Cotransformation and differential expression of introduced genes into potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cv Bintje

Summary The Dutch potato cultivar Bintje has been transformed by Agrobacterium strain LBA1060KG, which contains two plasmids carrying three different DNAs (TL- and TR-DNA on the Agrobacterium rhizogenes plasmid and TKG-DNA on the pBI121 plasmid). Several transformed root clones were obtained after transformation of leaf, stem, and tuber segments, and plants were then regenerated from these root clones. The expression of the various marker genes [rol, opine, -glucuronidase (GUS), and neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII)] was determined in several root clones and in regenerated plants. The selection of vigorously growing root clones was as efficient as selection for kanamycin resistance. In spite of the location of NPTII and GUS genes on the same T-DNA, 17% of the root clones did not show GUS activity. Nevertheless, Southern blot analysis showed that these root clones contained at least three copies of the GUS gene. Sixty-four per cent of the root clones contained opines. The expression of these genes, however, was negatively correlated with plant regeneration capacity and normal plant development. The differential expression of the marker genes in the transgenic potato tissues is discussed.     

Generation of Marker- and Backbone-Free Transgenic Potatoes by Site-Specific Recombination and a Bi-Functional Marker Gene in a Non-Regular One-Border Agrobacterium Transformation Vector

A binary vector, designated PROGMO, was constructed to assess the potential of the Zygosaccharomyces rouxii R/Rs recombination system for generating marker- and backbone-free transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants with high transgene expression and low copy number insertion. The PROGMO vector utilises a constitutively expressed plant-adapted R recombinase and a codA-nptII bi-functional, positive/negative selectable marker gene. It carries only the right border (RB) of T-DNA and consequently the whole plasmid will be inserted as one long T-DNA into the plant genome. The recognition sites (Rs) are located at such positions that recombinase enzyme activity will recombine and delete both the bi-functional marker genes as well as the backbone of the binary vector, leaving only the gene of interest flanked by a copy of Rs␣and RB. Efficiency of PROGMO transformation was tested by introduction of the GUS reporter gene into potato. It was shown that after 21 days of positive selection and using 300 mgl⁻¹ 5-fluorocytosine for negative selection, 29% of regenerated shoots carried only the GUS gene flanked by a copy of Rs and RB. The PROGMO vector approach is simple and might be widely applicable for the production of marker- and backbone-free transgenic plants of many crop species.     

In Planta Transformation of Tomato

In this study, in planta transformation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), using fruit injection and floral dip, is reported. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105 containing one of three constructs, i.e., pROKIIAP1GUSint (carrying the Apetala 1 [AP1] gene), pROKIILFYGUSint (carrying the LEAFY [LFY] gene), or p35SGUSint (carrying the β-glucuronidase [GUS] gene), was used for plant transformation. For fruit injection transformation, no significant effects (p > 0.05) of the construct used were observed. The highest frequency of transformation was obtained following 48-h incubation of tomato fruit with bacterial cells harboring either one of the three constructs; transformation frequencies of 17%, 19%, and 21% for AP1, LFY, and GUS gene constructs, respectively, were obtained. When fruit maturity was evaluated in fruit injection experiments, mature red fruit resulted in higher frequency of transformants than immature green fruit with 40%, 35%, and 42% for AP1, LFY, and GUS gene constructs, respectively. For floral dip transformation, a higher number of transformants was obtained when the GUS gene construct was used instead of either the AP1 or LFY gene construct, thus suggesting a possible inhibitory effect of the flowering genes used. When flowers were transformed prior to rather than following pollination, they yielded a higher transformation frequency, 12% for the LFY construct and 23% for the GUS construct (p < 0.05), although no transformant was obtained with the AP1 gene construct. All putative GUS-positive transformants were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and confirmed for the presence of the transgene. Compared to control plants, transgenic plants carrying either the AP1 or LFY transgene flowered earlier and showed several different morphological characters.     

