Transgenic Rape with hrf2 Gene Encoding HarpinXooc Resistant to Sclerotinia sclerotinorium

The objective of this study was to increase the resistance of rape using the method of transformation. The gene hrf2 derived from Xathomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola encoding harpinxooc protein was constructed into transgenic vector pCAMBIA1301. The cotyledonal petiole segments from rapeseed variety Yangyou 4 were infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404/pCAMBIA1301-hrf2. Hygromycin-resistant green shoots were obtained. Successful integration of the foreign gene into the genome of the rapeseed variety Yangyou 4 was confirmed by PCR, RT-PCR, and β-glucuronidase analyses. Disease bioassays of transgenic plants revealed an improved resistance of transgenic plants to Rape sclerotiniose. In brief, the hrf2 gene can be transferred into rape using the method of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, which increased the resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotinorium in the transgenic plant.     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of lef-3 Gene from Pieris rapae Granulovirus

To better understand the origination and evolution of lef-3 gene from baculovirus genome and determine the relationships between various viruses at molecular level, late expression factor 3 gene （lef-3） fragments of Pieris rapae granulovirus were obtained through conventional PCR method and sequenced after cloned into T-vector. Then, bioinformatics analysis on lef-3 gene and its encoding sequences were conducted by using bid-softs. Four mutations were appeared in the ORF of cloned lef-3 gene, which did not alter the characteristics of amino acids. It was inferred that PiraGV LEF-3 protein contained 399 amino acids, the molecular weight of which was 3.99 kD. Prediction of the LEF-3 advanced structure and homology comparison between other LEF-3 from various baculoviruses showed that the lef-3 gene might encode the single-stranded DNA-binding protein. The result of BLAST revealed that the lef-3 gene only existed in Lepidoptera host for the baculovirus genome, and the evolution analysis illustrated that lef-3 gene could be divided into 3 groups including one granulovirus （GV） group and 2 nucleopolyhedrovirus （NPV） groups. The selection pressure analysis of GV lef-3 gene coding region showed that the majority of lef-3 genes performed negative selection, while the Ka/Ks differed from different lef-3 gene, to some extent, which also performed positive selection. The origination analysis revealed that lef-3 gene of baculovirus might derive from bacteria. The lef-3 gene of PiraGV was cloned successfully and the possible patterns of origination and evolution were speculated through bioinformatics analysis.     

Development of Highly Efficient Transformation System of Yeast-Like Conidia of Tremella fuciformis

Tremellafuciformis is one of higher basidiomycetes. Its basidiospore can reproduce yeast-like conidia, which is also called the blastospore by budding. The yeast-like conidia of T. fuciformis is monokaryotic and easy to culture by submerged fermentation similar to yeast. Thus, it is a good recipient cell for exogenous gene expression. In this study, the expression plasmid pAN7-1 （containing promoter gpd-An derived from Aspergillus nidulans and selectable marker gene hph conferring resistance to hygromycin B） and plasmid pLg-hph （containing promoter gpd-Le derived from Lentinula edodes and selectable marker gene hph） were transformed into the yeast-like conidia of T. fuciformis by PEG-mediated protoplast transformation, respectively. The primary putative transformants were selected by the sandwich screening method with the selective medium containing 50 μg mL^-1 hygromycin. The putative transformants were obtained from the primary putative transformants transferred on PDSA plates containing 100 μg mL^-1 hygromycin for second round selection. Experimental results showed that the optimal concentration of PEG 4000 for mediating protoplast transformation was 25%. PCR and Southern blotting confirmed that the selectable marker gene hph was integrated effectively into the genome of the yeast-like conidia of T. fuciformis with plasmid pLg-hph transformation. Its transformation efficiency was 110 transformants per μg DNA, and the hph gene was integrated into the genome of some yeast-like conidia with plasmid pAN7-1 transformation. However, its transformation efficiency was only 9 transformants per μg DNA. The presence of hph gene in the genome of transformants after 5 generations of sub- culturing on PDSB medium was confirmed by PCR, suggesting that the foreign gene hph was stable during subculture.     

