Maternal Effects of mto1 Mutation, That Causes Overaccumulation of Soluble Methionine, on the Expression of a Soybean {beta}Conglycinin Gene Promoter-GUS Fusion in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

ß-Conglycinin, the 7S seed storage protein of soybean(Glycine max [L.] Merr.), is comprised mainly of three subunits,designated , ' and ß. Expression of the gene encodingthe ß subunit is unique because its expression hasbeen shown to be down-regulated by exogenously applied L-methioninein immature soybean cotyledon cultures in vitro. Arabidopsisthaliana strain carrying a mto1-1 mutation overaccumulates solublemethionine. By using this mutant, we analyzed the effects ofmethionine on expression of the ß subunit gene invivo. Reciprocal crosses were made between the mto1-1 mutantand a transgenic A. thaliana strain, designated SNTß3,which carries a ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter geneunder the control of the promoter region of the ßsubunit gene. Analysis of GUS activity in F₁ seeds indicatedthat the GUS activity was dramatically repressed when the mto1-1mutant plants were used as female parents. We constructed astrain which carries both the transgene and mto1-1 mutationin the homozygous state. Analyses of the GUS activity in seedsof this double homozygous strain indicated that the GUS activitywas repressed to 2.5% of control by introduction of the mto1-1mutation. These results indicate that the ß subunitgene promoter activity in seeds is down-regulated by maternalgenotype and suggest that soluble methionine, or its mobilemetabolite, is translocated from mother plants to repress ßsubunit gene expression in seeds. ⁵Present address: Division of Biological Sciences, GraduateSchool of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060Japan ⁶Present address: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture,The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113 Japan     

Tissue-Dependent Expression of the Rice wx+ Gene Promoter in Transgenic Rice and Petunia

The waxy (wx) locus, which controls the amylose synthesis, isknown to be expressed specifically in the endosperm and pollen.To study the tissue-specific regulation of the wx⁺ gene, weintroduced a fusion gene that consisted of the upstream sequenceof the wx⁺ gene and the gene for rß-glucuronidase(GUS) into cells of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and petunia (Petuniahybrida L.). GUS activity was examined in the regenerated transgenicrice and petunia plants. In transgenic rice, the upstream sequenceof the wx⁺ gene was sufficient to direct the tissue-specificexpression of GUS in the endosperm and pollen, and the controlof expression was quantitative. By contrast, in transgenic petunia,the same fusion gene was expressed in pollen but not in theendosperm. These results suggest that the putative cis-actingelements that direct pollen-specific expression are common toor similar in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants,whereas ciy-elements responsible for the endosperm-specificexpression of the rice wx⁺ gene do not function in petunia,in which development of the endosperm differs from that in rice. ⁴Present address: Division of Biological Sciences, GraduateSchool of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060Japan     

The Mode of Expression and Promoter Analysis of the arcA Gene, an Auxin-Regulated Gene in Tobacco BY-2 Cells

The arcA, a member of the G protein rß-subunit family,was isolated from tobacco BY-2 cells as an auxin-responsivegene. Characterization of arcA, which should help to elucidatethe function of the gene product in the plant cells, was performedwith emphasis on the mode of expression and the analysis ofits promoter. Accumulation of the arcA message was detectedonly after treatments with auxins and not after treatments withother phytohormones or CdCl₂, implying that responsiveness ofarcA was exclusive to auxin. The putative arcA promoter regionwas fused to a reporter gene for rß-glucuronidase(GUS), and transient expression was analyzed in tobacco BY-2cells. Two series of arcA promoter/GUS chimeric genes were constructed.One consisted of a set of 5' nested deletions of the arcA promoterconnected to the gene for GUS and the other consisted of a varietyof the arcA promoter fragments fused to a minimal promoter-GUSconstruct. The results indicated that the promoter sequencecovering four sets of direct repeats (– 562 to –167)was necessary for the sufficient response of arcA promoter toauxin in BY-2 cells. Moreover, irrespective of auxin treatment,elevated activity of GUS driven by this promoter fragment wasdetected, a result that implies that this region behaves anenhancer in BY-2 cells. (Received September 30, 1995; Accepted March 1, 1996)     

