Effect of Phytohormone Biosynthesis Genes (ipt and iaaM + iaaH) on the Sexual Reproduction of Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Transformation of Nicotiana silvestris Spegar et Comes plants by the ipt or iaaM + iaaH genes changed the hormonal status of plant reproductive organs. The total content of cytokinins and ABA increased, whereas IAA content in the pistils and anthers of the ipt-plants did not change. Reduced fertility of the ipt plants correlated with an elevated cytokinin and ABA contents of their reproductive organs. Pollen tubes of these plants showed defective growth in pistils in situ, and ovaries manifested a low metabolic activity. The transgenic (iaaM + iaaH)-plants were characterized by an elevated IAA content and reduced ABA content, whereas the total content of cytokinins did not change. The fertility of these plants did not differ from that in the wild type.     

Altered Growth and Wood Characteristics in Transgenic Hybrid Aspen Expressing Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA Indoleacetic Acid-Biosynthetic Genes

A key regulator of cambial growth is the plant hormone indoleacetic acid (IAA). Here we report on altered wood characteristics and growth patterns in transgenic hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. x Populus tremuloides Michx.) expressing Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA IAA-biosynthetic iaaM and iaaH genes. Eighteen lines simultaneously expressing both genes were regenerated. Of these, four lines, verified to be transgenic by northern blot analysis, were selected and raised under controlled growth conditions. All four lines were affected in their growth patterns, including alterations in height and stem diameter growth, internode elongation, leaf enlargement, and degree of apical dominance. Two transgenic lines, showing the most distinct phenotypic deviation from the wild type, were characterized in more detail for free and conjugated IAA levels and for wood characteristics. Both lines showed an altered IAA balance, particularly in mature leaves and roots where IAA levels were elevated. They also exhibited changes in wood anatomy, most notably a reduction in vessel size, an increase in vessel density, and changes in ray development. Thus, the recent development of techniques for gene transfer to forest trees enabled us to investigate the influence of an altered IAA balance on xylem development in an intact experimental system. In addition, the results demonstrate the possibility of manipulating wood properties in a forest tree through controlled changes of IAA concentration and distribution.     

Hormonal Characterization of Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing the rolC Gene of Agrobacterium rhizogenes TL-DNA

Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Wisconsin 38) plants expressing the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolC gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter were constructed. These plants displayed several morphological alterations reminiscent of changes in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), cytokinin, and gibberellin (GA) content. However, investigations showed that neither the IAA pool size nor its rate of turnover were altered significantly in the rolC plants. The biggest difference between rolC and wild-type plants was in the concentrations of the cytokinin, isopentenyladenosine (iPA) and the gibberellin GA19. Radio-immunoassay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements revealed a drastic reduction in rolC plants of iPA as well as in several other cytokinins tested, suggesting a possible reduction in the synthesis rate of cytokinins. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry quantifications of GA19 showed a 5- to 6-fold increase in rolC plants compared with wild-type plants, indicating a reduced activity of the GA19 oxidase, a proposed regulatory step in the gibberellin biosynthesis. Thus, we conclude that RolC activity in transgenic plants leads to major alterations in the metabolism of cytokinins and gibberellins.     

过量表达水稻细胞质型OsAPXs基因提高转基因烟草的耐盐性

为了验证水稻(Oryza sativa L.)细胞质型APXs与细胞耐盐性的关系,实验分别将OsAPXa和OsAPXb（基因登录号：D45423、AB053297）转化到烟草(Nictiana tabacum,N.plum)植株中。Southern结果表明,二基因分别整合到烟草的基因组;Northern分析表明,外源基因在转基因烟草中得到高效表达;在碳酸盐逆境下,T2代转基因植株与野生型对照相比,其APX活性呈现显著的提高,T₂代品系的H₂O₂含量和叶片受害程度显著低于野生型;T₂代品系分别在含有10 mmol·L^-1 NaHCO₃、5 mmol·L^-1 Na₂CO₃的MS培养基上生长,根的生长受到抑制,叶片产生黄化;野生型烟草则难以存活。水稻细胞质型OsAPXs基因的过量表达提高了转基因烟草的耐盐性,揭示出OsAPXa和OsAPXb在碳酸盐逆境应答过程中发挥着重要的作用。     

