Expression pattern and activity of six glutelin gene promoters in transgenic rice

The shortage of strong endosperm-specific expression promoters for driving the expression of recombinant protein genes in cereal endosperm is a major limitation in obtaining the required level and pattern of expression. Six promoters of seed storage glutelin genes (GluA-1, GluA-2, GluA-3, GluB-3, GluB-5, and GluC) were isolated from rice (Oryza sativa L.) genomic DNA by PCR. Their spatial and temporal expression patterns and expression potential in stable transgenic rice plants were examined with beta-glucuronidase (GUS) used as a reporter gene. All the promoters showed the expected spatial expression within the endosperm. The GluA-1, GluA-2, and GluA-3 promoters directed GUS expression mainly in the outer portion (peripheral region) of the endosperm. The GluB-5 and GluC promoters directed GUS expression in the whole endosperm, with the latter expressed almost evenly throughout the whole endosperm, a feature different from that of other rice glutelin gene promoters. The GluB-3 promoter directed GUS expression solely in aleurone and subaleurone layers. Promoter activities examined during seed maturation showed that the GluC promoter had much higher activity than the other promoters. These promoters are ideal candidates for achieving gene expression for multiple purposes in monocot endosperm but avoid promoter homology-based gene silencing. The GluC promoter did not contain the endosperm specificity-determining motifs GCN4, AACA, and the prolamin-box, which suggests the existence of additional regulatory mechanism in determining endosperm specificity.     

Characterization of a barley gene coding for an α-amylase inhibitor subunit (CMd protein) and analysis of its promoter in transgenic tobacco plants and in maize kernels by microprojectile bombardment

A gene coding for a barley CMd protein was isolated from a genomic library using a cDNA probe encoding the wheat CM3 protein. Promoter sequence analysis reveals motifs found in genes specifically expressed in endosperm and aleurone cells, as well as TATA and other putative functional boxes. 720 bp of the Hv85.1 CMd protein gene promoter, when fused to a gus coding region, were unable to direct GUS activity in the seeds of transgenic tobacco plants. In contrast, the same construction delivered into immature maize kernels by microprojectile bombardment was able to direct expression of GUS in the outermost cell layers of maize endosperm in both a tissue-specific and a developmentally determined manner.     

Developmental and Hormonal Regulation of Rice [alpha]-Amylase(RAmy1A)-gusA Fusion Genes in Transgenic Rice Seeds

Transgenic seeds of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were used to investigate temporal, spatial, and hormonal regulation of a rice [alpha]-amylase gene, RAmy1A. Two overlapping segments of the RAmy1A promoter were fused to the coding region of the bacterial reporter gene, gusA. The resulting promoter-gusA fusions, pE4/GUS (-232 to +31) and pH4/GUS (-748 to +31), were used separately to transform rice protoplasts. [beta]-Glucuronidase (GUS) activity was detected in germinated transgenic seeds, although the two constructs showed no significant difference in timing or location of GUS expression. Both constructs first expressed GUS in the scutellar epithelium and then in the aleurone layer. Aleurone expression of GUS activity was strongly induced when embryoless half-seeds were treated with gibberellic acid. GUS expression in the aleurone layer was also suppressed by abscisic acid. These results indicate that the 5[prime] regulatory region from -232 to +31 is sufficient for temporal, spatial, and hormonal regulation of RAmy1A gene expression.     

水稻谷蛋白GluA-2基因5′上游序列控制下的UidA基因在转基因水稻胚乳中的表达模式

为了研究谷蛋白胚乳特异性表达启动子在我国栽培稻品种中的表达模式,将UidA基因分别置于水稻谷蛋白GluA—2基因750bp和2．3kb上游序列下游,利用农杆菌转化法导人栽培稻品种中花8号并获得转基因植株。Southern blot检测表明,UidA基因已经整合到水稻基因组当中并以单拷贝存在。Northern blot检测表明,开花后13～15d和11～13d,UidA基因和水稻内源的GluA—2基因的表达量分别达到最高,随后逐渐降低。对转基因植株种子的GUS染色表明,UidA基因仅在胚乳中表达,在糊粉层中GUS表达量最高。测定了2．3kb和750bp转基因植株种子的GUS活性,结果表明前者的GUS活性是后者的2～3倍。序列分析表明,位于GluA—2基因转录启始位点上游2170bD的G-box可能是一个与表达量相关的顺式调控元件。     

