;   Domain XV:   A-X 1 -I-D-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -D-H-R (SEQ ID NO:39), where X 1  denotes leucine or serine or glutamic acid, where X 2  denotes threonine or serine, where X 3  denotes histidine or phenylalanine, where X 4  denotes alanine or serine;   Domain XVI:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K-X 2 -X 3 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:40), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine, where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 3  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVIa:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K (SEQ ID NO:41), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine;   Domain XVIb:   L-K-X 1 -X 2 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:42), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVII:   -X 1 -P-X 2 -C-V-X 3 -K (SEQ ID NO:43), where X 1  denotes asparagine or aspartic acid, where X 2  denotes alanine or aspartic acid, where X 3  denotes alanine or glycine;   Domain XVIII:   X 1 -S-L-G-V (SEQ ID NO:44), where X 1  denotes alanine or serine or proline.   
     
     
         2 . A recombinant polynucleotide other than the polynucleotide sequence listed in SEQ ID NOS:3, 7, and 53 encoding an EPSPS enzyme having at least one sequence domain selected from the group consisting of:
 Domain I:   L-A-K-G-X 1 -S-X 2 -L-X 3 -G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:13), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine, where X 2  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 3  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ia:   L-A-K-G-X 1 , (SEQ ID NO:14), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine;   Domain Ib:   S-X 1 -L-X 2  (SEQ ID NO:15), where X 1  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ic:   G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:16);   Domain II:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V-X 4 -X 5 -X 6 -G (SEQ ID NO:17), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes threonine or glutamic acid, or lysine, where X 5  denotes serine or glycine, where X 6  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain IIa:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V (SEQ ID NO:18), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine,   where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain IIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G (SEQ ID NO:19), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or lysine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine, where X 3  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain III:   RFLTAA (SEQ ID NO:20);   Domain IV:   KRPI(G/M)P (SEQ ID NO:21)   K-R-P-I-X 1 -P, where X 1  denotes glycine or methionine or leucine;   Domain V:   X 1 -G-C-P-P-V (SEQ ID NO:22), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain VI:   I-G-A-X 1 -G-Y-X 2 -D-L-T (SEQ ID NO:23), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine or leucine, and where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain VII:   W-X 1 -V-X 2 -X 3 -T-G (SEQ ID NO:24), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine, where X 2  denotes alanine or histidine or glutamic acid or serine, where X 3  denotes proline or alanine;   Domain VIII:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W-X 1 -A-X 2 -X 3 -L (SEQ ID NO:25), where X 1  denotes alanine or glycine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glutamine, where X 3  denotes valine or leucine or alanine;   Domain VIIIa:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W (SEQ ID NO:26);   Domain IX:   I-D-X 1 -G (SEQ ID NO:27), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or leucine;   Domain X:   F-X 1 -Q-P-D-A-K-A (SEQ ID NO:28), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain XI:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A-X 5 -X 6 -X 7 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 8 -A-V-X 9 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:29), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine, where X 5  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 6  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 7  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 8  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 9  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIa:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A (SEQ ID NO:30), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine;   Domain XIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 4 -A-V-X 5 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:31), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 3  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 4  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 5  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIc:   G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T (SEQ ID NO:32);   Domain XII:   P-V-R-F-X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:33), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIa:   P-V-R-F (SEQ ID NO:34);   Domain XIIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:35), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIc:   N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R (SEQ ID NO:36);   Domain XIII:   E-G-D-D-L-X 1 -X 2  (SEQ ID NO:37), where X 1  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain XIV:   X 1 -P-X 2 -L-A-G (SEQ ID NO:38), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or asparagine, where X 2  denotes alanine or serine or threonine;   Domain XV:   A-X 1 -I-D-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -D-H-R (SEQ ID NO:39), where X 1  denotes leucine or serine or glutamic acid, where X 2  denotes threonine or serine, where X 3  denotes histidine or phenylalanine, where X 4  denotes alanine or serine;   Domain XVI:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K-X 2 -X 3 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:40), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine, where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 3  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVIa:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K (SEQ ID NO:41), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine;   Domain XVIb:   L-K-X 1 -X 2 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:42), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVII:   -X 1 -P-X 2 -C-V-X 3 -K (SEQ ID NO:43), where X 1  denotes asparagine or aspartic acid, where X 2  denotes alanine or aspartic acid, where X 3  denotes alanine or glycine;   Domain XVIII:   X 1 -S-L-G-V (SEQ ID NO:44), where X 1  denotes alanine or serine or proline, wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter that drives expression of said polynucleotide in a plant cell.   
