This disclosure provides Chlamydomonas violaxanthin de-epoxidase (CVDE) gene, polypeptides, and variants thereof as well as host cells that are genetically modified to express a CVDE polypeptide or variant. The disclosure additionally provides methods of producing such a genetically modified host cell and methods of using the cells , e.g., to increase zeaxanthin production.

The present disclosure provides a transgenic plant comprising one or more nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides selected from photosystem II subunit S (PsbS), zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP), and violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE), operably linked to at least one expression control sequence. Expression vectors for making transgenic plants, and methods for increasing biomass production and/or carbon fixation and/or growth in a plant comprising increasing expression of at least one of PsbS, ZEP and VDE polypeptides are also provided.

The invention relates to a method for activating a surface by increasing the hydrophilicity and/or for binding target structures, particularly selected from the group consisting of proteins, cellular proteins, proteins, cells, carbohydrates, peptides and amino acids. It also relates to the use of an oxidoreductase for activating a surface for the mentioned bonds and to corresponding activated surfaces.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified plants including one or more edited open reading frames (uORFs) in endogenous nucleotide sequences encoding photosystem II subunit S (PsbS), zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP), or violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE). The present disclosure further relates to methods of producing the genetically modified plants, as well as to isolated constructs and expression cassettes for use in producing the genetically modified plants. In addition, the present disclosure relates to transient screening methods to study gene expression.

This disclosure provides Chlamydomonas violaxanthin de-epoxidase (CVDE) gene, polypeptides, and variants thereof as well as host cells that are genetically modified to express a CVDE polypeptide or variant. The disclosure additionally provides methods of producing such a genetically modified host cell and methods of using the cells , e.g., to increase zeaxanthin production.

Provided herein are methods and compositions comprising a bacterium or a metabolite thereof for enhancing mitochondrial and/or peroxisomal function.

Provided herein are methods and compositions comprising a bacterium or a metabolite thereof for enhancing mitochondrial and/or peroxisomal function.