Transcription factor genes and proteins from helianthus annuus, and transgenic plants including the same

Abstract

A polynucleotide having at least 80% sequence identity with the full-length nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and substantially identical polynucleotides; an isolated polypeptide having at least 80% sequence identity with the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and substantially identical polypeptides; and polynucleotides encoding the HaWRKY76 polypeptide and substantially identical polypeptides are described. Also described are vectors and recombinant expression cassettes containing the cDNA polynucleotide, a polynucleotide encoding the HaWRKY76 polypeptide, or substantially identical polynucleotides. Transgenic plants containing such expression cassettes, related methods and uses are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity with the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, the polypeptide sequence containing at least one of:
 (a) proline as the amino acid corresponding to position 270 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;   (b) proline as the amino acid corresponding to position 87 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;   (c) proline as the amino acid corresponding to position 260 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;   (d) serine as the amino acid corresponding to position 123 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;   (e) leucine as the amino acid corresponding to position 14 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;   (f) leucine as the amino acid corresponding to position 22 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; and   (g) serine as the amino acid corresponding to position 23 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.   
     
     
         2 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide sequence contains proline as the amino acid corresponding to positions 270 and 87 of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide sequence contains leucine and serine as the amino acids corresponding to positions 22 and 23, respectively, of the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises a sequence having at least 95% sequence identity with the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has the full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 12.