水稻sbe1启动子驱动的反义sbe-GUS融合基因在转基因水稻中的表达

为研究水稻基因启动子对外源基因在转基因水稻中表达的影响,构建了由sbe1启动子引导的反义sbe-GUS融合基因。经农杆菌介导,将不同的融合基因导入水稻中,定量测定转基因水稻植株不同组织中的GUS酶活力。结果表明,sbe1启动子可驱动反义sbe-GUS融合基因在转基因水稻植株的胚乳中高效表达,而在颖壳、胚和茎叶等组织中的表达活性较弱。证实sbe1启动子在驱动外源基因的表达上表现有明显的组织特异性。     

Detailed analysis of the expression of an alpha-gliadin promoter and the deposition of alpha-gliadin protein during wheat grain development

Background and Aims

Alpha-gliadin proteins are important for the industrial quality of bread wheat flour, but they also contain many epitopes that can trigger celiac (cœliac) disease (CD). The B-genome-encoded α-gliadin genes, however, contain very few epitopes. Controlling α-gliadin gene expression in wheat requires knowledge on the processes of expression and deposition of α-gliadin protein during wheat grain development.

Methods

A 592-bp fragment of the promotor of a B-genome-encoded α-gliadin gene driving the expression of a GUS reporter gene was transformed into wheat. A large number of transgenic lines were used for data collection. GUS staining was used to determine GUS expression during wheat kernel development, and immunogold labelling and tissue printing followed by staining with an α-gliadin-specific antibody was used to detect α-gliadin protein deposited in developing wheat kernels. The promoter sequence was screened for regulatory motifs and compared to other available α-gliadin promoter sequences.

Key Results

GUS expression was detected primarily in the cells of the starchy endosperm, notably in the subaleurone layer but also in the aleurone layer. The α-gliadin promoter was active from 11 days after anthesis (DAA) until maturity, with an expression similar to that of a 326-bp low molecular weight (LMW) subunit gene promoter reported previously. An α-gliadin-specific antibody detected α-gliadin protein in protein bodies in the starchy endosperm and in the subaleurone layer but, in contrast to the promoter activity, no α-gliadin was detected in the aleurone cell layer. Sequence comparison showed differences in regulatory elements between the promoters of α-gliadin genes originating from different genomes (A and B) of bread wheat both in the region used here and upstream.

Conclusions

The results suggest that additional regulator elements upstream of the promoter region used may specifically repress expression in the aleurone cell layer. Observed differences in expression regulator motifs between the α-gliadin genes on the different genomes (A and B) of bread wheat leads to a better understanding how α-gliadin expression can be controlled.Key words: Alpha-gliadin, promoter, expression, deposition, wheat, Triticum aestivum, grain development     

Evaluation of tissue specificity and expression strength of rice seed component gene promoters in transgenic rice

Using stable transgenic rice plants, the promoters of 15 genes expressed in rice seed were analysed for their spatial and temporal expression pattern and their potential to promote the expression of recombinant proteins in seeds. The 15 genes included 10 seed storage protein genes and five genes for enzymes involved in carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism. The promoters for the glutelins and the 13 kDa and 16 kDa prolamins directed endosperm-specific expression, especially in the outer portion (peripheral region) of the endosperm, whilst the embryo globulin and 18 kDa oleosin promoters directed expression in the embryo and aleurone layer. Fusion of the GUS gene to the 26 kDa globulin promoter resulted in expression in the inner starchy endosperm tissue. It should be noted that the 10 kDa prolamin gene was the only one tested that required both the 5' and 3' flanking regions for intrinsic endosperm-specific expression. The promoters from the pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) small subunit genes were active not only in the seed, but also in the phloem of vegetative tissues. Within the seed, the expression from these two promoters differed in that the PPDK gene was only expressed in the endosperm, whereas the AGPase small subunit gene was expressed throughout the seed. The GUS reporter gene fused to the alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) promoter was expressed in the inner portion of the starchy endosperm, whilst the starch branching enzyme (SBE1) and the glutamate synthase (GOGAT) genes were mainly expressed in the scutellum (between the endosperm and embryo). When promoter activities were examined during seed maturation, the glutelin GluB-4, 26 kDa globulin and 10 kDa and 16 kDa prolamin promoters exhibited much higher activities than the others. The seed promoters analysed here exhibited a wide variety of activities and expression patterns, thus providing many choices suitable for various applications in plant biotechnology.     

