[Directed mutagenesis of genes of some plant proteins]

Mutagenesis of two previously cloned plant genes, maize storage protein cZ22B1 gene and barley Photosystem II protein D1 gene (psbA), was carried out. To improve the nutritional quality of zein, the DNA region corresponding to the protein sixth alpha-helix rod was substituted by a synthetic segment bearing three codon changes for Lys. Additional stabilization of this helix was achieved by three more codon changes for Glu. By means of oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis five different copies of psbA gene were obtained, bearing single codon change of Ser264 (wild type) for Gly, Ala, Cys, Asn, and Thr, respectively. These constructs can be used for studying functional topography of protein D1 and core region.