Development of transformation vectors based upon a modified plant alpha-tubulin gene as the selectable marker

A plant transformation and selection system has been developed utilizing a modified tubulin gene as a selectable marker. The vector constructs carrying a mutant alpha-tubulin gene from goosegrass conferring resistance to dinitroaniline herbicides were created for transformation of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. These constructs contained beta- and/or mutant alpha-tubulin genes driven either by ubiquitin or CaMV 35S promoter. The constructs were used for biolistic transformation of finger millet and soybean or for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of flax and tobacco. Trifluralin, the main representative of dinitroaniline herbicides, was used as a selective agent in experiments to select transgenic cells, tissues and plantlets. Selective concentrations of trifluralin estimated for each species were as follows: 10 microM for Eleusine coracana, Glycine max, Nicotiana plumbaginifolia and Nicotiana sylvestris; 3 microM for Linum usitatissimum. PCR and Southern blotting analyses of transformed lines with a specific probe to nptII, alpha-tubulin or beta-tubulin genes were performed to confirm the transgenic nature of regenerated plants. Band specific for the mutant alpha-tubulin gene was identified in transformed plant lines. Results confirmed the stable integration of the mutant tubulin gene into the plant genomes. The present study clearly demonstrates the use of a plant mutant tubulin as a selective gene for plant transformation.     

Tissue culture specificity of the tobacco ASA2 promoter driving hpt as a selectable marker for soybean transformation selection

This study was carried out to determine if the tobacco anthranilate synthase ASA2 2.3 kb promoter drives tissue culture specific expression and if it is strong enough to drive hpt (hygromycin phosphotransferase) gene expression at a level sufficient to allow selection of transformed soybean embryogenic culture lines. A number of transformed cell lines were selected showing that the promoter was strong enough. Northern blot analysis of plant tissues did not detect hpt mRNA in the untransformed control or in the ASA2-hpt plants except in developing seeds while hpt mRNA was detected in all tissues of the CaMV35S-hpt positive control line plants. However, when the more sensitive RT-PCR assay was used all tissues of the ASA2-hpt plants except roots and mature seeds were found to contain detectable hpt mRNA. Embryogenic tissue cultures initiated from the ASA2-hpt plants contained hpt mRNA detectable by both northern and RT-PCR analysis and the cultures were hygromycin resistant. Friable callus initiated from leaves of ASA2-hpt plants did in some cases contain hpt mRNA that was only barely detectable by northern hybridization even though the callus was very hygromycin resistant. Thus the ASA2 promoter is strong enough to drive sufficient hpt expression in soybean embryogenic cultures for hygromycin selection and only very low levels of expression were found in most plant tissues with none in mature seeds.     

The salt-tolerance gene rstB can be used as a selectable marker in plant genetic transformation

The salt-tolerance gene rstB under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter was used as a selectable marker gene in the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi). The selective agent for plant regeneration was tolerance to 170 mM sodium chloride. The highest selection efficiency was 83.3%. No obvious differences in selection efficiencies were observed when those obtained using the standard selectable marker gene hpt and a selection regime of 10 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Transgenic events were confirmed by PCR, Southern blot, RT-PCR and green fluorescent protein studies. The rstB transgenic plants showed improved salt tolerance and a normal phenotype. Based on these results, we suggest that the rstB gene may be used as a promising selectable marker and an alternative to the antibiotic- or herbicide-resistance genes in plant transformation. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

青霉菌聚半乳糖醛酸酶基因在毕赤酵母中的表达及酶学性质研究

筛选得到一株能分解果胶的青霉菌(Penicillium sp.),使用简并引物PCR和TAIL-PCR方法从该菌中克隆了一个聚半乳糖醛酸酶基因pgp1.pgp1基因全长1 225 bp,包含2个内含子,其cDNA全长1 104 bp,编码367个氨基酸和一个终止密码子,前18个氨基酸为信号肽序列.将pgp1基因连接pPIC9载体,在巴斯德毕赤酵母表达系统中进行了异源表达.在3L发酵罐水平,培养基中聚半乳糖醛酸酶活力达到700 U/mL.酶学性质测定表明,重组酶蛋白PGP1的最适pH为5.0,在pH4.0 -6.0下处理1h后,剩余酶活力超过90％;最适温度为38℃,以聚半乳糖醛酸为底物,PGP1的Km=(1.172±0.169)mg/mL,Vmax=(0.061±0.002) mg/min/mL.     

The isopentenyl transferase gene is effective as a selectable marker gene for plant transformation in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Petite Havana SRI)

 A selection method for transformed cells which does not inhibit regeneration is important for the establishment and optimization of a transformation protocol. We have assessed the 35S-ipt gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a selectable marker gene. The identification of ipt-expressing cells from nontransformed cells enabled morphological selection without the use of kanamycin and also allowed for the elimination of a high proportion of nonexpressing cells. Ipt selection of tobacco leaf discs (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Petite Havana SRI) resulted in a 2.7-fold higher transformation frequency compared to kanamycin selection. Overexpression of the ipt gene favored plant regeneration from transformed cells, and the transformation frequency of the ipt plus kanamycin selection resulted in a 1.6-fold higher transformation frequency than kanamycin selection alone. These results indicate that this procedure might provide a strategy whereby transgenic plants can be efficiently obtained and some of the problems related to the use of antibiotics diminished. Received: 1 November 1999 / Revision received: 26 June 2000 / Accepted: 18 July 2000     

The application of the mutated acetolactate synthase gene from rice as the selectable marker gene in the production of transgenic soybeans

We investigated selective culturing conditions for the production of transgenic soybeans. In this culturing system, we used the acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide-resistance gene derived from rice (Os-mALS gene) as a selectable marker gene instead of that derived from bacteria, which interfered with the cultivation and practical usage of transgenic crops. T₁ soybeans grown from one regenerated plant after selection of the ALS-targeting pyrimidinyl carboxy (PC) herbicide bispyribac-sodium (BS) exhibited herbicide resistance, and the introduction and expression of the Os-mALS gene were confirmed by genetic analysis. The selective culturing system promoted by BS herbicide, in which the Os-mALS gene was used as a selectable marker, was proved to be applicable to the production of transgenic soybeans, despite the appearance of escaped soybean plants that did not contain the Os-mALS transgene.     