Transposon-mediated generation of T-DNA- and marker-free rice plants expressing a Bt endotoxin gene

Transposon-mediated repositioning of transgenes is an attractive strategy to generate plants that are free of selectable markers and T-DNA inserts. By using a minimal number of transformation events a large number of transgene insertions in the genome can be obtained so as to benefit from position effects in the genome that can contribute to higher levels of expression. We constructed a Bacillus thuringiensis synthetic cry1B gene expressed under control of the maize ubiquitin promoter between minimal terminal inverted repeats of the maize Ac-Ds transposon system, which was cloned in the 5' untranslated sequence of a gfp gene used as an excision marker. The T-DNA also harboured the Ac transposase gene driven by the CaMV 35S promoter and the hph gene conferring resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin. Sixty-eight independent rice (Oryza sativa L.) transformants were regenerated and molecularly analysed revealing excision and reinsertion of the Ds-cry1B element in 37% and 25% respectively of the transformation events. Five independent transformants harbouring 2–4 reinserted Ds-Cry1B copies were analysed in the T1 progeny, revealing 0.2 to 1.4 new transpositions per plant. Out segregation of the cry1B gene from the T-DNA insertion site was observed in 17 T1 plants, representing 10 independent repositioning events without selection. Western analysis of leaf protein extracts of these plants revealed detectable Cry1B in all the plants indicating efficient expression of the transgene reinsertions. Stability of position and expression of the cry1B transgene was further confirmed in T2 progeny of T-DNA-free T1 plants. New T-DNA-free repositioning events were also identified in T2 progenies of T1 plants heterozygous for the T-DNA. Furthermore, preliminary whole plant bioassay of T-DNA-free lines challenged with striped stem borer larvae suggested that they are protected against SSB attacks. These results indicate that transposon mediated relocation of the gene of interest is a powerful method for generating T-DNA integration site-free transgenic plants and exploiting favourable position effects in the plant genome.     

Developmentally regulated site-specific marker gene excision in transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">B. napus</Emphasis> plants

We have developed a self-excision Cre-vector to remove marker genes from Brassica napus. In this vector cre recombinase gene and bar expression cassette were inserted between two lox sites in direct orientation. These lox-flanked sequences were placed between the seed-specific napin promoter and the gene of interest (vstI). Tissue-specific cre activation resulted in simultaneous excision of the recombinase and marker genes. The vector was introduced into B. napus by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. F1 progeny of seven lines with single and multiple transgene insertions was subjected to segregation and molecular analysis. Marker-free plants could be detected and confirmed by PCR and Southern blot in all transgenic lines tested. The recombination efficiency expressed as a ratio of plants with complete gene excision to the total number of investigated plants varied from 13 to 81% dependent on the transgene copy number. Potential application of this system would be the establishment of marker-free transgenic plants in generatively propagated species.     

Silicon Carbide Whisker-Mediated Embryogenic Callus Transformation of Cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.) and Regeneration of Salt Tolerant Plants

A silicon carbide whisker-mediated gene transfer system with recovery of fertile and stable transformants was developed for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. Coker-312. Two-month-old hypocotyl-derived embryogenic/non-embryogenic calli at different days after subculture were treated with silicon carbide whiskers for 2 min in order to deliver pGreen0029 encoding GUS gene and pRG229 AVP1 gene, encoding Arabidopsis vacuolar pyrophosphatase, having neomycin phosphotransferaseII (nptII) genes as plant-selectable markers. Three crucial transformation parameters, i.e., callus type, days after subculture and selection marker concentration for transformation of cotton calli were evaluated for optimum efficiency of cotton embryogenic callus transformation giving upto 94% transformation efficiency. Within six weeks, emergence of kanamycin-resistant (km^r) callus colonies was noted on selection medium. GUS and Southern blot analysis showed expression of intact and multiple transgene copies in the transformed tissues. Kanamycin wiping of leaves from T₁, T₂, and T₃ progeny plants revealed that transgenes were inherited in a Mendelian fashion. Salt treatment of T₁ AVP1 transgenic cotton plants showed significant enhancement in salt tolerance as compared to control plants. Thus far, this is first viable physical procedure after particle bombardment available for cotton that successfully can be used to generate fertile cotton transformants.     

