Functional Analysis of Two Matrix Attachment Region (MAR) Elements in Transgenic Maize Plants

Matrix attachment regions (MARs) are binding sites for nuclear scaffold proteins in vitro, and are proposed to mediate the attachment of chromatin to the nuclear scaffold in vivo. Previous reports suggest that MAR elements may stabilize transgene expression. Here, we tested the effects of two maize MAR elements (P-MAR from the P1-rr gene, and Adh1-MAR from the adh1 gene) on the expression of a gusA reporter gene driven by three different promoters: the maize p1 gene promoter, a wheat peroxidase (WP) gene promoter, or a synthetic promoter (Rsyn7). The inclusion of P-MAR or Adh1-MAR on P::GUS transgene constructs did not reduce variation in the levels of GUS activity among independent transformation events, nor among the progeny derived from each event. The Adh1-MAR element did not affect GUS expression driven by the WP promoter, but did modify the spatial pattern of expression of the Rsyn7::GUS transgene. These results indicate that, in transgenic maize plants, the effects of MAR elements can vary significantly depending upon the promoter used to drive the transgene.     

Transgene expression in Penaeus monodon cells: evaluation of recombinant baculoviral vectors with shrimp specific hybrid promoters

It has been realized that shrimp cell immortalization may not be accomplished without in vitro transformation by expressing immortalizing gene in cells. In this process, efficiency of transgene expression is confined to the ability of vectors to transmit gene of interests to the genome. Over the years, unavailability of such vectors has been hampering application of such a strategy in shrimp cells. We report the use of recombinant baculovirus mediated transduction using hybrid promoter system for transgene expression in lymphoid cells of Penaeus monodon. Two recombinant baculovirus vectors with shrimp viral promoters (WSSV-Ie1 and IHHNV-P2) were constructed (BacIe1-GFP and BacP2-GFP) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) used as the transgene. The GFP expression in cells under the control of hybrid promoters, PH-Ie1 or PH-P2, were analyzed and confirmed in shrimp cells. The results indicate that the recombinant baculovirus with shrimp specific viral promoters (hybrid) can be employed for delivery of foreign genes to shrimp cells for in vitro transformation.     

Optimization of sorghum transformation parameters using genes for green fluorescent protein and beta-glucuronidase as visual markers

Early and reliable detection of plant transformation events is essential for establishing efficient transformation protocols. We have compared the effectiveness of using the gene encoding a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a beta-glucuronidase (gus) as reporter genes for early detection of transgene expression in explants subjected to biolistic bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The results indicate that gfp gene is superior to gus gene in following transgene expression in transiently transformed materials in both methods of transformation. Using GFP as the screenable marker, we have optimized sorghum transformation with respect to the conditions for transformation, type of explants, promoters, and inbreds. These optimized conditions have been used to obtain stably transformed explants for subsequent regeneration.     

Tissue-specific expression in transgenic maize of four endosperm promoters from maize and rice

The tissue-specific, developmental, and genetic control of four endosperm-active genes was studied via expression of GUS reporter genes in transgenic maize plants. The transgenes included promoters from the maize granule-bound starch synthase (Waxy) gene (zmGBS), a maize 27 kDa zein gene (zmZ27), a rice small subunit ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (osAGP) and the rice glutelin 1 gene (osGT1). Most plants had a transgene expression profile similar to that of the endogenous gene: expression in the pollen and endosperm for the zmGBS transgene, and endosperm only for the others. Histological analysis indicated expression initiated at the periphery of the endosperm for zmGBS, zmZ27 and osGT1, while osAGP transgene activity tended to start in the lower portion of the seed. Transgene expression at the RNA level was proportional to GUS activity, and did not influence endogenous gene expression. Genetic analysis showed that there was a positive dosage response with most lines. Activity of the zmGBS transgene was threefold higher in a low starch (shrunken2) genetic background. This effect was not seen with zmZ27 or osGT1 transgenes. The expression of the transgenes is discussed relative to the known behaviour of the endogenous genes, and the developmental programme of the maize endosperm     

TM2, a novel strong matrix attachment region isolated from tobacco, increases transgene expression in transgenic rice calli and plants

Nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs) are thought to influence the expression of the flanking genes. TM2, a new DNA fragment isolated from tobacco, can bind with the rice nuclear matrix in vitro. In this study, we investigated the effect of TM2 on transgene expression under the control of three different promoters in stably transformed rice calli and plants. The presence of TM2 flanking the transgene increased the expression of constructs based on the constitutive CaMV 35S and maize ubiquitin gene promoters in both resistant calli and transformed plants. The GUS expression directed by the photosynthetic-tissue-specific PNZIP promoter was also increased in photosynthetic tissues of transformants. However, TM2 did not change the gene expression pattern controlled by the PNZIP promoter. The effect of TM2 in transgenic plants was stronger than that in transgenic calli based on all three promoters. Our results indicate that TM2, as a novel strong MAR, can be used to increase the transgene expression levels in the whole plant or in particular tissues of monocotyledons.     