Different Sets of cis-Elements Contribute to the Expression of a Catalase Gene from Castor Bean during Seed Formation and Postembryonic Development in Transgenic Tobacco

Deletion analysis of the promoter region of a gene for catalase,cat2, from castor bean (Ricinus communis) was performed to identifythe cis-regulatory elements responsible for the expression ofa rß-glucuronidase (GUS) fusion gene during seed formationand postembryonic development in transgenic tobacco. The analysisshowed that multiple cis-elements contribute to the activityof the cat2 promoter during seed formation and postembryonicdevelopment. The 5'-upstream regions from –1,241 to –816bp, from –720 to –682 bp, and from –632 to–535 bp, relative to the site of initiation of translationof cat2, contributed positively to the activity of the cat2promoter during both stages. By contrast, the region from –816to –720 bp had a negative effect at both stages. The regionfrom –682 to –632 bp contributed positively to theactivity during seed formation but negatively during postembyonicdevelopment. Histochemical analysis revealed that the multiplecis-elements determined not only the level of expression ofthe chimeric gene but also the tissue-specificity of such expression.For example, the region from –1,241 to –816 bp allowedexpression of the chimeric gene in the axis of the embryo ofthe dry seed, as well as in the cortex of the middle part ofthe hypocotyl and at the base of epicotyl in the young seedling. ¹Present address: Department of Plant Molecular and Cell Biology,University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-0511, U.S.A. ²Present address: Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics,Mie University, 1515 Kamihama, Tsu, Mie, 519 Japan ³Present address: Faculty of Biotechnology, Fukui PrefecturalUniversity, 4-1-1 Kenjojima, Matsuoka-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui,910-11 Japan     

Expression of gus in somatic embryo cultures of black spruce after microprojectile bombardment

Immature embryos (stage I) and cotyledonary somatic embryos(stage III) of black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill) B.S.P.] werebombarded with tungsten particles coated with a gene constructcontaining the fusion of gus:: nptll. GUS (ß-glucuronidase)activity was monitored histochemically with X-gluc giving ablue colour where transient gene expression was detected inthe bombarded tissues. A high transient expression of gus wasobserved in stage I embryo cultures 2 d after bombardment (202GUS foci per 300 mg tissue). GUS activity had substantiallydiminished in this material 14 d after bombardment, when grownin liquid LP maintenance medium containing BA (4.4µM),2,4-D (9µM) and 1% sucrose. However, when stage I embryoswere cultured on LP maturation medium containing BA (40 µM),IBA (1 µM), 3.4% sucrose and 0.8% agar, GUS activity after2 d was 335 GUS foci per 300 mg tissue, and the activity wasdetected until 30 d after bombardment. With stage III somaticembryos cultured on LP maintenance medium, 92% showed GUS activity2d after bombardment (16 GUS foci per embryo), and 31 % showedactivity 30 d after bombardment (4 GUS foci per embryo). GUSactivity was still evident in 12% of the embryos (2 GUS fociper embryo) 45 d after bombardment. Key words: Black spruce, gus = E. coli geneuid A encoding ß-glucuronidase, nptll = gene encoding neomycin phos-photransferase, somatic embryos     

Direct Transfer of Plasmid DNA from Intact Yeast Spheroplasts into Plant Protoplasts

We developed a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated direct DNAtransfer method from intact Saccharomyces cerevisiae spheroplastsinto Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts. To monitor the DNA transferfrom yeast to plant cells, ß-glucuronidase (GUS) reportergene in which a plant intron was inserted was used as a reporter.This intron-GUS reporter gene on a 2µm-based plasmid vectorwas not expressed in yeast transformants, while it expressedGUS activity when the plasmid DNA was introduced into plantcells. When a mixture of 1 x 10⁸ of S. cerevisiae spheroplastsharboring the plasmid and 2 x 10⁶ of A. thaliana protoplastswas treated with PEG and high pH-high Ca²⁺ solution (0.4 M mannitol,50 mM CaCl₂, 50 mM glycine-NaOH pH 10.5), GUS activity was detectedin the extract of the plant cells after a three-day culture.The GUS activity was higher than that of a reconstitution experimentin which the mixture of 1 x 10⁸ of S. cerevisiae spheroplastswhich did not carry the reporter gene, 2 x 10⁶ of A. thalianaprotoplasts and the same amount of the reporter plasmid DNAas that contained in 1 x 10⁸ of S. cerevisiae spheroplasts,was treated with PEG and high pH-high Ca²⁺ solution. Moreover,the GUS gene expression was resistant to micrococcal nucleasetreatment before and during PEG treatment. From these results,we concluded that plasmid DNA can be directly transferred fromintact yeast spheroplasts to plant protoplasts by a nuclease-resistantprocess, possibly by the cell fusion. ²Deceased on September 15, 1992.     