The relationship between homozygous and hemizygous transgene expression levels over generations in populations of transgenic rice plants

Segregating T₁, T₂ and T₃ transgenic rice populations, derived from independent particle-bombardment-mediated transformation events were examined in order to assess the effect of gene dosage on transgene expression levels and stability. The expression level of the unselected β-glucuronidase (gusA) reporter gene was quantified in plants from these populations. The gusA gene dosage was determined by segregation analysis of progeny seedlings at the structural level (by PCR) and at the expression level. For some transformation events a gene dosage effect on transgene expression was observed, leading to higher transgene expression levels in homozygous progeny than in hemizygous progeny or primary transgenic plants. However, in many other transformation events, the homozygous state appears to be disadvantageous, being associated with lower transgene expression levels, gene silencing or counter-selection of homozygous plants across generations. Change of gene dosage is probably one of the key factors influencing transgene expression levels and stability in transgenic rice. This is particularly important when considering molecular genetic studies and crop improvement programmes. The possible influence of matrix attachment regions (MARs) in increasing the likelihood of an additive effect on transgene expression level is discussed. Received: 21 March 2001 / Accepted: 29 June 2001     

Estimating number of transgene copies in transgenic rapeseed by real-time PCR assay with<Emphasis Type="Italic">HMG I/Y</Emphasis> as an endogenous reference gene

In transgenic plants, the number of transgene copies can greatly influence the level of expression and genetic stability of the target gene. Transgene copy numbers are estimated by Southern blot analysis, which is laborious and time-consuming, requires relatively large amounts of plant materials, and may involve hazardous radioisotopes. Here we report the development of a sensitive, convenient real-time PCR technique for estimating the number of transgene copies in transgenic rapeseed. This system uses TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR and comparison with a novel, confirmed single-copy endogenous reference gene, high-mobile-group protein I/Y (HMG I/Y), to determine the numbers of copies of exogenous β-glucuronidase (GUS) and neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) genes. TheGUS andnptII copy numbers in primary transformants (T₀) were calculated by comparing threshold cycle (C _T) values of theGUS andnptII genes with those of the internal standard,HMG I/Y. This method is more convenient and accurate than Southern blotting because the number of copies of the exogenous gene could be directly deduced by comparing itsC _T value to that of the single-copy endogenous gene in each sample. Unlike other similar procedures of real-time PCR assay, this method does not require identical amplification efficiencies between the PCR systems for target gene and endogenous reference gene, which can avoid the bias that may result from slight variations in amplification efficiencies between PCR systems of the target and endogenous reference genes.     

MicroTom—a high-throughput model transformation system for functional genomics

We have developed a high-throughput Agrobacterium-mediated transformation model system using both nptII and the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain CP4 (cp4) based selections in MicroTom, a miniature rapid-cycling cherry tomato variety. With the NPTII selection system, transformation frequency calculated as independent transgenic events per inoculated explant ranged from 24 to 80% with an average of 56%, in industrial production scale transformation experiments. For CP4, with glyphosate selection, the average transformation frequency was 57%. Stable transformation frequency was positively correlated with transient expression (R=0.85), and variable with the genes of interest. DNA integration and germline transformation were confirmed by biological assay, Southern Blot analysis, and R₁ phenotype segregation. Transgene expression was observed in leaf, root, stem, flower, and fruit tissues of the transgenic plants. Ninety-five percent of transgenic events coexpressed two introduced genes based on β-glucuronidase (GUS) and neonmycin phosphotransferase II (NPTII) expression. Seventy-five percent of transgenic events contained one to two copies of the introduced uidA (GUS) gene based on Southern analysis. Transgenic plants from the cotyledon explants to the transgenic plants transferred to soil were produced within about 2–3 months depending on the genes of interest. The utility of this MicroTom model transformation system for functional genomic studies, such as identification of genes related to important agricultural traits and gene function, is discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated creeping bentgrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrostis stolonifera</Emphasis> L.) transformation using phosphinothricin selection results in a high frequency of single-copy transgene integration

