DREB1A regulon expression in rd29A:DREB1A transgenic chrysanthemum under low temperature or dehydration stress

Summary

Previously we reported that expression of the Arabidopsis DREB1A gene in chrysanthemum conferred increased tolerance to low-temperature and dehydration stresses, and that transgenic plants in which the DREB1A gene was driven by the abiotic stress-inducible promoter, rd29A, were more tolerant than those plants in which the DREB1A gene was driven by the 35S Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV) promoter. To understand the molecular basis for this improved tolerance, we isolated 74 DREB1A regulon genes using suppression subtractive hybridisation, then compared their expression patterns in rd29A:DREB1A transgenic plants (rd29A plants) and in 35S:DREB1A transgenic plants (35S plants) under different stress conditions. Our results showed that the increased tolerance to low temperatures and dehydration in rd29A plants was attributed to increased levels of expression of different members of the DREB1A regulon. Levels of expression of 69% or 91% for members of the DREB1A regulon that showed upregulation in rd29A plants were highly correlated with the level of expression of DREB1A in response to low temperature or to dehydration, respectively. These results support the hypothesis that the increased tolerance of rd29A plants to abiotic stresses resulted from elevated expression of the DREB1A regulon.     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the CrDAT gene and selection of transgenic periwinkle lines with a high vincristine accumulation

Catharanthus roseus contains vincristine and vinblastine, which are outstanding drugs for cancer. In the biosynthetic pathways of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) in C. roseus, deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT) is a key enzyme that catalyses the last reaction of vindoline biosynthesis to form vinblastine and vincristine. In this study, the CrDAT transgene was transferred into the periwinkle by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and generated transgenic periwinkle lines with an increase in vincristine accumulation. The C. roseus DAT gene was introduced into C. roseus plants and it was confirmed that CrDAT was successfully transferred into the genome of periwinkle plants and efficiently translated to synthesise recombinant DAT protein. Four transgenic periwinkle lines in T1 generation, T1-1, T1-3, T1-6, and T1-7, expressed recombinant DAT protein with the total protein content in the range of 2.86 μg.mg^?1 to 5.12 μg.mg^?1. Moreover, the vincristine contents of four transgenic lines increased by 1.63?2.48-fold compared to non-transgenic plants, ranging from 6.91 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight) to 10.53 µg.g^?1 (fresh weight). The T1-1 line had the highest vincristine content. Hence, the overexpression of the recombinant DAT protein can improve the vincristine accumulation of transgenic C. roseus plants.

Abbreviation: CrDAT - Catharanthus roseus Deacetylvindoline-4-O-Acetyl Transferase; D4H - Deacetoxyvindoline 4-hydroxylase; ELISA - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Monoterpene indole alkaloid; T0, T1 - Generations of transgenic plants; TIAs - Terpenoid indole alkaloids; WT- The wild-type tobacco plants (non transgenic plant); 35S - Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter     

乙烯响应因子ERF参与转基因菊花水培低氧胁迫耐受性的调控

将参与柿果实低氧胁迫响应的异源基因DkERF9转化到切花菊‘九月九’植株中,经PCR检测,获得了5株过量表达（35S︰︰DkERF9）的阳性植株。进一步比较分析了35S︰︰DkERF9植株与野生型植株的耐淹水性,发现水培低氧胁迫处理2周后,35S︰︰DkERF9植株较野生型植物生长缓慢,根系生长和茎的伸长均受到显著抑制,叶片颜色较淡;移除水培低氧胁迫处理3周后,生长部分恢复,但是叶片颜色及整体长势均弱于野生型植株。     

Fruit yield and quality of strawberry plants transformed with a fruit specific strawberry pectate lyase gene

