Quick and efficient measurement of transient GUS expression using image analysis

An image-analysis procedure was developed for measurement of transient β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene expression events in peanut. Gene transfer via microprojectile bombardment has been effective in peanut. Experiments were performed to improve the efficiency of DNA delivery to embryogenic calli for transformation. Transient GUS expression was assayed 24 hours after bombardment by staining calli and manually counting blue-stained spots under a microscope. These calli were then placed under a dissecting microscope with a video camera that recorded each image onto a computer. The images were then subjected to analysis with software that counted the number of blue-stained GUS-positive spots as well as the area and percent of the total area of each spot. The manual counts and data from the image analysis were compared through correlation statistics and by comparing analyses of variance for fixed parameters of the experiments. Correlation coefficients were high between manual spot counts and image-analysis counts (r=0.77) and between manual counts and percent area (GUS (r=0.91) Results indicate that image analysis provides a quick and efficient method for analysis of transient expression. Much more reliable information is obtained with less effort and less fatigue with the image-analysis procedure. Scientists can use this method to monitor transient expression events in plant transformation experiments.     

转MDMV CP基因玉米植株的再生

用基因枪法将玉米矮花叶病毒外壳蛋白基因导入玉米自交系综31幼胚诱导的愈伤组织中,在含有Bialaphos 6 mg·L^-1的选择培养基上经过3个月的抗性筛选,抗性愈伤组织在分化培养基上生成可育再生植株。PCR、PCR-Southern blot及DNA点杂交结果表明,外源基因已导入到玉米基因组中。转基因T1和T2代植株在大田表现出对MDMV的抗性,可以降低发病率,减轻发病程度。     

高赖氨酸蛋白基因导入水稻及可育转基因植株的获得

构建了一个植物高效表达质粒,使来源于四棱豆（Psophocarpus tetragonolobus(L.)DC)的高赖氨酸蛋白基因（lys）受控于单子叶植物ubiqutin强启动子下表达。用基因枪法将其导入水稻(Oryza sativa L.)幼胚诱导的愈伤组织,经潮霉素抗性筛选,得到可育的再生植株。经PCR和Southem blotting检测,表明该基因已整合到水稻的基因组织。GUS组织化学染色表明转基因水稻植株的叶、茎和根中均有gus基因的表达。测定112株转基因水稻叶片中赖氨酸叶量,大部分植株有不同程度的提高,最高幅度为16．04％。     

Regeneration of transgenic,microspore-derived,fertile barley

We have developed a system for the biolistic transformation of barley using freshly-isolated microspores as the target tissue. Independent transformation events led, on average, to the recovery of one plant per 1×10⁷ bombarded microspores. Putative transformants have been regenerated using phosphinothricin as a selective agent. R₀ plants have been transferred to soil approximately 2 months after bombardment. Integration of the marker genes bar and uidA has been confirmed by Southern analysis. The marker genes are inherited in all progeny plants confirming the expected homozygous nature of the R₀ plants.     

通过基因枪轰击转化获得转基因小麦植株的研究

利用ＪＱ－７００型高速基因枪将ｐＤＭ３０２质粒ＤＮＡ上的ｂａｒ基因即ＰＡＴ酶基因导入了冬小麦品种“农大１４６”的幼胚中。经过在含有的选择培养基上筛选,得到了９块具有ｐｐｔ抗性的愈伤组织。ＰＣＲ电泳检测与ＰＣＲ－Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ发要交结果显示,外源ｂａｒ基因已转化进了由其中４块愈伤组织再生出的转基因的小麦植株中。     

Evaluation of the Use of the Tobacco PR-1a Promoter to Monitor Defense Gene Expression by the Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporter System

Because of their marked responsiveness to induction signals, genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins are used as markers to monitor defense gene expression in plants. To develop a non-invasive bioluminescence reporter assay system, we tested acidic PR-1 gene promoters from tobacco and Arabidopsis. These two promoters share common regulatory elements and are believed to show similar responsiveness to various stimuli but the results of transient expression assays by microprojectile bombardment of various plant cells and npr1 mutant Arabidopsis suggest that the tobacco PR-1a promoter is superior to its Arabidopsis counterpart in terms of responsiveness to salicylic acid treatment. Transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings harboring the tobacco PR-1a promoter fused to firefly luciferase showed marked induction in response to treatment with chemicals that induce defense gene expression in plants. These results suggest that the tobacco PR-1a promoter is applicable in monitoring defense-gene expression in various plant species.     