Expression of Aminopeptidase N1 （APN1）, the Main Receptor Protein for Bacillus thuringiensis CrylA Toxin from Helicoverpa armigera Larval Midgut in Trichoplusia ni cells

The aim of this article is to successfully express the Bt （Bacillus thuringiensis） toxin receptor protein located on the internal membrane of larval midgut of cotton bollworm （Helicoverpa armigera Hübner） within eukaryotic expression system, which is one of the key links for clarifying the relationship between receptor and Bt resistance. The fragments of aminopeptidase N1 （APN1） gene without signal peptide in the susceptible and the resistant H. armigera were cloned separately using PCR method, and were separately cloned into pUC 19 vector. After sequencing the gene, the fragments encoding for APN1 without signal peptide were cloned into the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system with transfer vector pFastBacHTB under the polyhedron gene promoter. The recombinant transposing plasmid pFastBacHTB/APN1 was screened and then transformed into Escherichia coli DH10Bac. It was cultured in LB medium, which contained Te, Kan, Ge, X-gal, and IPTG. The resulting recombinant bacmid was transfected into cells of the insect Trichoplusia ni and recombinant baculoviruse was obtained. The lysate of cells infected with recombinant baculoviruse was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and blot analysis. The results showed that the recombinant baculoviruse was fully capable of expressing APN1. The APN1 gene successfully expressed in T. ni cell established the base for continuing the research on its function and relationshio of resistance with Bt.     

RNA Interference-Mediated Downregulation of sAC Gene Inhibits Sperm Hyperactivation in Male Rats （Rattus norvegicus）

Hyperactivation is one of the most critical parts for fertilization, cAMP generated by soluble adenylyl cyclase （sAC） is necessary to activate sperm and is a prerequisite for sperm hyperactivation. The aim of this study is to investigate the function of sAC in hyperactivation in male rats. Four siRNAs of sAC gene were designed and separately transformed into rat sperm using electrotransformation method. Cultured for 12 and 24 h, physiological and biochemical indexes of these sperm were analyzed, and the expressions of some hyperactivation-related genes were detected using real-time PCR. We demonstrated 26.3-30.8% and 49.1-50.5% reduction in sAC at the protein by Western blot and mRNA levels by real-time PCR, respectively. The results showed that two siRNAs, Actb-717 and Actb-4205, were the best RNAi sites for silencing sAC. The VCL （curvilinear velocity） and ALH （amplitude of lateral head displacement） of RNA interference （RNAi）-transfected sperm were reduced, cAMP and protein phosphorylation in RNAi transfected sperm were also decreased. The hyperactivation-related genes, such as CatSper2, LDHC and PKA, were downregulated in the sperm, which sAC was knockdown. These findings demonstrated that sAC might play a critical role in cAMP signaling in the rat sperm hyperactivation, and downregulated sAC gene might prevent the expression of these hyperactivation-ralated genes resulting in sperm dysfunction. These findings suggest that these hyperactivation-ralated genes and sAC are functionally related in sperm hyperactivation and sAC falls into an expanding group of sperm proteins that appear to be promising targets for the development of male contraceptives.     

Optimization of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Immature Embryo Transformation System and Transformation of Glyphosate-Resistant Gene 2mG2-EPSPS in Maize（Zea mays L.）

Since maize is one of the most important cereal crops in the world,establishment of an efficient genetic transformation system is critical for its improvement.In the current study,several elite corn lines were tested for suitability of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation by using immature embryos as explants.Infection ability and efficiency of transformation of A.tumefaciens sp.strains EHA105 and LBA4404,different heat treatment times of immature embryos before infection,influence of L-cysteine addition in co-cultivation medium after transformation,and how different ways of selection and cultivation influence the efficiency of transformation were compared.Glyphosate-resistant gene 2mG2-EPSPS was transformed into several typical maize genotypes including 78599,Zong 31 and BA,under the optimum conditions.Results showed that the hypervirulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens sp.strain EHA105 was more infectious than LBA4404.Inclusion of L-cysteine（100 mg L-1） in co-cultivation medium,and heating of the immature embryos for 3 min prior to infection led to a significant increase in the transformation efficiency.Growth in resting medium for 4-10 d and delaying selection was beneficial to the survival of resistant calli.During induction of germination,adding a high concentration of 6-BA（5 mg L-1） and a low concentration of 2,4-D（0.2 mg L-1） to regeneration medium significantly enhanced germination percentage.Using the optimized transformation procedure,more than 800 transgenic plants were obtained from 78599,Zong 31 and BA.By spraying herbicide glyphosate on leaves of transgenic lines,we identified 66 primary glyphosate-resistant plants.The transformation efficiency was 8.2%.PCR and Southern-blot analyses confirmed the integration of the transgenes in the maize genome.     

