The present invention relates to methods of designing nucleic acid
molecules for improved expression of the encoded polypeptides in plants.
In such methods, codon usage frequencies are biased towards codon usage
frequencies of a plant virus, group of plant viruses, or a subset of
nucleic acid molecules therefrom. In preferred embodiments, the encoded
polypeptide affects the phenotype of the plant. The invention also
pertains to nucleic acid molecules encoding insecticidal polypeptides
wherein the nucleic acid molecules have been designed to have plant virus
codon-biased. The invention also pertains to transgenic plants and
progeny thereof with increased expression of insecticidal polypeptides
for improved resistance to insects and other pests that are detrimental
to plants of agricultural value.