Pioneer Hi-bred International, Inc.

Arkema Inc.

Lijuan Wang

Christopher Jay Scelonge

Dennis L Bidney

Sean J Coughlan

Gary S Smith

Craig E Hastings

William James Gordon-Kamm

Benjamin A Bowen

Michael D Miller

Gary A Sandahl

Dorothy A Pierce

Margit C Ross

George Charles Fortman

William Gordan-Kamm

Mike Miller

Gary Sandahl

Metal-sulfur batteries, such as lithium-sulfur batteries, are prepared using one or more organosulfur species such as organic polysulfides and organic polythiolates as part of the liquid or gel electrolyte solution, as part of the cathode, as part of the anode (or used to treat the anode), and/or as part of a functionalized porous polymer providing an intermediate separator element.

Battery based on organosulfur species

Metal-sulfur batteries, such as lithium-sulfur batteries, are prepared using one or more organosulfur species such as organic polysulfides and organic polythiolates as part of the liquid or gel electrolyte solution, as part of the cathode, and/or as part of a functionalized porous polymer providing an intermediate separator element.

A method for the production of transgenic plants is provided in which a vector carrying a gene encoding the green fluorescent protein is introduced into cells, the cells are screened for the protein and transformed cells are selected and regenerated. The cellular toxicity of the green fluorescent protein is circumvented by regulating expression of the gene encoding the protein or directing the protein to a subcellular compartment where it is not toxic to the cell. DNA constructs are provided for cell transformation in which the expression of a gene encoding the green fluorescent protein is placed under the control of an inducible promoter. In addition, DNA constructs are provided in which a nucleotide sequence encoding the green fluorescent protein is operably linked to a signal sequence which directs the expressed protein to a subcellular compartment where the protein is not toxic to the cell. Oxidative stress to plant cells transformed with GFP also can be ameliorated by transforming cells with an expression vector comprising genes encoding GFP and an oxygen scavenger enzyme such as superoxide dismutase. The toxicity of GFP in transformed plants can be eliminated by excising the screenable marker gene following detection of transformed cells or sectors. The FLP/FRT system is used in conjunction with GFP as a visible marker for transformation and FRT excision. A nucleotide sequence optimized for expression of the green fluorecent protein in plants is also provided.

Use of the green fluorescent protein as a screenable marker for plant transformation

Antisense expression of a stearoyl-ACP desaturase gene in sunflower results in more than a four-fold increase in seed stearate, and can enhance palmitate content as well. Thus, sunflower oil containing over 40 percent saturated fatty acids can be produced, which is desirable in the context of various products, such as coating fat, margarine, soap and shortening.

Sunflower seeds with enhanced saturated fatty acid contents

Growing community of inventors

Urbandale, IA, United States of America

Lijuan Wang