Two transgenic strawberry lines (Pel 1 and Pel 3) containing the open reading frame of a fruit specific strawberry pectate lyase gene (FaplC) under the control of the CaMV35S promoter have been obtained to evaluate the role of this gene on fruit softening. Ripen fruits from both lines showed a significant down-regulation of FaplC, being the percentage of silencing of 84 and 71% on Pel 1 and Pel 3, respectively. The agronomic behaviour of transgenic plants was evaluated during two consecutive years. Fruit set increased in the two transgenic lines when compared with control plants, although Pel 1 showed a significant reduction on fruit weight. Firmness of full ripen fruits from Pel lines was significantly higher than control fruits, while color and soluble solids were not affected. The increase of firmness in Pel lines was maintained when ripe fruits were stored for 3 days at 25 °C. Histological analysis of ripe fruits showed lower intercellular spaces and a higher degree of cell to cell contact area in transgenic fruits when compared with controls. Altogether, these results suggest a direct relationship between pectate lyase gene expression and strawberry fruit softening.     

Transgene expression for Gladiolus plants grown outdoors and in the greenhouse

Transgene expression was evaluated for Gladiolus plants transformed with either the CaMV 35S, double CaMV 35S, rolD, or Arabidopsis UBQ3 promoter controlling the uidA or bean yellow mosaic virus coat protein gene in either the sense or antisense orientation to determine differences in expression for plants grown in the greenhouse and outdoors for two years. There was more variability in GUS expression when plants were grown outdoors than in the greenhouse for two years. Four of the six transformed plant lines with the UBQ3, rolD, and CaMV 35S promoters grown outdoors showed significant differences in GUS expression from year to year as compared to two of the six lines with the UBQ3 and rolD promoters grown in the greenhouse. When grown the same year, two plant lines with the CaMV 35S and one line with the rolD promoter showed 2–16× higher levels of GUS expression outdoors than in the greenhouse, and one plant line with the UBQ3 promoter had 31× higher GUS expression in the greenhouse instead of outdoors. Three of six plant lines transformed with the bean yellow mosaic virus coat protein gene in either the sense or antisense orientation under control of the double CaMV 35S promoter showed obvious transgene expression as compared to three lines that did not show expression or negligible expression for both years when plants were grown both outdoors and in the greenhouse. This study verified long-term gene expression, rather than silencing, for Gladiolus plants when grown outdoors and in the greenhouse from year to year.     

Evaluation of an alternative D-amino acid/DAAO selection system for transformation in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.)

Summary

The conventional selection system for apple transformation is based on the selectable marker gene, nptII, encoding antibiotic resistance against kanamycin. We tested an alternative selection system based on the use of D-amino acids using the gene, D-amino acid oxidase 1 (dao1) as the selectable marker, in order to avoid the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the resulting transgenic apple plants. In addition, dao1 allowed the selection as well as the elimination of dao1-transgenic plants, based on differences in the toxicity of different D-amino acids. Regeneration experiments using apple leaf explants revealed that 2 mM D-serine or D-alanine inhibited shoot regeneration. We performed transformation experiments using the apple cultivars ‘Gala’, ‘Holsteiner Cox’, and a progeny of the apple cultivar ‘Pinova’, and the vector p35S::dao1-intron, containing the dao1 and nptII selectable marker genes. Several shoots regenerated successfully on selection media containing various concentrations of D-serine or D-alanine, but transgenic shoots were not obtained. However, three dao1/nptII transgenic apple lines were obtained after selection with kanamycin, indicating that the vector was functional. Furthermore, we showed that 20 mM D-serine could be used to select dao1-transgenic shoots from non-transgenic in vitro shoots, whereas 13 mM D-isoleucine had the opposite effect.     