Transfer of Lysine-rich Protein Gene into Rice and Production of Fertile Transgenic Plants

Lysine-rich protein gene (lys) was cloned from Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC. A plant expression plasmid was constructed and lys gene was under the control of maize ubiquitin promoter which is the highest efficient monocotyledon promoter. The plasmid was introduced into rice embryogenic calli by microprojectile bombardment. The regenerated fertile plants were obtained by effective selection for hygromycin B resistance. Genomic PCR and Southern blotting analyses showed that the lys gene has been integrated into rice genome. Simultaneously, the results of GUS histochemical assay demonstrated the transgenic rice plants. Data analysis showed that lysine content in most of the 11 transgenic plants is differently improved, and in one of them increased by 16.04%.     

Wounding by bombardment yields highly efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

Highly efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) was obtained by first wounding stem explants via microprojectile bombardment. When this was followed by cocultivation with disarmed Agrobacterium in the dark, the transformation frequency-based on transient GUS expression-increased to over 10-fold that of explants wounded by other means and cocultivated under constant light. Two cycles of regeneration/selection on kanamycin were employed to generate stably transformed carnation plants and eliminate chimeras: first, plantlets were regenerated from inoculated stem explants and then leaves from these plantlets were used to generate transgenes in a second selection cycle of adventitious shoot regeneration. Agrobacterium strain AGLO, carrying the binary vector pCGN7001 containing uidA and nptII genes, was used in the stable transformation experiments. The combination of wounding via bombardment, cocultivation in the dark and two cycles of kanamycin selection yielded an overall transformation efficiency of 1–2 transgenes per 10 stem explants for the three carnation varieties analyzed. Histochemical and molecular analyses of marker genes in T₀ and T₁ generations confirmed the transgenic nature of the selected plants.     

Inheritance of transgenes in transgenic tall fescue (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca arundinacea</Emphasis> schreb.)

Summary Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is the most important forage species worldwide of the Festuca genus. Single genotype-derived embryogenic suspension cultures were established from tall fescue cultivar Kentucky-31, and were used as target cells for biolistic transformation. A chimeric hygromycin phosphotransferase gene (hph) was used as the selectable marker, and a chimeric β-glucuronidase (gusA) gene was co-transformed with hph. Transgenic plants were recovered after microprojectile bombardment of suspension cells and subsequent selection in the presence of a high concentration of hygromycin. Fertile transgenic plants were obtained after vernalization under field conditions. T1 and T2 progenies were obtained after reciprocal crosses between transgenic and untransformed control plants. PCR and Southern hybridization analyses revealed a 1∶1 segregation ratio for both transgenes in the T1 and T2 generations. Southern hybridization patterns were identical for T0, T1, and T2 plants. The results demonstrated for the first time the stable meiotic transmission of transgenes following Mendelian rules in transgenic tall fescue.     

高羊茅组织培养再生体系及GUS基因瞬间表达研究

以成熟种子为外值体,对高羊茅纰织培养和植株再生体系进行了优化,分析了不同浓度2．4-D、6-BA和激动素对高羊茅愈伤组织诱导和愈伤组织分化成苗的影响．结果表明：9．0mg／L 2．4-L)对愈伤组织的诱导效果最佳．0．2mg／L激动素是愈伤组织分化成苗的最适浓度．二者的诱导率和分化率分别达到68．08%和45．83％。在愈伤组织继代培养基中附加1．0mg／L 2．4-D、0．5mg／L 6-BA和1．25mg／L CuSO4;有利于胚性愈伤组织的形成,可以明显促进愈伤组织分化。同时．采用基因枪法将GUS基因导入高羊茅愈伤组织中,通过组织化学染色检测到了GUS瞬间表达活性;并对影响CUS基因瞬间表达的因素进行了分析．以期为提高基因枪法遗传转化效率提供参考。     