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 2  which further comprises a 3′ non-translated region which functions in plant cells to cause the addition of a stretch of polyadenylated nucleotides to the 3′ end of an RNA sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 2 , wherein said promoter is heterologous with respect to the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 2  in which the polynucleotide encodes a fusion polypeptide comprising an amino-terminal chloroplast transit peptide and the EPSPS enzyme. 
     
     
         6 . A method of producing genetically transformed plants which are tolerant toward glyphosate herbicide, comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting into the genome of a plant cell a polynucleotide comprising:
 i) a promoter which functions in plant cells to cause the production of an RNA sequence, 
 ii) a polynucleotide other than the polynucleotide sequence listed in SEQ ID NOS:3, 7 or 53 that causes the production of an RNA sequence which encodes an EPSPS enzyme having at least one sequence domain selected from the group consisting of: 
   Domain I:   L-A-K-G-X 1 -S-X 2 -L-X 3 -G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:13), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine, where X 2  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 3  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ia:   L-A-K-G-X 1 , (SEQ ID NO:14), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine;   Domain Ib:   S-X 1 -L-X 2  (SEQ ID NO:15), where X 1  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ic:   G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:16);   Domain II:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V-X 4 -X 5 -X 6 -G (SEQ ID NO:17), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes threonine or glutamic acid, or lysine, where X 5  denotes serine or glycine, where X 6  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain IIa:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V (SEQ ID NO:18), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain IIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G (SEQ ID NO:19), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or lysine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine, where X 3  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain III:   RFLTAA (SEQ ID NO:20);   Domain IV:   KRPI(G/M)P (SEQ ID NO:21)   K-R-P-I-X 1 -P, where X 1  denotes glycine or methionine or leucine;   Domain V:   X 1 -G-C-P-P-V (SEQ ID NO:22), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain VI:   I-G-A-X 1 -G-Y-X 2 -D-L-T (SEQ ID NO:23), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine or leucine, and where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain VII:   W-X 1 -V-X 2 -X 3 -T-G (SEQ ID NO:24), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine, where X 2  denotes alanine or histidine or glutamic acid or serine, where X 3  denotes proline or alanine;   Domain VIII:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W-X 1 -A-X 2 -X 3 -L (SEQ ID NO:25), where X 1  denotes alanine or glycine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glutamine, where X 3  denotes valine or leucine or alanine;   Domain VIIIa:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W (SEQ ID NO:26);   Domain IX:   I-D-X 1 -G (SEQ ID NO:27), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or leucine;   Domain X:   F-X 1 -Q-P-D-A-K-A (SEQ ID NO:28), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain XI:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A-X 5 -X 6 -X 7 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 8 -A-V-X 9 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:29), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine, where X 5  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 6  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 7  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 8  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 9  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIa:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A (SEQ ID NO:30), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine;   Domain XIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 4 -A-V-X 5 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:31), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 3  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 4  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 5  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIc:   G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T (SEQ ID NO:32);   Domain XII:   P-V-R-F-X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:33), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIa:   P-V-R-F (SEQ ID NO:34);   Domain XIIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:35), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIc:   N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R (SEQ ID NO:36);   Domain XIII:   E-G-D-D-L-X 1 -X 2  (SEQ ID NO:37), where X 1  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain XIV:   X 1 -P-X 2 -L-A-G (SEQ ID NO:38), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or asparagine, where X 2  denotes alanine or serine or threonine;   Domain XV:   A-X 1 -I-D-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -D-H-R (SEQ ID NO:39), where X 1  denotes leucine or serine or glutamic acid, where X 2  denotes threonine or serine, where X 3  denotes histidine or phenylalanine, where X 4  denotes alanine or serine;   Domain XVI:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K-X 2 -X 3 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:40), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine, where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 3  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVIa:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K (SEQ ID NO:41), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine;   Domain XVIb:   L-K-X 1 -X 2 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:42), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVII:   -X 1 -P-X 2 -C-V-X 3 -K (SEQ ID NO:43), where X 1  denotes asparagine or aspartic acid, where X 2  denotes alanine or aspartic acid, where X 3  denotes alanine or glycine;   Domain XVIII:   X 1 -S-L-G-V (SEQ ID NO:44), where X 1  denotes alanine or serine or proline;
 iii) a 3′ non-translated polynucleotide which functions in plant cells to cause the addition of a stretch of polyadenylated nucleotides to the 3′ end of the RNA sequence; 
   b) obtaining a transformed plant cell; and   c) regenerating from the transformed plant cell a genetically transformed plant which has increased tolerance to glyphosate herbicide.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein obtaining the transformed plant comprises screening for an enhanced tolerance to glyphosate herbicide. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 6  in which the polynucleotide encodes a fusion polypeptide comprising an amino-terminal chloroplast transit peptide and the EPSPS enzyme. 
