Compositions and methods for regulating metabolism in plants

A method for regulating fuel metabolism in a plant, comprising,

• regulating UCP expression in a plant cell wall/plasma membrane or chloroplast to regulate fuel metabolism of the plant.

An expression system, comprising:

• a promoter sequence,
• a first structural gene encoding a heterologous UCP and a second structural gene encoding a plant cell wall targeting peptide or a chloroplast targeting peptide, the first and second structural genes arranged to form a fusion protein and operably linked to and under the control of the promoter sequence.

A transgenic plant transformed with a nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a UCP operably linked to a promoter sequence, wherein the nucleic acid contract also encodes a plant cell wall targeting peptide or a chloroplast targeting peptide.

A method for producing a nutritionally enhanced plant, comprising:

• decreasing the expression or activity of UCP in the plant cell wall/plasma membrane or chloroplast to produce a nutritionally enhanced plant.

A method for improving the light and cold sensitivity of a plant, comprising:

• increasing the expression or activity of UCP in the plant cell wall/plasma membrane or chloroplast to improve the light and cold sensitivity of the plant.

A method for preventing an infection in a plant, comprising:

• decreasing the expression or activity of UCP in the plant cell wall/plasma membrane or chloroplast in an amount to prevent an increase in oxygen free radicals and to prevent infection in the plant.