The Initiation of Auxin Autonomy in Tissue from Tobacco Plants Carrying the Auxin Biosynthesizing Genes from the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Havana 425) plants containing the indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesizing genes (1 and 2) from the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain T37-ADH₂ (mutated at the cytokinin biosynthesis gene 4) were used to study the physiological basis of the suppression and reinitiation of the auxin autonomous phenotype. The plants, though normal in appearance and cross-fertile with nontransformed, wild type tobacco, are shown to contain multiple copies of genes 1 and 2. Plants carrying these genes respond to inoculation by Agrobacterium strains mutated at genes 1 and 2 in a virulent fashion. Despite the presence and potential in planta activity of these genes, pith explants from such plants require auxin or tryptophan for growth in vitro, as does wild type tobacco. In both cases the indole-3-acetic acid levels increase rapidly in pith explants cultured on tryptophan-containing medium. However, only the tissues containing genes 1 and 2 grow subsequently on auxin-free medium and accumulate indole-3-acetic acid to levels that support growth. The capacity of such tissues to utilize naphthalene acetamide as an auxin suggests that gene 2 is rapidly activated during the reinitiation process.     

农杆菌介导籼稻优良恢复系bar基因的遗传转化研究

应用农杆菌介导转化体系,成功地将含有CaMv35s启动子启动的bar基因导入籼稻幼胚来源的愈伤组织,获得籼稻优良恢复系T461、R402和752三个品种（系）共47个抗除草剂Basta的转基因株系,Southem分析结果表明,转基因植株基因组中检测到bar基因的整合,转基因植株自交后代Basta除草剂抗性鉴定表现出分离,且大多数为1-2个整合位点的孟德尔方式遗传。结果表明,根癌农杆菌介导法可以有效且可靠地转化籼稻。     

转双基因烟草对棉铃虫的杀虫活性评价

以含Ｂｔ杀虫蛋白基因（单基因）烟草和常规烟草为对照,系统测定了含Ｂｔ与豇豆胰蛋白酶抑制剂蛋白基因（双基因）的抗虫烟草对棉铃虫不同龄期幼虫的杀虫活性。结果表明：１￣３龄幼虫取食转双基因烟草３ｄ后死亡率为８０．５％￣９９．３％,取食６ｄ后死亡率达１００％,均显著高于转单基因烟草。２龄幼虫取食转基因烟草３ｄ后死亡率为８０．５％￣９９．３％,取食６ｄ后死亡率达１００％,均显著高于转单基因烟草。２龄幼虫取食     

In Situ Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes from Transgenic (Transplastomic) Tobacco Plants to Bacteria

Interkingdom gene transfer is limited by a combination of physical, biological, and genetic barriers. The results of greenhouse experiments involving transplastomic plants (genetically engineered chloroplast genomes) cocolonized by pathogenic and opportunistic soil bacteria demonstrated that these barriers could be eliminated. The Acinetobacter sp. strain BD413, which is outfitted with homologous sequences to chloroplastic genes, coinfected a transplastomic tobacco plant with Ralstonia solanacearum and was transformed by the plant's transgene (aadA) containing resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin. However, no transformants were observed when the homologous sequences were omitted from the Acinetobacter sp. strain. Detectable gene transfer from these transgenic plants to bacteria were dependent on gene copy number, bacterial competence, and the presence of homologous sequences. Our data suggest that by selecting plant transgene sequences that are nonhomologous to bacterial sequences, plant biotechnologists could restore the genetic barrier to transgene transfer to bacteria.     