Expression in Yeast of a Fusion Gene Composed of the Promoter of a Heat-Shock Gene from Arabidopsis and a Bacterial Gene for {beta}-Glucuronidase

Production of a functional ß-glucuronidase (GUS) proteinwas induced by exposure of exponentially growing yeast cellsto heat shock after transformation of the GUS gene under thecontrol of the promoter of the heat-shock gene, HSP18.2, fromArabidopsis. Yeast cyr and bcy mutations appeared to have essentiallyno effect. ¹Present Address: Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology, TheRockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021-6399,U.S.A.     

Regulated Expression of a Gene-Fusion Product Derived from the Gene for Phytochrome I from Pisum sativum and the uidA Gene from E. coli in Transgenic Petunia hybrida

The 5'-upstream region (2.4 kb) of the gene for phytochromeI from Pisum sativum (phyl) was fused to the uidA gene fromEscherichia coli that encodes ß-glucuronidase (GUS).The resulting PHY-GUS fusion was introduced into Petunia hybridaand was used as a reporter of the expression of the phyI genewhich was recognized by GUS activity. The PHY-GUS fusion wasexpressed at a relatively high level when transgenic plantswere grown in the dark, while leaves and stems of light-grownplants showed background activity. Flowers of light-grown plantswere shown to have significant levels of GUS activity but rootsdid not have such activity. When light-grown transgenic plantswere transferred to the dark, they expressed the activity atlevels that corresponded to those of dark-grown plants. Lighttreatment prior to growth in darkness revealed red/far-red reversibilityof recovery of the activity. Thus, the 2.4-kb fragment fromthe 5' region of the phyI gene carries the information necessaryfor the light-repressible autoregulation. (Received March 30, 1991; Accepted May 20, 1991)     

Transient Expression of Exogenous DNA in Intact, Viable Wheat Embryos Following Particle Bombardment

Expression of foreign DNA has been detected in intact, germinatingwheat embryos (Triticum aestivum L.) following bombardment withtungsten particles complexed with a reporter gene encoding thebacterial enzyme ß-glucuronidase (‘GUS’:E.C.3.2.1.31). Expression was detected in situ in individualcells and groups of cells, by supplying the germinating embryoswith the chromogenic substrate of the GUS enzyme, ‘X-gluc’.Expression was dependent on the presence of a constitutive plantpromoter, the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus ‘35S’ promoter,fused to the GUS structural coding sequence. The relative simplicityof this technique recommends its future use for the assay ofregulatory elements which control the spatial and temporal specificityof genes expressed during embryo development. Key words: Transient expression, particle bombardment, wheat embryo, Triticum aestivum L.     

Ethylene-Induced Gene Expression of Osmotin-Like Protein, a Neutral Isoform of Tobacco PR-5, is Mediated by the AGCCGCC eft-Sequence

Osmotin-like protein (OLP) is a neutral isoform in the group5 pathogenesis-related (PR) tobacco proteins. The OLP gene,like the basic PR protein genes, is constitutively expressedin tobacco roots and cultured cells. OLP is not naturally presentin intact healthy leaves, but ethylene treatment induces a highaccumulation there. To study the mechanism of OLP gene expressionas induced by ethylene, we cloned the gene from Nicotiana sylvestris,an ancestor of N. tabacum. Sequence analysis showed that ithas no intron and that its promoter region contains two AGCCGCCsequences that are conserved in most basic PR-protein genes.The function of the AGCCGCC sequences in transgenic tobaccoplants that harbor the wild and mutated OLP promoter::GUS fusiongenes was analyzed. Mutation in the AGCCGCC sequences clearlyinhibited the GUS expression induced by ethylene, indicativethat the AGCCGCC sequence(s) is a DNA element(s) responsiveto ethylene. An EREBP2 protein, isolated as one of the proteinsbinding the AGCCGCC sequence of the tobacco rß-1,3-glucanasegene, also was found to bind to the AGCCGCC sequence(s) of OLPgene. These results suggest that the ethylene-induced expressionof OLP is regulated by trans-acting factor(s) common to basicPR-proteins. (Received November 13, 1995; Accepted January 17, 1996)     

