The present invention generally relates to the field of plant genetics and protein biochemistry. More specifically, the present invention relates to modified proteins having an increased number of essential amino acids. The invention provides proteins modified to have an increased number of essential amino acids, nucleic acid sequences encoding the enhanced proteins, and methods of designing, producing, and using the same. The invention also includes compositions, transformed host cells, transgenic plants and seeds containing the enhanced proteins, and methods for preparing and using the same.