Genetic transformation of Citrus sinensis cv. Hamlin with hrpN gene from Erwinia amylovora and evaluation of the transgenic lines for resistance to citrus canker

Transgenic Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb. cv. Hamlin plants expressing the hrpN gene were obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Towns) Conn-mediated transformation. hrpN encodes a harpin protein, which elicits the hypersensitive response and systemic acquired resistance in plants. The gene construct consisted of gst1, a pathogen-inducible promoter, a signal peptide for protein secretion to the apoplast, the selection genes nptII or aacC1 and the Nos terminator. The function of gst1 in citrus was evaluated in transgenic C. sinensis cv. Valencia harboring the reporter gene uidA (gus) driven by this promoter. Histochemical analysis for gus revealed that gst1 is activated in citrus leaves by both wounding and inoculation with Xanthomonas axonopodis Starr and Garces pv. citri (Hasse) Vauterin et al. Genetic transformation was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization in eight cv. Hamlin acclimatized plants. RT-PCR confirmed hrpN gene expression in seven cv. Hamlin transgenic lines before pathogen inoculation. Some hrpN transgenic lines showed severe leaf curling and abnormal growth. Six hrpN transgenic lines were propagated and evaluated for susceptibility to X. axonopodis pv. citri. RT-PCR confirmed gene expression in all six hrpN transgenic lines after pathogen inoculation. Several of the hrpN transgenic lines showed reduction in susceptibility to citrus canker as compared with non-transgenic plants. One hrpN transgenic line exhibited normal vegetative development and displayed very high resistance to the pathogen, estimated as up to 79% reduction in disease severity. This is the first report of genetic transformation of citrus using a pathogen-inducible promoter and the hrpN gene. Further evaluations of the transgenic plants under field conditions are planned. Nevertheless, the evidence to date suggests that the hrpN gene reduces the susceptibility of citrus plants to the canker disease.     

拟南芥耐寒基因AtCOR15a在番茄中异源表达增强其耐寒性

拟南芥耐寒基因AtCOR15a由冷诱导启动子RD29A控制后,重组进双元表达载体,经根癌农杆菌介导,将该基因导入‘Ailsa Craig’番茄。研究发现,筛选出的3个高表达转基因株系的耐寒性比野生型显著增强;外源基因AtCOR15a的表达量在低温处理过程中呈现先增后降的变化趋势,且在处理6h达到最大值;在冷胁迫下,该基因的表达促进了转基因植株中SlDehydrin-like(Sl DEHL)和SlDehydrin Ci7(SlCi7)等内源冷诱导基因的表达,降低了细胞膜透性和丙二醛(MDA)含量,减少了活性氧H_2O_2和O_2~.的积累,增强了超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶等活性氧清除酶的活性,提高了游离脯氨酸含量。因此,AtCOR15a异源表达能够显著增强转基因番茄的耐寒性。     

超敏反应辅助蛋白基因(hrap) 转化番茄的研究

 将可以诱发植物对病原菌抗性的甜椒hrap基因置于35S启动子的驱动下, 经农杆菌介导引入番茄。再生植株经过含卡那霉素的培养基的选择, 后经PCR 检测和Southern杂交鉴定含有目标基因。Northern杂交检测其表达后, 初步的抗菌检验显示其提高了对青枯病原菌的抵抗力。     

DREB类转录因子及其在植物抗逆基因工程改良中的应用进展

DREB(Dehydration responsive element-binding protein)转录因子即脱水应答元件结合蛋白质能特异结合启动子中含有的DRE/CRT(Dehydration-responsive element/C-repeat)顺式元件,激活许多逆境诱导基因的表达,增强植物对逆境的忍耐力。文章综述了DREB类转录因子的结构特征、功能、基因表达调控机制及其在植物抗逆基因工程改良中的应用等方面的研究进展。     

拟南芥At-pri-miR828 基因的克隆及其对番茄的遗传转化

 MicroRNA828（miRNA828）是一种新近发现的生物学功能还未全面研究的miRNA。为从 不同角度阐明miRNA828 的生物学功能,从拟南芥中克隆到At-pri-miR828 基因并构建了该基因过量表达 的植物表达载体pC2300-pOT2-At-pri-miR828,通过农杆菌介导的叶盘法将pC2300-pOT2-At-pri-miR828 导入异源植物番茄品种‘Ailsa Craig’中。PCR 鉴定结果显示,外源基因At-pri-miR828 已成功整合到转 基因番茄基因组中,共获得9 个转基因株系,67 株转基因植株。定量PCR 检测结果显示,与野生型番茄 植株相比,转基因植株中miR828 的表达量显著增加,而生物信息学所预测的miR828 靶基因Sly-myb-like1 的表达水平则相应降低。花青素含量测定结果显示,miR828 过量表达的转基因番茄植株花青素含量明显 低于野生型植株,表明miR828 参与了番茄花青素的生物合成调控。     

