Polynucleotides and polypeptides conferring the ability to detoxify or metabolize the mycotoxin fumonisin are provided, as are constructs, compositions, and plants comprising the polynucleotides and polypeptides. Also provided are plants having the ability to detoxify fumonisin, methods of conferring fumonisin detoxification, methods of controlling fumonisin contamination, and kits and methods for identification of plants having the ability to detoxify fumonisin.

Methods and compositions are provided for covalently linking a chemical species to a recombinant or synthetic polypeptide. The methods involve the reaction of a thioester-comprising polypeptide with a reagent comprising a reactive amino-thiol group connected to the chemical species which is to be covalently linked to the polypeptide, via a linker. Such chemical species can be a functional group, a label or tag molecule, a biological molecule, a ligand, or a solid support. Efficient and catalyst-free methods for C-terminal protein labeling are also provided. The methods expand current capabilities in the area of protein functionalization, providing useful and complementary tools for the isolation, detection, characterization, and analysis of proteins in a variety of in vitro and in vivo applications.

Isolated bioactive priming peptides and bioactive priming compostions comprising bioactive priming polypeptides and/or inducer compounds are provided that are useful when applied to plants in agricultural formulations. Methods of using the isolated bioactive priming peptides and/or compositions are also provided which are applied exogenously to the surface of a plant or a plant cell membrane or endogenously to the interior of a plant or to a plant cell. The isolated bioactive priming peptides and/or bioactive priming compositions when applied to a plant, a plant part, or a plant growth medium or a rhizosphere in an area surrounding the plant or the plant part increase growth, yield, health, longevity, productivity, and/or vigor of a plant or a plant part and/or protect the plant or the plant part from disease, and/or increase the innate immune response of the plant or the plant part and/or improve the quality and/or quantity of juice obtained from a plant or plant part.

The invention relates to a protein formulation comprising a protein formulation comprising a protein and a protective agent, said protective agent comprising (i) at least one amine and/or an ammonium group and (ii) at least one metal precipitating agent and/or a chelating molecule.