Establishment of a Gene Expression System in Rice Chloroplast and Obtainment of PPT-Resistant Rice Plants

In contrast to the situation of random integration of foreign genes in nuclear transformation, the introduction of genes via chloroplast genetic engineering is characterized by site-specific pattern via homologous recombination. To establish an expression system for alien genes in rice chloroplast, the intergenic region of ndhF and trnL was selected as target for sitespecific integration of PPT-resistant bar gene in this study. Two DNA fragments suitable for homologous recombination were cloned from rice chloroplast genome DNA using PCR technique, and the chloroplast-specific expression vector pRB was constructed by fusing a modified 16S rRNA gene promoter to bar gene together with terminator ofpsbA gene 3 sequence. Chloroplast transformation was carried out by biolistic bombardment of sterile rice calli with the pRB construct. Subsequently, the regenerated plantlets and seeds of progeny arising from reciprocal cross to the wild-type lines were obtained. Molecular analysis suggested that the bar gene has been integrated into rice chloroplast genome. Genetic analysis revealed that bar gene could be transmitted and expressed normally in chloroplast genome. Thus, the bar gene conferred not only selection pressure for the transformation of rice chloroplast genome, but PPT-resistant trait for rice plants as well. It is suggested that an efficient gene expression system in the rice chloroplast has been established by chloroplast transformation technique.     

Acquisition of Insect-Resistant Transgenic Maize Harboring a Truncated crylAh Gene via Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation

A novel insecticidal gene crylAh was cloned from Bacillus thuringiensis isolate BT8 previously for plant genetic engineering improvement. Truncated active CrylAh toxin has a toxicity level similar to that of the full-length CrylAh toxin. In this study, plant expression vector pMhGM harboring truncated crylAh gene was transformed into maize （Zea mays L.） immature embryos by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation at which maize alcohol dehydrogenase matrix attachment regions （madMARs） were incorporated on both sides of the gene expression cassette to improve gene expression. A total of 23 PCR positive events were obtained with a transformation efficiency of 5% around. Bioassay results showed that events 1-4 and 1-5 exhibited enhanced resistance to the Asian corn borer （Ostriniafurnacalis）. These two events were further confirmed by molecular analysis. Southern blot suggested that a single copy of the crylAh gene was successfully integrated into the maize genome. Western blot and ELISA showed that the foreign gene crylAh was expressed stably at high level in maize and could be inherited stably over generations. The results of a bioassay of T l-T4 transgenic maize plants indicated that the transgenic plants were highly toxic to the Asian corn borer and their resistance could be inherited stably from generation to generation. Thus, events 1-4 and 1-5 are good candidates for the breeding of insect-resistant maize.     

Study on the Mitochondrial Genome of Sea Island Cotton (Gossypium barbadense) by BAC Library Screening

The plant mitochondrial genome displays complex features, particularly in terms of cytoplasmic male sterility （CMS）. Therefore, research on the cotton mitochondrial genome may provide important information for analyzing genome evolution and exploring the molecular mechanism of CMS. In this paper, we present a preliminary study on the mitochondrial genome of sea island cotton （Gossypium barbadense） based on positive clones from the bacterial artificial chromosome （BAC） library. Thirty-five primers designed with the conserved sequences of functional genes and exons of mitochondria were used to screen positive clones in the genome library of the sea island cotton variety called Pima 90-53. Ten BAC clones were obtained and verified for further study. A contig was obtained based on six overlapping clones and subsequently laid out primarily on the mitochondrial genome. One BAC clone, clone 6 harbored with the inserter of approximate 115 kb mtDNA sequence, in which more than 10 primers fragments could be amplified, was sequenced and assembled using the Solexa strategy. Fifteen mitochondrial functional genes were revealed in clone 6 by gene annotation. The characteristics of the syntenic gene/exon of the sequences and RNA editing were preliminarily predicted.     

Plant Regeneration from In Vitro Cultured Hypocotyl Explants of Euonymus japonicus Cu zhi

Adventitious shoots were successfully regenerated from hypocotyl explants of in vitro cultures of Euonymus japonicus Cu zhi. Hypocotyl slices were cultured on Murashige and Skoog （MS） and B5 basal medium supplemented with varied concentration of different plant growth-regulators, e.g., α-naphthaleneacetic acid （NAA） and indole-3-butyric acid （IBA） in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine （6-BA） and kinetin. The study showed that shoots could be directly regenerated from hypocotyl explants without the intervening callus phase; MS medium was more suitable for adventitious shoots regeneration. The ability of hypocotyls segments to produce shoots varied depending upon their position on the seedlings. The highest regeneration rate was obtained with hypocotyl segments near to the cotyledon cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with 1.5 mg L^-1 6-BA and 0.05 mg L^-1 NAA （63.64%）. The regenerated shoots were readily elongated on the same medium as used for multiplication and rooted on half-strength MS basal medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L^-1 IBA and 100 mg L^-1 activated carbon. After being transferred to greenhouse conditions, 96% of the plantlets were successfully acclimatized. This regeneration system is applied for genetic transformation now.     