Expression of foreign genes, GUS and hygromycin resistance, in the halophyte Kosteletzkya virginica in response to bombardment with the Particle Inflow Gun

A ‘Particle Inflow Gun’ was constructed to introducethe glucuronidase (GUS) and hygromycin resistance genes intohalophytic suspension cells of Kosteletzkya virginica. The transientexpression of the GUS gene was associated with the cell cultureconditions, physical parameters during the use of the ParticleInflow Gun, and different promoters coupled to GUS. When theCaMV35S promoter was used, the cells adapted at 85 mM NaCl hada similar gene transfer efficiency to those of the non-salt-adaptedcontrol, while expression was less in the 170 mM and 255 mMNaCl-adapted cells. Both elevating bombardment pressure to 1.65mPa and shortening the distance between the cells and the particleholder from 21 cm to 9 cm enhanced GUS expression in the cellsgrown in four salinity treatments. An ABA-responsive promoterinduced the expression of the GUS gene either with 10^–4M ABA or with salts in the post-bombardment medium in both controland NaCl-adapted cell tines. Stable transgenic callus lineswere isolated by using hygromycin containing medium after bombardingthe suspension cells with the Particle Inflow Gun. The presenceof the GUS gene in stable transformants was confirmed not onlyby histochemical and fluorimetric assays for the GUS activity,but also by Southern hybridization of RT-PCR amplified mANA. Key words: Transgenic hatophyte, Particle Inflow Gun, bombardment, salt tolerance, transformation     

Effects of Fluorogibberellins on Plant Growth and Gibberellin 3r{beta}-Hydroxylases

3rß-Fluorogibberellin A₉ (3rß-fluoro-GA₉),3rßfluoro-GA₂₀, 3rß-fluorodeoxygibberellinC (3rß-fluoro-DGC) and 13-fluoro-GA₉ were prepared,and their effects on plant growth and gibberellin (GA) 3rß-hydroxyIaseswere examined. 3rß-Fluoro-GA₉ and 3rß-fluoro-GA₂₀promoted the growth of dwarf rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Tan-ginbozu)seedlings to three times higher than the control seedlings ata dosage of 3 µ plant^–1, and 3rßfluoro-DGCto twice higher at the same dosage. 3rßg-Fluoro-GA₉was active in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) hypocotyl assay,its activity being about one-thirtieth as much as that of GA₄.3rß-Fluoro-GAs were active per se in promoting theshoot elongation of rice. 3rß-Fluoro-DGC inhibitedthe 3rß-hydroxylation of [³H₂]GA₉ to [³H]GA₄ by GArß-hydroxylase from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.),but 3rß-fluoro-GA₉ and 3rß-fluoro-GA₂₀ didnot show any effects on the enzyme activity. These 3rß-fluoro-GAsalso showed no or only a weak inhibitory effect on the rß-hydroxylasefrom pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.). 13-Fluoro-GA₉ promoted growthof rice and cucumber seedlings, and inhibited the 3rß-hydroxylasesfrom both bean and cucumber. 13-Fluoro-GA₉was converted into13-fluoro-GA₄ and 2,3-didehydro-13-fluoro-GA₉, in a cell-freesystem from bean, and conversion of 13-fluoro-GA₉ into 13-fluoro-GA₄was also observed in a cell-free system from pumpkin. Theseresults suggest that 13-fluoro-GA₉ is one of the substratesof GA 3rß-hydroxy-lases, and that 13-fluoro-GA₉ isactive as a result of the conversion to 13-fluoro-GA₄ in riceand cucumber seedlings. (Received October 27, 1997; Accepted March 13, 1998)