Genetic transformation of creeping bentgrass mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been achieved. Embryogenic callus initiated from seeds (cv. Penn-A-4) was infected with an A. tumefaciens strain (LBA4404) harboring a super-binary vector that contained an herbicide-resistant bar gene driven either by the CaMV 35S promoter or a rice ubiquitin promoter. Plants were regenerated from 219 independent transformation events. The overall stable transformation efficiency ranged from 18% to 45%. Southern blot and genetic analysis confirmed transgene integration in the creeping bentgrass genome and normal transmission and stable expression of the transgene in the T₁ generation. All independent transformation events carried one to three copies of the transgene, and a majority (60–65%) contained only a single copy of the foreign gene with no apparent rearrangements. We report here the successful use of Agrobacterium for the large-scale production of transgenic creeping bentgrass plants with a high frequency of a single-copy transgene insertion that exhibit stable inheritance patterns.Abbreviations 2,4-D: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - bar: Bialaphos resistance gene - GUS: -Glucuronidase - PPT: Phosphinothricin - ubi: Ubiquitin Communicated by J.M. Widholm     

Stable transformation of Sorghum bicolor protoplasts with chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase II and β-glucuronidase genes

Summary Parameters influencing the stable transformation of Sorghum bicolor protoplasts with a chimeric neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) gene by electroporation were investigated. The mean number of kanamycin-resistant calli produced increased in direct proportion to the concentration of DNA used for transformation. Linearization of the plasmid doubled the mean number of kanamycin-resistant calli produced, while the addition of carrier DNA had no effect. The copy number (1–4) of integrated genes was low compared with that frequently reported for PEG-mediated transformation. Two strategies for transforming protoplasts with a nonselectable, -glucuronidase (GUS) gene were compared. One utilized a plasmid containing a CaMV 35S-NPT II gene covalently linked to a CaMV 35S-GUS gene, and the other strategy utilized the two genes on separate plasmids. DNA from all 77 kanamycin-resistant calli analyzed contained restriction fragments hybridizing to the NPT II probe; approximately 70% of the clones from all transformation treatments contained a 1.7-kb EcoRI/HindIII restriction fragment corresponding to the full-length gene. Of the kanamycin-resistant calli, 38–63% (depending on the transformation treatment) contained GUS-hybridizing fragments, and 8–19% contained the full-length gene. The addition of NPT II and GUS genes on a single plasmid or on separate plasmids did not appear to lead to an appreciable difference in the frequency of cointegration of these genes, although an increased proportion of the plasmid bearing the nonselectable (GUS) gene appeared to favor its cointegration.     

Characterisation of T-DNA loci and vector backbone sequences in transgenic wheat produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Detailed molecular characterisation of transgene loci is a requirement for gaining regulatory approval for environmental release of genetically modified crops. In cereals, it is generally accepted that Agrobacterium-mediated transformation generates cleaner transgene loci with lower copy number and fewer rearrangements than those generated by biolistics. However, in wheat there has been little detailed analysis of T-DNA insertions at genetic and molecular level. Wheat lines transformed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens with bar and gusA (GUS) genes were subjected to genetic and molecular analysis. Unlike previous studies of transgene loci in wheat, we used functional assays for PAT and GUS proteins, combined with PCR and Southern analysis to detect the presence, copy number, linkage and transmission of two transgenes inserted in the same T-DNA. Thirty-four independent transgenic lines were categorised into three types: type I events (38% of total) where the gusA and bar genes displayed complete genetic linkage, segregating together as a single functional locus at the expected ratio of 3:1; type II events (18%), which possessed two or more transgene loci each containing gusA and bar; and type III events (44%), containing an incomplete T-DNA in which either the gusA or bar gene was lost. Most lines in this last category had lost the bar gene situated near the left T-DNA border. Southern analysis indicated that 30% of all lines possessed a single T-DNA copy containing gusA and bar. However, when data on expression and molecular analysis are combined, only 23% of all lines have single copy T-DNAs in which both gene cassettes are functioning. We also report on the presence of plasmid backbone DNA sequence in transgene loci detected using primer pairs outside the left and right T-DNA borders and within the plasmid selectable marker (NptI) gene. Approximately two thirds of the lines contained some vector backbone DNA, more frequently adjacent to the left border. Taken together, these data imply unstable left border function causing premature T-strand termination or read-through into vector backbone. As far as we are aware, this is the first report revealing near border T-DNA truncation and vector backbone integration in wheat transgenic lines produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.     

