Isolated nucleotides encoding tomato senescence-induced eIF-5A
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. A vector comprising a DNA molecule encoding
(a) a tomato senescence-induced eIF-5A, wherein the DNA molecule is at least 70% homologous to SEQ ID NO:11, and wherein the senescence-induced eIF-5A has translation initiation factor activity; and
(b) regulatory sequences operatively linked to the DNA molecule such that eIF-5A is expressed in a plant cell into which it is transformed.
2. A transgenic plant cell comprising the vector according to claim 1 .
3. A vector comprising a DNA molecule encoding (a) senescence-induced eIF-5A, wherein the DNA molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:11; and (b) regulatory sequences operatively linked to the DNA molecule such that the eIF-5A is expressed in a plant cell into which it is transformed.
4. A transgenic plant cell comprising the vector according to claim 3 .
5. An isolated DNA molecule encoding tomato senescence-induced eIF-5A, wherein the DNA molecule has at least 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:11 and wherein the senescence-induced eIF-5A has translation initiation factor activity.
6. An isolated DNA molecule encoding tomato senescence-induced eIL-5A, wherein the DNA molecule comprises SEQ ID NO:11.