水稻rbcS启动子控制的外源基因在转基因水稻中的特异性表达

为将不同启动子用于转基因水稻的研究,从武运粳8号水稻中克隆了Rubisco小亚基基因(rbcS)的5'上游调控区,构建了由rbcS启动子引导的GUS融合基因,并经农杆菌介导导入到水稻中.对转基因水稻植株中GUS活性的定性与定量测定结果表明,rbcS启动子可驱动GUS报告基因在转基因水稻植株叶片和叶鞘内的叶肉细胞中特异性高效表达,而在茎、根和种子等器官中不表达或表达活性极弱,表现出明显的组织与细胞特异性.结果还表明,光诱导处理可明显提高rbcS启动子启动的外源基因的表达量.     

参与水稻光合作用的PsbR3基因启动子的功能分析

本实验旨在研究水稻光合作用蛋白中各基因的表达模式. 采用RT-PCR和定量real-time PCR数据分析水稻不同组织的mRNA表达水平.结果显示,PsaK和PsbR3基因仅在茎、叶等绿色组织表达,而胚、胚乳部分均不表达.通过其启动子克隆、植物表达载体构建,以及农杆菌介导转化后,GUS组织染化分析和GUS荧光定量分析表明,两启动子均为组织特异性优势表达,PsbR3启动报告酶GUS在叶片中的表达活性为Actin启动子的3.29倍,而PsaK启动报告酶GUS在叶片中的表达活性低于Actin启动子的.这些初步结果提示,PsbR3启动子决定水稻绿色组织茎叶的优势表达,PsbR3基因可能参与水稻光合作用.     

The regulation of gene expression in transformed maize aleurone and endosperm protoplasts. Analysis of promoter activity, intron enhancement, and mRNA untranslated regions on expression.

Gene expression in the aleurone and endosperm is highly regulated during both seed development and germination. Studies of alpha-amylase expression in the aleurone of barley (Hordeum vulgare) have generated the current paradigm for hormonal control of gene expression in germinating cereal grain. Gene expression studies in both the aleurone and endosperm tissues of maize (Zea mays) seed have been hampered because of a lack of an efficient transformation system. We report here the rapid isolation of protoplasts from maize aleurone and endosperm tissue, their transformation using polyethylene glycol or electroporation, and the regulation of gene expression in these cells. Adh1 promoter activity was reduced relative to the 35S promoter in aleurone and endosperm protoplasts compared to Black Mexican Sweet suspension cells in which it was nearly as strong as the 35S promoter. Intron-mediated stimulation of expression was substantially higher in transformed aleurone or endosperm protoplasts than in cell-suspension culture protoplasts, and the data suggest that the effect of an intron may be affected by cell type. To examine cytoplasmic regulation, the 5' and 3' untranslated regions from a barley alpha-amylase were fused to the firefly luciferase-coding region, and their effect on translation and mRNA stability was examined following the delivery of in vitro synthesized mRNA to aleurone and endosperm protoplasts. The alpha-amylase untranslated regions regulated translational efficiency in a tissue-specific manner, increasing translation in aleurone or endosperm protoplasts but not in maize or carrot cell-suspension protoplasts, in animal cells, or in in vitro translation lysates.     

Analyzing the action of evolutionarily conserved modules on HMW-GS 1Ax1 promoter activity

Key message

The specific and high-level expression of 1Ax1 is determined by different promoter regions. HMW-GS synthesis occurs in aleurone layer cells. Heterologous proteins can be stored in protein bodies.

Abstract

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) is highly expressed in the endosperm of wheat and relative species, where their expression level and allelic variation affect the bread-making quality and nutrient quality of flour. However, the mechanism regulating HMW-GS expression remains elusive. In this study, we analyzed the distribution of cis-acting elements in the 2659-bp promoter region of the HMW-GS gene 1Ax1, which can be divided into five element-enriched regions. Fragments derived from progressive 5′ deletions were used to drive GUS gene expression in transgenic wheat, which was confirmed in aleurone layer cells, inner starchy endosperm cells, starchy endosperm transfer cells, and aleurone transfer cells by histochemical staining. The promoter region ranging from ??297 to ??1 was responsible for tissue-specific expression, while fragments from ??1724 to ??618 and from ??618 to ??297 were responsible for high-level expression. Under the control of the 1Ax1 promoter, heterologous protein could be stored in the form of protein bodies in inner starchy endosperm cells, even without a special location signal. Our findings not only deepen our understanding of glutenin expression regulation, trafficking, and accumulation but also provide a strategy for the utilization of wheat endosperm as a bioreactor for the production of nutrients and metabolic products.