Transferring a Gene Expression Cassette Lacking the Vector Backbone Sequences of the 1Ax1 High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunit into Two Chinese Hexaploid Wheat Genotypes

1Ax1 high molecular weight glutenin subunit （HMW-GS） gene expression cassette （GEC） lacking vector backbone sequences together with selectable marker Bar GEC were co-transformed into Chinese hexaploid cultivars Een 1 and Emai 12 to test the feasibility and the efficiency of explant regeneration, transformation frequency and transgene expression comparing with whole vector transformation by the approaches of plasmid extraction and excision, immature embryo isolation, particle co-bombardment, tissue culture, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, southern hybridization, leaf-painting test and SDS-PAGE etc. No significant difference was shown in tissue culture response of the proportion of embryogenic calli, somatic embryogenesis and regeneration frequency between GEC and whole plasmid bombarded embryos, but both regenerated less well than non-bombarded control. Total 56 plantlets that survived PPT selection had insertion of at least the Bar gene, 18 were from the GEC treatment and 38 from the whole plasmid treatment, the escape ratio averaged 0.23. Six independent transplants f230 - f235 with GEC transformation from genotype Emai 12 presented clear PCR amplification bands of Bar and 1Ax1 gene. The transformation and co-transformation frequency were 3.51 and 100% respectively. PCR amplification using a primer-pair specific for ampicillin resistant gene indicated the existence of Amp^R gene in whole vectors but the removal in GECs and transplants. Southern blot of total DNA and PCR products from transgenic plants of 1Ax1 GEC confirmed the integration of the transgene 1Ax1 and the absence of the EcoR Ⅰ recognition site at both ends of the 1Ax1 GEC when integrated. SDS-PAGE showed the expression of 1Ax1 GEC and un-expression of whole plasmid. The length of integrated fragment, the proportion of the gene of interest （GOI） and the selectable marker （MG）, bombardment pressure and genotypes are vital for the expression of a transformed GEC.     

The Function Identification of the Candidate Disease-Resistance Gene in Cabbage

In order to understand the function of TuR2, a candidate disease-resistance gene was isolated from cabbage, we transformed it into mustard （Brassicajuncea L. Linshicaoyaozi） which was susceptible to TuMV through Agrobacterium tumefacine-mediated method. Transgenic plants were detected by Southern blotting and Northern blotting. Our results confirmed that the TuR2 gene had been integrated into the mustard genome, and it showed different expression levels among primary transplants （T0）. The primary transplants （T0） and the first progenies of transgenic plants （T1） were inoculated with TuMV in a greenhouse. The transgenic plants had high TuMV-resistance, whereas the serious virus disease symptom was observed in CK （no transformation plants）. The TuR2 gene in the first progenies of transgenic plants （T1） showed dominant monogenic inheritance. Compared with CK, the progenies containing TuR2 gene had stronger resistance to TuMV. The TuR2 gene which was isolated from cabbage had the function of TuMV-resistance.     

Microarray-Based Detection and Differentiation of Virulent and Attenuated Pseudorabies Virus

DNA microchip used in this study was formed from miniature arrays of pseudorabies virus （PrV） gene-specific probes immobilized on a glass surface. Hybridization using DNA microchip （microarrays） was used for differentiation between virulent and attenuated PrV. The presence of four gene segments （gB, gD, gE~, and gE ） encoding conservative glycoprotein B （gB）, D （gD）, and E （gE） of PrV was monitored using multiplex PCR. The amplicons were labeled with Cy5 or Cy3 dyes followed by hybridization to the gene-specific capture probes on the microchip. The presence of gD and gB, gE~ gene fragments was shown in virulent （gE~ genotype） and attenuated PrV （gE genotype）, whereas gE- gene （deleted domain in gE gene） was demonstrated only in virulent, not in attenuated, virus. No cross-hybridization was observed when fluorescence labeled-PCR products of PrV were hybridized using capture probes of related viruses, such as porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus （PRRSV）, porcine parvovirus （PPV）, Japanese encephalitis virus （JEV）, and porcine circovirus type 2 （PCV-2）. The assay was 10 times sensitive than gD gene-specific PCR. Overall, the results of this study suggested that the microarray might be very useful for detection and differentiation of virulent PrV from attenuated one.     