Transformation of Brassica napus and Brassica oleracea Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and the Expression of the bar and neo Genes in the Transgenic Plants

An efficient and largely genotype-independent transformation method for Brassica napus and Brassica oleracea was established based on neo or bar as selectable marker genes. Hypocotyl explants of Brassica napus and Brassica oleracea cultivars were infected with Agrobacterium strains containing chimeric neo and bar genes. The use of AgNO₃ was a prerequisite for efficient shoot regeneration under selective conditions. Vitrification was avoided by decreasing the water potential of the medium, by decreasing the relative humidity in the tissue culture vessel, and by lowering the cytokinin concentration. In this way, rooted transformed shoots were obtained with a 30% efficiency in 9 to 12 weeks. Southern blottings and genetic analysis of S1-progeny showed that the transformants contained on average between one and three copies of the chimeric genes. A wide range of expression levels of the chimeric genes was observed among independent transformants. Up to 25% of the transformants showed no detectable phosphinotricin acetyltransferase or neomycin phosphotransferase II enzyme activities although Southern blottings demonstrated that these plants were indeed transformed.     

Morphology and Phytohormone Content in Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing Bacterial Thermostable Cellulase

Expression of the bacterial gene for thermostable -1,4-glucanase (cellulase) from Clostridium thermocellum in transgenic tobacco plants was shown to produce significant changes in tobacco plant structure and activities. The transgenic plants differed in their growth rate and morphology, and their hormonal status was affected. Thus, the transgenic plants expressing the gene for thermostable bacterial cellulase are a convenient model to study the role of -1,4-glucanases in plant physiological processes.     

Transgenic Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum SR1) Plants Expressing the Gene Coding for Serratia marcescens Nuclease

The gene coding for the secreted Serratia marcescens endonuclease was fused with the mannopine synthase promoter of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid and transferred to Nicotiana tabacum SR1 plants. The promoter is leaf- and root-specific. The resulting transgenic plants demonstrated elevated nuclease activity. The level of the transgene product was determined in the transgenic lines.     

Production and Analysis of Tobacco Transgenic Plants Expressing the Agrobacterial Gene for Tryptophan Monooxygenase

The expression of the agrobacterial iaaM gene for tryptophan monooxygenase, the enzyme catalyzing the first step in the auxin biosynthesis, induced substantial physiological and biochemical changes in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants. All lines of transgenic plants grown in vitro manifested abnormal phenotypes: enhanced root formation, adventitious roots on stems, and curled leaves. When grown in vivo, plants manifested abnormal, normal, or intermediate phenotype. Under conditions of a greenhouse, the abnormal plants contained the highest amount of auxins in their leaves and manifested an increased number of adventitious roots, poor reproductivity, and the loss in seed germination. Transgenic plants with the normal phenotype did not substantially differ from the wild-type plants in their morphology, and their auxin content was lower than in the abnormal plants. The intermediate-phenotype plants were devoid of some morphological properties characteristic of the abnormal plants. Only the seeds of normal- and intermediate-phenotype transgenic plants germinated at a high rate.     

Conjugation of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) in Wild-Type and IAA-Overprodcing Transgenic Tobacco Plants,and Identification of the Main Conjugates by Frit-Fast Atom Bombardment Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Transgenic plants overproducing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) from expression of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA IAA biosynthesis genes were used to study the conjugation of IAA. At the 11-node stage, free IAA, as well as ester- and amide-conjugated IAA, was analyzed in wild-type tobacco SR1 and in transgenic plants denoted 35S-iaaM/iaaH (line C) and 35S-iaaM x 35S-iaaH (line X). The transgenic plants contained increased levels of both free and conjugated IAA, and the main increase in IAA conjugates occurred in amide conjugates. Two amide conjugates were identified by fritfast atom bombardment liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as indole-3-acetylaspartic acid (IAAsp) and indole-3-acetylglutamic acid (IAGlu), and one ester conjugate was identified as indole-3-acetylglucose. IAAsp and IAGlu were also identified as endogenous substances in wild-type plants. In wild-type plants, the percent of total IAA in the free form was significantly higher in young leaves (73 [plus or minus] 7%, SD) than in old leaves (36 [plus or minus] 8%), whereas there was no difference between young (73 [plus or minus] 8%) and old internodes (70 [plus or minus] 9%). In IAA-overproducing transformants, both free and conjugated IAA levels were increased, but the percent free IAA was maintained constant (57 [plus or minus] 10%) for both leaves and internodes, independent of the total IAA level or tissue age. These results suggest that synthesis or transport of IAA conjugates is regulated in the vegetative wild-type plant, and that different organs possess a unique balance between free and conjugated IAA. The IAA-overproducing plant, however, acquires a lower proportion of free IAA in the stem and younger leaves, presumably determined by a higher conjugation in those tissues compared with wild type.     

