Chimaeric gene coding for a transit peptide and a heterologous peptide

A chimaeric DNA sequence comprising:

• a) a nucleic acid sequence coding for a chimaeric protein or polypeptide comprising in sequence:
• 1) a transit peptide of a cytoplasmic precursor of a chloroplast protein or chloroplast polypeptide of a plant species, and,
• 2) a fusion protein comprising in sequence:
• 2.1) the N-terminal part of a mature chloroplast protein or chloroplast polypeptide derived from a natural cytoplasmic precursor thereof, and
• 2.2) a protein or polypeptide of interest which is different from said mature chloroplast protein or chloroplast polypeptide and,
• b) a promoter upstream of said nucleic acid sequence recognized by polymerases endogenous to a plant,
• wherein the chimaeric DNA sequence can be expressed in cells of said plant under control of said promoter and said fusion protein can be translocated into the chloroplasts of said cells of said plant.

A chimaeric DNA sequence comprising:

• a) a nucleic acid sequence coding for a chimaeric protein or polypeptide comprising in sequence:
• 1) a transit peptide of a cytoplasmic precursor of a chloroplast protein or chloroplast polypeptide of a plant species, and,
• 2) a fusion protein comprising in sequence:
• 2.1) a N-terminal part comprising no more than the first 22 N-terminal amino acids of a mature chloroplast protein or chloroplast polypeptide derived from a natural cytoplasmic precursor thereof, and
• 2.2) a protein or polypeptide of interest which is different from said mature chloroplast protein or chloroplast polypeptide and,
• b) a promoter upstream of said nucleic acid sequence recognized by polymerases endogenous to a plant,
• whereby the chimaeric DNA sequence can be expressed in cells of said plant under control of said promoter and said fusion protein can be translocated into the chloroplasts of said cells of said plant.