Expression and Activity Analysis of Non-Structural Protein 2 （NS2） of Bombyx mori Densovirus Zhenjiang Strain

The gene of the non-structure protein 2 （NS2） was cloned by PCR from the genome ofBombyx mori densovirus Zhenjiang strain （BmDNV-Z）, inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pET28a to construct recombinant plasmid pET28a-NS2 and then expressed in bacteria Escherichia coli BL21 （DE3）. The expressed recombinant protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Then, the recombinant protein was purified by Ni-NTA column, renatured and tested for enzyme activities. The purified NS2 protein exhibited a helicase activity unwinding double-stranded DNA substrates into single-strand primers, and higher unwinding activity to polarity substrate. Similarly, the purified NS2 protein possessed an ATPase activity and its enzyme activity was 0.276 μmol gg^-1 h^-1 in this study. The results indicated that the non- structure protein which encoded by the gene of BmDNV-Z NS2 possesses the biological activities of helicase and ATPase, and the helicase prefers to polarity substrates. Based on these results, it is speculated that the gene of BmDNV-Z NS2 plays an important role in the viral DNA replication.     

Construction of Marker-Free GFP Transgenic Tobacco by Cre/Iox Site-Specific Recombination System

Marker-free GFP transgenic tobacco plants were constructed based on Cre/lox site-specific recombination system. A GFP gene was introduced into the tobacco genome using the Bar gene as a linked selectable marker flanked by recombination sites in a directed orientation. The Bar gene expression box was subsequently excised from the plant genome by a strategy of Cre gene retransformation. After removal of the Cre-NPT Ⅱ locus by genetic segregation through self-cross, plants that incorporated only the GFP transgene were obtained. Transgenic tobacco plants mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens were obtained, which resisted herbicide Basta and GFP expressed well, then the Cre gene was subsequently introduced into 5 plants of them, respectively, by retransformation. The leaf disks from Cre transgenic plants were used to test the resistance to Basta on the medium with 8 mg L-1 of PPT. The results showed that few discs were able to regenerate normally, and the excision at 76-100% efficiency depended on individual retransformation events. Evidence for a precise recombination event was confirmed by cloning the nucleotides sequence surrounding the lox sites of the Basta sensitive plants. The result indicated that the excision event in the recombination sites was precise and conservative, without loss or alteration of any submarginal nucleotides of the recombination sites. Bar gene excised plants were selfpollinated to allow segregation of the GFP gene from the Cre-NPT Ⅱ locus. The progenies from self-pollinated plants were scored for Kan senstivity, then the segregation of GFP gene from Cre-NPT Ⅱ locus in the Kan senstive plants were confirmed by PCR analysis subsequently. Hence, constructing marker-free transgenic tobacco plants by Cre/lox sitespecific recombination system was reliable, and the strategy presented here should be applicable to other plants for the construction of marker-free transgenic plants as well.     

Cloning of TaCYP707A 1 Gene that Encodes ABA 8′-Hydroxylase in Common Wheat（Triticum aestivum L.）

The plant hormone abscisic acid （ABA） regulates many important physiological and developmental processes in plants. The objective of this study was to clone the ABA 8′-hydroxylase gene in common wheat. In the present study, we used the eDNA sequence of barley HvCYP707A1 gene （GenBank accession no. AB239299） as a probe for BLAST search against the common wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） EST database in GenBank. All wheat ESTs sharing high similarity with the reference gene were subjected to contig assembly. Primers were designed based on the constructed contigs to clone the wheat CYP707A1 gene, designated as TaCYP707A1. The genomic DNA sequence of TaCYPTO7A1 gene comprised five exons and four introns, with a size of 2225 bp. The corresponding cDNA sequence of TaCYP707A1 was 1737 bp, containing an open reading frame （ORF） of 1431 bp, a 42-bp 5′-untranslated region （UTR） and a 264-bp 3′UTR, with 94.9% of identical sequences to HvCYP707A1 gene （AB239299）. The neighbor joining tree indicated that the deduced amino acid sequences of TaCYP707A1 gene was highly similar to those of barley and rice. The TaCYP707A1 gene was located on chromosome 6BL using a set of Chinese Spring nullisomic-tetrasomic lines and ditelosomic line 6BS. These results will be of high importance in understanding of molecular mechanism of ABA catabolism.