Analysis of promoters in transgenic barley and wheat

Advances in the genetic transformation of cereals have improved the prospects of using biotechnology for plant improvement, and a toolbox of promoters with defined specificities would be a valuable resource in controlling the expression of transgenes in desired tissues for both plant improvement and molecular farming. A number of promoters have been isolated from the important cereals (wheat, barley, rice and maize), and these promoters have been tested mostly in homologous cereal systems and, to a lesser extent, in heterologous cereal systems. The use of these promoters across the important cereals would add value to the utility of each promoter. In addition, promoters with less sequence homology, but with similar specificities, will be crucial in avoiding homology-based gene silencing when expressing more than one transgene in the same tissue. We have tested wheat and barley promoters in transgenic barley and wheat to determine whether their specificity is shared across these two species. The barley bifunctional α-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor ( Isa ) promoter, specific to the pericarp in barley, failed to show any activity in wheat, whereas the wheat early-maturing ( Em ) promoter showed similar activity in wheat and barley. The wheat high-molecular-weight glutenin ( HMW-Glu ) and barley D-hordein ( D-Hor ) and B-hordein ( B-Hor ) storage protein promoters maintained endosperm-specific expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in wheat and barley, respectively. Using gfp , we have demonstrated that the Isa and Em promoters can be used as strong promoters to direct transgenes in specific tissues of barley and wheat grain. Differential promoter activity across cereals expands and adds value to a promoter toolbox for utility in plant biotechnology.     

Screening promoters for Anthurium transformation using transient expression

Key message

There are multiple publications on Anthurium transformation, yet a commercial product has not been achieved. This may be due to use of non-optimum promoters here we address this problem.

Abstract

Different promoters and tissue types were evaluated for transient β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression in Anthurium andraeanum Hort. ‘Marian Seefurth’ following microprojectile bombardment. Plasmids containing the Ubiquitin 2, Actin 1, Cytochrome C1 from rice, Ubiquitin 1 from maize and 35S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus fused to a GUS reporter gene were bombarded into in vitro grown anthurium lamina, somatic embryos and roots. The number of GUS foci and the intensity of GUS expression were evaluated for each construct. Ubiquitin promoters from rice and maize resulted in the highest number of expressing cells in all tissues examined. Due to the slow growth of anthurium plants, development of transgenic anthurium plants takes years. This research has rapidly identified multiple promoters that express in various anthurium tissues facilitating the development of transformation vectors for the expression of desirable traits in anthurium plants.     

Enhancement of maize transformation efficiency by the use of maize matrix attachment regions

Improving genetic transformation efficiency is a major concern in plant genetic engineering. While various strategies have been investigated, the enhancement of selectable marker gene expression has not been tried extensively. We used maize matrix attachment regions (MARs) to bracket an herbicide resistance transgene, bar. MARs have been reported to enhance transgene expression level and stability. We show here that MARs not only enhance transformation efficiency by 50%, but are also able to increase or decrease relative efficiencies of each step of the regeneration process depending on MAR sequence combinations. Furthermore, we assessed the trans-effect of MARs in co-bombardment experiments with two independent plasmids, one including the MAR sequences and the other one the bar gene. As for simple bombardment, MARs enhanced transformation efficiency by having a positive influence on organogenesis step in the regeneration process.     

Identification of cis-elements conferring high levels of gene expression in non-green plastids

Although our knowledge about the mechanisms of gene expression in chloroplasts has increased substantially over the past decades, next to nothing is known about the signals and factors that govern expression of the plastid genome in non-green tissues. Here we report the development of a quantitative method suitable for determining the activity of cis-acting elements for gene expression in non-green plastids. The in vivo assay is based on stable transformation of the plastid genome and the discovery that root length upon seedling growth in the presence of the plastid translational inhibitor kanamycin is directly proportional to the expression strength of the resistance gene nptII in transgenic tobacco plastids. By testing various combinations of promoters and translation initiation signals, we have used this experimental system to identify cis-elements that are highly active in non-green plastids. Surprisingly, heterologous expression elements from maize plastids were significantly more efficient in conferring high expression levels in root plastids than homologous expression elements from tobacco. Our work has established a quantitative method for characterization of gene expression in non-green plastid types, and has led to identification of cis-elements for efficient plastid transgene expression in non-green tissues, which are valuable tools for future transplastomic studies in basic and applied research.     

Assessment of transgenic maize events produced by particle bombardment or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation

Particle bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation are two popular methods currently used for producing transgenic maize. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is expected to produce transformants carrying fewer copies of the transgene and a more predictable pattern of integration. These putative advantages, however, tradeoff with transformation efficiency in maize when a standard binary vector transformation system is used. Using Southern, northern, real-time PCR, and real-time RT-PCR techniques, we compared transgene copy numbers and RNA expression levels in R₁ and R₂ generations of transgenic maize events generated using the above two gene delivery methods. Our results demonstrated that the Agrobacterium-derived maize transformants have lower transgene copies, and higher and more stable gene expression than their bombardment-derived counterparts. In addition, we showed that more than 70% of transgenic events produced from Agrobacterium-mediated transformation contained various lengths of the bacterial plasmid backbone DNA sequence, indicating that the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation was not as precise as previously perceived, using the current binary vector system.     