Rapid PCR amplification of chimeric products and its direct application to in vitro testing of recombinant DNA construction strategies

This article describes a simple and rapid method for efficient production of chimeric products by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This protocol is amenable to site-directed mutagenesis strategies and can be done without the time-consuming gel purification step. The PCR products generated can also be directly used for direct gene transfer into plant cells without further subcloning to test construction strategies. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Histology of,and physical factors affecting,transient GUS expression in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) embryos following microprojectile bombardment

Transient GUS (-glucuronidase) expression was visualized in whole and sectioned embryos of Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. (pearl millet) after microprojectile bombardment with pMON 8678 DNA. Strongest GUS expression occurred in cells located in the center of GUS positive spots with decreasing intensity in surrounding cells. GUS positive cells could be seen up to 12 cell layers beneath the epidermis. Needle-like crystals of the GUS assay product were found throughout the cytoplasm of GUS positive cells. The number of GUS positive spots was correlated to the microprojectile spread pattern on the medium surface. Shorter bombardment distances (6.6 and 9.8 cm) and the standard accelerator speed gave the best results for transient expression but also caused maximum tissue damage. The speed and distance, however, had little influence on the ability of bombarded embryos to form compact callus. The developmental stage of the bombarded immature embryos was the determining factor in the formation of compact callus, from which plants were regenerated.     

甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH)基因转化小麦及其表达

采用基因枪法将山菠菜甜菜碱醛脱氢酶 (BADH)基因导入小麦 (TriticumaestivumL .)品种 ,并且得以表达。该基因由玉米Ubi1启动子控制。在盐胁迫条件下 ,多数转基因植株叶片的BADH活性比受体亲本提高 1～ 3倍 ,部分植株相对电导率比亲本明显低 ,表明转基因植株的细胞膜在胁迫时有受损较轻倾向。PCR和Southern杂交分析证实外源BADH基因已插入小麦基因组 ,平均转化频率为 4.1%。     

Biological ballistics-no longer a shot in the dark

Established methods of genetic transformation, such asAgrobacterium transfection and DNA uptake by protoplasts have not been successfully applied to some of the world’s major crops. This article reviews the evolution of microprojectile bombardment, from its inception to establishment at the method of choice for transformation of otherwise recalcitrant crops such as maize, wheat and barley. The potential of microprojectile bombardment, as a universal method of transformation, is discussed in the context of the wide range of species transformed, together with the transformation of plastid genomes and the contribution of this technology beyond the boundaries of the plant kingdom.     

Major improvements in biolistic transformation of suspension-cultured tobacco cells

Summary Suspension cultures of the NT1 line ofNicotiana tabacum L. were used as a model system to study plant biolistic transformation, because of their uniformity, rapid growth, and ease of handling. The β-glucuronidase gene and the neomycin phosphotransferase genes were used to assay transient and stable transformation. Numerous factors were studied and optimized, such that the frequency of transformation was increased roughly 60-fold for transient transformants and 20-fold for stable transformants. Both biological parameters (the promoter used to drive gene expression, osmotic preconditioning and posbombardment handling of the cells) and physical parameters of the bombardment process (particle acceleration device and accelerator parameters) were tested. The factors that increased transformation rates the most were promoter strength, use of a helium-driven particle accelerator, and osmotic preconditioning of the cells.     