Influence of Environmental Stress on Biomass Partitioning in Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing the Movement Protein of Tobacco Mosaic Virus

The influence of various environmental factors on biomass partitioning between shoots and roots in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants expressing the movement protein (MP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was investigated. TMV-MP-expressing transgenic plants exhibited a root-to-shoot ratio that was approximately 40% below that of transgenic vector control plants. When transgenic plants expressing the TMV-MP were subjected to water-stress conditions, the root-to-shoot ratio was increased to a value comparable to that of control plants subjected to the same water-stress treatment. Although the root-to-shoot ratio was increased by N or P deficiencies, the TMV-MP-induced alteration in biomass partitioning was not overcome. Surprisingly, under K+-deficient growth conditions, both TMV-MP-expressing and control plants exhibited reduced root-to-shoot ratios when compared with plants grown in the presence of sufficient K+. Furthermore, plant growth under K+-deficient conditions did not alleviate the influence of the TMV-MP over resource allocation to the roots. These results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms by which stress signals could cause an alteration in biomass partitioning between shoots and roots in control and transgenic tobacco plants expressing the TMV-MP.     

表达尾穗苋凝集素基因的转基因烟草对桃蚜(Myzus persicae)繁殖的影响

为研究尾穗苋凝集素(ACA)在植物中可能的抗虫作用,通过RH-PCR克隆了ACA cDNA并通过RACE分析证实了cDNA序列的正确性.构建了ACA基因的韧皮部特异表达载体pBCACAc并通过根癌杜菌介导转化了烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.).PCR和Southern blot分析结果证明,ACA基因已经整合到转化再生植物的基因组中,其插入插贝数1~4个不等.对转基因烟草叶片蛋白时行行免疫反应的结果表明,ACA基因已被转录和翻译.用桃蚜(Myzuspersicae Sulzer)对转基因烟草离体叶片进行了的接虫试验结果表明,测试过的78%的烟草对桃蚜口密度增长的平均抑制率在75%以上,在抗性植株上观察到有桃蚜若虫死亡的现象.以上结果表明,ACA基因是一个有效的抗蚜基因,在作物抗蚜分子育种具有应具应用价值.     

表达尾穗苋凝集素基因的转基因烟草对桃蚜(Myzus persicae)繁殖的影响(英文)

To investigate the possible function of the agglutinin from Amaranthus caudatus L. (ACA) in plant defending against insect pests, ACA cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR and the 5‘ and 3‘ sequences were confirmed by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The phloem-specific expression vector of ACA gene, pBCACAc, was constructed based on the plant binary vector pBC438 and transfered into tobacco plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Results from PCR and Southern blotting analysis showed that AOA gene was integrated into the genomes of transformed plants and the transgene integration varied from one to four estimated copies per genome. Western blotting analysis indicated that ACA gene was transcribed and translated in the transgenic plants. The bioassay of Myzus persicae Sulzer on detached leaves demonstrated that the 78% transgenic tobacco plants displayed an average aphid-resistant rate of more than 75%. Some apterous progeny of M. persicae were found dead on the resistant plants. These results indicate that ACA gene should be an effective aphid-resistant gene and could be valuable for application in crop breeding for aphid resistance.     

植物抗坏血酸的合成和代谢以及相关酶基因的调控

本文对植物抗坏血酸的生物合成与代谢途径以及相关酶基因调控的研究进展作介绍。     

转人α-乳清白蛋白基因烟草中半胱氨酸含量的提高

将人α-乳清白蛋白基因构建到植物表达载体上,通过农杆菌介导采用叶盘法将人α-乳清白蛋白基因导入到烟草中,经过PCR和Southern blot分析表明:人α-乳清白蛋白基凶已经整合到烟草基因组中;经过RT-PCR葙GUS组织化学染色证明:人α-乳清白蛋白基因得到了表达.测定了9株转基因烟草叶片半胱氨酸含量,大部分植株有着明显的提高,最高幅度达到了318.02%,半胱氨酸含量平均提高了166.40%.