Chemical-inducible systems for regulated expression of plant genes

Chemical regulation of transgene expression presents a powerful tool for basic research in plant biology and biotechnological applications. Various chemical-inducible systems based on de-repression, activation and inactivation of the target gene have been described. The utility of inducible promoters has been successfully demonstrated by the development of a marker-free transformation system and large-scale gene profiling. In addition, field applications appear to be promising through the use of registered agrochemicals (e.g. RH5992) as inducers.     

三个方便实用的植物表达载体构建与验证

为满足植物功能基因组学研究及转基因安全性需要,本研究根据一些国内外引进或商业化的植物表达载体及其相关元件,构建了3个适合于植物,尤其是单子叶植物转化的表达载体,即p AH006、p WMB022和p WMB025。p AH006载体包含由玉米泛素ubi启动子调控的GUS基因和bar基因的完整T-DNA区域,此区段能够被酶切回收,可用于单子叶植物农杆菌介导转化效率评价及基因枪介导线状DNA转化效果研究;p WMB022载体携带由双35S启动子调控的玉米色素基因Lc和C1,可用作基因枪介导的共转化筛选标记,直观筛选含目标基因转基因材料;p WMB025载体携带由ubi启动子调控的、商业化转基因植物中广泛利用的EPSPS基因,可用于禾谷类作物农杆菌或基因枪介导的遗传转化,载体多克隆位点可通过酶切方式更换目标基因。酶切鉴定结合农杆菌或基因枪介导的小麦幼胚愈伤组织或叶片转化验证此3个载体表明,载体构建正确,其标记基因、可视化基因和报告基因均能正常表达。这3个载体的构建对于小麦等植物转化效率提升、安全型转基因作物获得和植物功能基因组学研究等具有重要意义。     

Advances and remaining challenges in the transformation of barley and wheat

Highly efficient and cost-effective transformation technologies are essential for studying gene function in the major cereal crops, wheat and barley. Demand for efficient transformation systems to allow over-expression, or RNAi-mediated silencing of target genes, is greatly increasing. This is due to technology advances, such as rapid genome sequencing, enhancing the rate of gene discovery and thus leading to a large number of genes requiring functional analysis through transformation pipelines. Barley can be transformed at very high efficiency but the methods are genotype-dependent. Wheat is more difficult to transform, however, recent advances are also allowing the development of high-throughput transformation systems in wheat. For many gene function studies, barley can be used as a model for wheat due to its highly efficient transformation rates and smaller, less complex genome. An ideal transformation system needs to be extremely efficient, simple to perform, inexpensive, genotype-independent, and give the required expression of the transgene. Considerable progress has been made in enhancing transformation efficiencies, controlling transgene expression and in understanding and manipulating transgene insertion. However, a number of challenges still remain, one of the key ones being the development of genotype-independent transformation systems for wheat and barley.     

A short synthetic MAR positively affects transgene expression in rice and Arabidopsis

Matrix Attachment Regions (MARs) are DNA elements that are thought to influence gene expression by anchoring active chromatin domains to the nuclear matrix. When flanking a construct in transgenic plants, MARs could be useful for enhancing transgene expression. Naturally occurring MARs have a number of sequence features and DNA elements in common, and using different subsets of these sequence elements, three independent synthetic MARs were created. Although short, these MARs were able to bind nuclear scaffold preparations with an affinity equal to or greater than naturally occurring plant MARs. One synthetic MAR was extensively tested for its effect on transgene expression, using different MAR orientations, plant promoters, transformation methods and plant species. This MAR was able to increase average transgene expression and produced integration patterns of lower complexity. These data show the potential of making well defined synthetic MARs and using them to improve transgene expression.     

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.     

Phylogenetic and molecular analysis of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit gene family in banana

Despite being the number one fruit crop in the world, very little is known about the phylogeny and molecular biology of banana (Musa spp.). Six banana rbcS gene families encoding the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from six different Musa spp. are presented. For a comprehensive phylogenetic study using Musa rbcS genes, a total of 57 distinct rbcS sequences was isolated from six accessions that contained different combinations of the A and B ancestral/parental genomes. As a result, five of the six members of the rbcS gene family could be affiliated with the A and/or B Musa genomes and at least three of the six gene families most likely existed before Musa A and B genomes separated. By combining sequence data with quantitative real-time PCR it was determined that the different Musa rbcS gene family members are also often multiply represented in each genome, with the highest copy numbers in the B genome. Expression of some of the rbcS genes varied in intensity and in different tissues indicating differences in regulation. To analyse and compare regulatory sequences of Musa rbcS genes, promoter and terminator regions were cloned for three Musa rbcS genes. Transient transformation assays using promoter-reporter-terminator constructs in maize, wheat, and sugarcane demonstrated that the rbcS-Ma1, rbcS-Ma3, and rbcS-Ma5 promoters could be useful for transgene expression in heterologous expression systems. Furthermore, the rbcS-Ma1 terminator resulted in a 2-fold increase of transgene expression when directly compared with the widely used Nos terminator.