     
     
         9 . A glyphosate-tolerant plant cell comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The glyphosate-tolerant plant cell of  claim 9  selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, rice, barley, soybean, cotton, sugarbeet, oilseed rape, canola, flax, sunflower, potato, tobacco, tomato, alfalfa, poplar, pine, eucalyptus, apple, lettuce, peas, lentils, grape and turf grasses. 
     
     
         11 . A glyphosate-tolerant plant comprising the plant cell of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         12 . The glyphosate-tolerant plant of  claim 11  selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, rice, barley, soybean, cotton, sugarbeet, oilseed rape, canola, flax, sunflower, potato, tobacco, tomato, alfalfa, poplar, pine, eucalyptus, apple, lettuce, peas, lentils, grape and turf grasses. 
     
     
         13 . A transgenic seed comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for selectively controlling weeds in a field having plant seeds or plants comprising the steps of:
 a) planting the seeds or plants which are glyphosate-tolerant, said plants or seeds having integrated into their genome a polynucleotide comprising a heterologous polynucleotide having:
 i) a promoter which functions in plant cells to cause the production of an RNA sequence; 
 ii) a polynucleotide other than the polynucleotide sequence listed in SEQ ID NO:3, 7 or 53 that causes the production of an RNA sequence which encodes an EPSPS enzyme having at least one sequence domain selected from the group consisting of: 
   Domain I:   L-A-K-G-X 1 -S-X 2 -L-X 3 -G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:13), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine, where X 2  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 3  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ia:   L-A-K-G-X 1 , (SEQ ID NO:14), where X 1  denotes lysine or threonine;   Domain Ib:   S-X 1 -L-X 2  (SEQ ID NO:15), where X 1  denotes arginine or histidine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine;   Domain Ic:   G-A-L-K-S-D-D-T (SEQ ID NO:16);   Domain II:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V-X 4 -X 5 -X 6 -G (SEQ ID NO:17), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes threonine or glutamic acid, or lysine, where X 5  denotes serine or glycine, where X 6  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain IIa:   E-P-D-X 1 -X 2 -T-F-X 3 -V (SEQ ID NO:18), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or alanine, where X 2  denotes serine or threonine, where X 3  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain IIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G (SEQ ID NO:19), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or lysine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine, where X 3  denotes glutamine or serine or glutamic acid or threonine;   Domain III:   RFLTAA (SEQ ID NO:20);   Domain IV:   KRPI(G/M)P (SEQ ID NO:21)   K-R-P-I-X 1 -P, where X 1  denotes glycine or methionine or leucine;   Domain V:   X 1 -G-C-P-P-V (SEQ ID NO:22), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain VI:   I-G-A-X 1 -G-Y-X 2 -D-L-T (SEQ ID NO:23), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine or leucine, and where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain VII:   W-X 1 -V-X 2 -X 3 -T-G (SEQ ID NO:24), where X 1  denotes arginine or lysine, where X 2  denotes alanine or histidine or glutamic acid or serine, where X 3  denotes proline or alanine;   Domain VIII:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W-X 1 -A-X 2 -X 3 -L (SEQ ID NO:25), where X 1  denotes alanine or glycine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glutamine, where X 3  denotes valine or leucine or alanine;   Domain VIIIa:   E-P-D-A-S-A-A-T-Y-L-W (SEQ ID NO:26);   Domain IX:   I-D-X 1 -G (SEQ ID NO:27), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or leucine;   Domain X:   F-X 1 -Q-P-D-A-K-A (SEQ ID NO:28), where X 1  denotes threonine or serine;   Domain XI:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A-X 5 -X 6 -X 7 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 8 -A-V-X 9 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:29), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine, where X 5  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 6  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 7  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 8  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 9  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIa:   X 1 -F-P-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -A (SEQ ID NO:30), where X 1  denotes glutamine or lysine or serine, where X 2  denotes asparagine or histidine, where X 3  denotes methionine or leucine, where X 4  denotes proline or glutamine;   Domain XIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T-X 4 -A-V-X 5 A-A-F-N (SEQ ID NO:31), where X 1  denotes threonine or glutamic acid or valine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine, where X 3  denotes aspartic acid or valine, where X 4  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 5  denotes leucine or isoleucine;   Domain XIc:   G-S-Q-M-Q-D-A-I-P-T (SEQ ID NO:32);   Domain XII:   P-V-R-F-X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:33), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIa:   P-V-R-F (SEQ ID NO:34);   Domain XIIb:   X 1 -X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R-X 5  (SEQ ID NO:35), where X 1  denotes valine or threonine, where X 2  denotes glutamic acid or glycine, where X 3  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 4  denotes alanine or glutamic acid, where X 5  denotes isoleucine or valine;   Domain XIIc:   N-L-R-V-K-E-C-D-R (SEQ ID NO:36);   Domain XIII:   E-G-D-D-L-X 1 -X 2  (SEQ ID NO:37), where X 1  denotes leucine or isoleucine, where X 2  denotes valine or isoleucine;   Domain XIV:   X 1 -P-X 2 -L-A-G (SEQ ID NO:38), where X 1  denotes aspartic acid or asparagine, where X 2  denotes alanine or serine or threonine;   Domain XV:   A-X 1 -I-D-X 2 -X 3 -X 4 -D-H-R (SEQ ID NO:39), where X 1  denotes leucine or serine or glutamic acid, where X 2  denotes threonine or serine, where X 3  denotes histidine or phenylalanine, where X 4  denotes alanine or serine;   Domain XVI:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K-X 2 -X 3 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:40), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine, where X 2  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 3  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVIa:   F-A-L-A-X 1 -L-K (SEQ ID NO:41), where X 1  denotes glycine or alanine;   Domain XVIb:   L-K-X 1 -X 2 -G-I (SEQ ID NO:42), where X 1  denotes isoleucine or valine, where X 2  denotes serine or glycine or alanine or lysine;   Domain XVII:   -X 1 -P-X 2 -C-V-X 3 -K (SEQ ID NO:43), where X 1  denotes asparagine or aspartic acid, where X 2  denotes alanine or aspartic acid, where X 3  denotes alanine or glycine;   Domain XVIII:   X 1 -S-L-G-V (SEQ ID NO:44), where X 1  denotes alanine or serine or proline;
 iii) a 3′ non-translated polynucleotide which functions in plant cells to cause the addition of a stretch of polyadenylated nucleotides to the 3′ end of the RNA sequence; and 
   b) applying to the plants and weeds in the field a sufficient amount of glyphosate herbicide to control the weeds without significantly affecting the plants.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said plant or plant seed is a crop plant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said promoter is heterologous with respect to the polynucleotide and adapted to cause sufficient expression of the EPSPS enzyme to enhance the glyphosate tolerance of the plant transformed with the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  in which the polynucleotide encodes a fusion polypeptide comprising an amino-terminal chloroplast transit peptide and the EPSPS enzyme. 
     
     
         18 . A method for increasing yield in a plant comprising growing in a field the plant of  claim 11  and applying to the plant an effective concentration of glyphosate herbicide.