百合LfMADS基因植物表达载体的构建及其功能分析

 为了分析百合LfMADS1和LfMADS3基因的功能，分别将其正、反义基因插入到植物组成型双元载体pBin438中，并通过根癌农杆菌LBA4404介导转化烟草。PCR和PCR-Southern杂交结果均证明外源基因已经插入到烟草基因组中。转LfMASD1反义基因植株中1朵花的雄蕊极短、花药缺失；转LfMASD1正义基因植株中发现1个花萼变瓣的突变体。在转LfMASD3反义基因植株中发现1个植株的苞叶部分瓣化，花柄变短，另外1个植株上发现1朵花缺失1枚雄蕊；而转LfMASD3正义基因植株中没有发现变异。作者认为LfMASD1是百合花器官发育的B功能基因，LfMASD3是百合花器官发育的SEP基因，这些基因在烟草中的表现说明百合的花器官特性基因的表达模式与模式植物有所不同。     

利用双T-DNA载体系统获得无选择标记转基因菊花的研究

为获得具有无选择标记的转基因菊花,构建了一个双T-DNA超级双元载体pCAMBIA1301-gus,其中一个T-DNA结构域中含有选择标记基因hpt,另一个T-DNA结构域中含有目的基因gus,而且两个T-DNA结构顺序相连,中间没有其他插入序列。利用农杆菌介导转化菊花幼嫩茎尖薄层细胞,共获得506个抗性植株,通过PCR和Southern杂交检测表明共转化率为38.4%,对其中17个同时整合了hpt和gus基因的植株自交获得的T1代株系进行检测,发现约有15.8%的T1代植株中不含选择标记基因hpt,结果表明双T-DNA载体系统能有效地用于培育无选择标记转基因植物。     

抗黄萎病基因StVe转化番茄的研究

 为了验证克隆自水茄（Solanum torvum Swartz）的StVe基因功能,将StVe连入中间载体p35S-2300::gus::noster的BamHⅠ和SacⅠ位点,取代gus基因构建植物双元表达载体p35S-2300::StVe::noster;用农杆菌介导法转化樱桃番茄22号获得了72株卡那霉素抗性植株,PCR和Southern blot检测确认有5株为阳性植株;RT-PCR结果显示,StVe在转基因番茄植株间的转录水平表达存在差异;PDA平板抑菌实验显示,转StVe基因番茄叶片总可溶蛋白具有抑制番茄黄萎病菌生理小种1（Verticillium dahliae race 1）生长的作用。     

Identification and functional characterisation of a novel anther-specific LTP promoter from Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis

The pollen development-related gene msLTP from Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis belongs to the lipid transfer protein (LTP) gene family. The promoter of the msLTP gene was isolated by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (TAIL-PCR). The functional elements of the promoter (named Bc15) were analysed. Some anther/pollen-specific elements, such as the GGTT box and the GTGA box, were identified in the sequence. In an attempt to confirm the promoter activity, a series of 5′-truncated constructs was fused with the GUS reporter gene to functionally analyse the key regulatory regions of the promoter. Transient expression analysis showed high GUS activity in onion epidermal cells containing the region from ?731 to ?1 bp. The truncated construct bearing the ?731 to ?1 bp fragment was stably introduced into Arabidopsis. Histochemical analysis of the transgenic plants showed distinct and specific GUS expression at different stages of anther/pollen development. Transverse sections of flower buds further indicated that the Bc15 promoter activates reporter gene expression in the anther specifically. These findings elucidated the molecular mechanisms of LTP gene regulation during pollen development, and suggested a potential application of the Bc15 promoter in engineering male sterility for hybrid production.