Development of asparagus microspores in vivo and in vitro is influenced by gametogenic stage and cold treatment

Summary Development of asparagus microspores in cold-treated buds of varying sizes and shed microspores from these buds in in vitro culture were observed cytologically for the G459 genotype. Before cold pretreatment, more than 75% of the microspores in flower buds of the 1.4–1.6, 1.7–1.9, 2.0–2.2, 2.3–2.5, and 2.6–2.8 mm size classes were at the early-, mid-, late-uninucleate, early-, and late-binucleate stages, respectively. After 7 d in cold treatment, percentages of microspores at different stages changed in all flower buds. Most notable was the appearance of binucleate microspores resulting from symmetric rather than asymmetric division. For flower buds of 1.7–1.9, 2.0–2.2, and 2.3–2.5 mm size classes, 4.9%, 27.2%, and 11.4% of the microspores had divided symmetrically, respectively. When microspores from buds of each size category were cultured in androgenesis induction medium, only microspores completing symmetric pollen mitosis I during cold treatment were observed to divide further, and calluses were only obtained from microspores of flower bud size classes where symmetric divisions were observed after several days of cold treatment. Significant correlations existed among microspore callus yield, the percentage of late-uninucleate microspores in vivo before cold treatment, and the frequency of symmetric pollen mitosis I after 7 d of cold treatment. Consequently, asparagus microspore androgenesis may occur through one developmental pathway, where a symmetric first mitotic division is a prerequisite for continued development.     

甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH)基因转化小麦及其表达

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) cDNA cloned from Atriplex hortensis L. in the plasmid pABH9 containing maize ubiquitin promoter and bar gene was transferred into wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by microprojectile bombardment with 4.1% of average frequency of transformation. From 300 young embryo calli bombarded with the plasmid, 24 transgenic plants were obtained showing BADH gene integration by both PCR and Southern blotting analysis. Among the 24 transgenic plants, 13 exhibited higher BADH activity than the control. Some transgenic plants grew normally with healthy roots on the medium containing 0.7% NaCl while the control plants had very poor roots and finally died.     

Use of green fluorescent protein as A non-destructive marker for peanut genetic transformation

Summary The ability to non-destructively visualize transient and stable gene expression has made green fluorescent protein (GFP) a most efficient reporter gene for routine plant transformation studies. We have assessed two fluorescent protein mutants, enhanced GFP (EGFP) and enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP), under the control of the CaMV35S promoter, for their transient expression efficiencies after particle bombardment of embryogenic cultures of the peanut cultivar, Georgia Green. A third construct (p524EGFP.1) that expressed EGFP from a double 35S promoter with an AMV enhancer sequence also was compared. The brightest and most dense fluorescent signals observed during transient expression were from p524EGFP. 1 and EYFP. Optimized bombardment conditions consisted of 0.6 μm diameter gold particles, 12410 kPa bombardment pressure, 95 kPa vacuum pressure, and pretreatment with 0.4 M mannitol. Bombardments with p524EGFP.1 produced tissue sectors expressing GFP that could be visually selected under the fluorescence microscope over multiple subcultures. Embryogenic lines selected for GFP expression initially may have been chimeric since quantitative analysis of expression sometimes showed an increase when GFP-expressing lines, that also contained a hygromycin-resistance gene, subsequently were cultured on hygromycin. Transformed peanut plants expressing GFP were obtained from lines selected either visually or on hygromycin. Integration of the gfp gene in the genomic DNA of regenerated plants was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization and transmission to progeny.     

基因枪法向小麦导入几丁质酶基因的研究

利用基因枪法,以菜豆几丁质酶基因转化小麦幼胚愈伤组织。在轰击压力1300psi,轰击距离6cm、100μg金粉/枪和轰击距离9cm、150μg金粉/枪的2种处理条件下,获得4株春小麦东农7742转化植株,转化频率分别为0.36％和0.56％。经PCR和PCR-Southern杂交分析,证实菜豆几丁质酶基因已整合到T0和T1小麦基因组中。采用氨基葡萄糖法测定几丁质酶活力,结果表明,转基因小麦的几丁质酶活力明显高于对照株;转基因植株对白粉病症状减缓,并获得一株赤霉菌接种未扩展的转基因T1植株。