Biolistic transformation of wheat: increased production of plants with simple insertions and heritable transgene expression

The feasibility of map-based cloning in wheat has been demonstrated recently, opening new perspectives for a better understanding of wheat plant biology and for accelerating wheat improvement in the coming decades. To validate the function of candidate genes, an efficient transformation system is needed. Here, we have performed two methods for wheat transformation using particle bombardment that ensures the production of transgenic plants with simple integration patterns for research purposes and stable transgene expression for accurate and rapid validation of gene function. To establish this method, we used the bar and pmi selectable genes either as part of whole plasmids, gene cassettes (obtained by PCR or purified on agarose gels), or as dephosphorylated cassettes. The analysis of about 300 transgenic plants showed that the use of gene cassettes or dephosphorylated gene cassettes leads to a majority (50–60 %) of simple integration events. This is significantly higher than the number of simple events obtained with whole plasmids (9–25 %). Moreover, the decrease of the quantity of DNA from 500 to 5 ng/µl for PCR-amplified cassettes used for transformation increased the number of single integration events. The transformation efficiency remained stable at 2.5 %, and a higher number of plants expressing the transgenes were obtained with the dephosphorylated cassette. No correlation was observed between the complexity of the events and stability of expression of the transgene, suggesting that plasmid sequences could be involved on transgene silencing. The inheritability of the transgene was demonstrated in T1 and T2 generations. These results show that biolistic transformation of dephosphorylated gene cassettes provides an easy and efficient route to produce backbone vector-free transgenic wheat carrying and expressing intact and single transgenes.     

Production of herbicide-resistant transgenic sweet potato plants through <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis> method

Transgenic herbicide-resistant sweet potato plants [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] were produced through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Embryogenic calli derived from shoot apical meristems were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the pCAMBIA3301 vector containing the bar gene encoding phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) and the gusA gene encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS). The PPT-resistant calli and plants were selected with 5 and 2.5 mg l⁻¹ PPT, respectively. Soil-grown plants were obtained 28–36 weeks after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Genetic transformation of the regenerated plants growing under selection was demonstrated by PCR, and Southern blot analysis revealed that one to three copies of the transgene were integrated into the plant genome of each transgenic plant. Expression of the bar gene in transgenic plants was confirmed by RT-PCR and application of herbicide. Transgenic plants sprayed with Basta containing 900 mg l⁻¹ of glufosinate ammonium remained green and healthy. The transformation frequency was 2.8% determined by herbicide application which was high when compared to our previous biolistic method. In addition, possible problems with multiple copies of transgene were also discussed. We therefore report here a successful and reliable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the bar gene conferring herbicide-resistance and this method may be useful for routine transformation and has the potential to develop new varieties of sweet potato with several important genes for value-added traits such as enhanced tolerance to the herbicide Basta.     

A tobacco matrix attachment region reduces the loss of transgene expression in the progeny of transgenic tobacco plants

The RB7 matrix attachment region (MAR), when flanking a uidA (GUS) reporter gene, has been previously shown to increase uidA gene expression by 60-fold in stably transformed tobacco suspension cell lines. We have now used the same co-transformation procedure to determine the effect of flanking MARs on uidA gene expression in tobacco plants. The neomycin phosphotransferase selection gene and uidA reporter gene on separate plasmids were co-transformed into seedlings by microprojectile bombardment. In primary transgenic plants, the average uidA expression in plants with MARs was twofold greater than in control plants without MARs, but there was no effect on variation of expression. GUS activity was not proportional to the number of integrated uidA transgenes over the entire range of copy numbers. However, in the lower part of the copy number range, MAR lines show a tendency for expression to increase with copy number. Transgene expression in backcross progenies of the MAR-containing lines averaged threefold higher than in control progenies. MARs also reduced the loss of transgene expression in the BC₁ generation. Sixty-three per cent of the 21 MAR-containing primary transformants, but only 20% of the 14 control primary transformants, produced backcross progenies in which no loss of transgene expression was observed. These observations are discussed in the context of homology-dependent gene silencing.