Engineering of an endogenous phytoene desaturase gene as a dominant selectable marker for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii transformation and enhanced biosynthesis of carotenoids

A phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene was cloned and characterized from the unicellular green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Functional complementation analysis revealed C. reinhardtii PDS (CrPDS) catalyzes the conversion of phytoene to the colored carotenoid ζ-carotene. A single amino acid substitution, L505F, enhanced its desaturation activity by 29%, as indicated by an in vitro enzymatic assay. In addition, CrPDS-L505F exhibited 27.7-fold higher resistance to the herbicide norflurazon. Glass bead-mediated delivery displayed a high transformation efficiency of C. reinhardtii with CrPDS-L505F, demonstrating clearly that the engineered endogenous CrPDS is a dominant selectable marker for C. reinhardtii and possibly for other green algae. Furthermore, the expression of PDS could enhance the intracellular carotenoid accumulation of transformants, opening up the possibility of engineering the carotenogenic pathway for improved carotenoid production in microalgae.     

犬细小病毒VP2基因的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达

目的表达犬细小病毒VP2蛋白（CPVVP2）,用于犬细小病毒病的诊断、疫苗研制和VP2蛋白功能研究。方法采用PCR方法对CPVVP2基因进行扩增,将CPVVP2基因克隆到毕赤酵母（Pichiapastoris）分泌表达载体pPICZαA中,构建真核重组表达载体pPICZαA—VP2,将该重组质粒线性化后,转化毕赤酵母菌GS115中,在甲醇诱导下表达CPVVP2,SDS-PAGE和Western blotting鉴定表达蛋白。结果成功扩增了CPVVP2基因,构建了真核重组表达载体pPICZαA-VP2在毕赤酵母菌中表达出约64．35kD蛋白。Western blotting鉴定表明,表达VP2蛋白与犬细小病毒阳性血清有反应性。结论在毕赤酵母中成功地表达了CPVVP2蛋白,能被犬细小病毒阳性血清识别。     

蚓激酶基因的克隆及在毕赤酵母中的表达

以赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)体内的总RNA为模板,通过RT-PCR方法扩增含自身信号肽的蚓激酶基因F238,将其克隆到pUCm-T载体上,并进行测序。GenBank登录号为:DQ202401。测序结果表明基因全长为738bp,共编码245个氨基酸,包括7个氨基酸的信号肽序列和238个氨基酸的成熟肽序列。与粉正蚓(Lumbricus rubellus)F-III-2相比,核苷酸与氨基酸序列的同源性均为99%,仅存在2个碱基的差异,导致2个氨基酸的突变。通过生物信息学方法对蛋白质的理化及结构特性进行分析预测,F238的等电点为4.61,含有11个半胱氨酸,形成3个二硫键。蛋白质分子主要由β折叠组成,具有丝氨酸活性中心,属丝氨酸蛋白酶超家族胰蛋白酶类。以重组质粒pUCm-T-F238为模板,通过PCR方法扩增去信号肽的蚓激酶基因F238-m,构建毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)表达载体pPIC9-F238-m,将其线性化后用电穿孔法导入酵母宿主菌GS115中。在MM和MD平板上筛选表型,经甲醇诱导后,SDS-PAGE分析显示表达产物的分子量为28kDa左右,纤维平板法测定活力最高可达100U/mL。     

一种多拷贝毕赤酵母表达载体的构建及人脑源性神经营养因子的表达

利用PCR技术扩增出pPIC9K载体的HIS4 Kan序列片段 ,与pPICZα重组 ,构建结合了两个载体特点的适合体外构建多拷贝基因表达盒的毕赤酵母表达载体pPICZα1,改造后的载体含HIS4 Kan序列 ,能整合到酵母染色体上 ,具有筛选方便、外源基因多拷贝组建迅速、蛋白产物分泌表达和易纯化等优点。将人脑源性神经营养因子(hBDNF)的cDNA(35 7bp)克隆入载体pPICZα1,利用同尾酶BglⅡ、BamHⅠ不可逆连接方式 ,分别构建含有 1、2、3、6个拷贝hBDNF表达盒的重组表达载体 ,电击法转化毕赤酵母GS115菌株 ,用G4 18和Zeocin筛选转化子 ,筛选到的阳性转化子用 0 5 %甲醇诱导 ,获得分泌型表达。表达产物类似于天然神经营养因子单体大小、分子量约 14kD。多拷贝hBDNF表达盒的表达水平亦高于单拷贝hBDNF表达盒 ,ELISA和Westernblot检测表明 :表达的蛋白能与鸡抗人脑源性神经营养因子抗体特异结合 ,证实该表达蛋白具有hBDNF的免疫原性     

大口鲶ob基因的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达

1994年Zhang等人利用定位克隆技术首次成功地克隆出小鼠肥胖基因(obese gene,ob基因)及人类同源序列后[1],其他动物如鸡、鸭、猪等的肥胖基因结构和部分功能相继得到了报道,但关于鱼类ob基因的结构和功能研究报道较少.     

The maize Knotted1 gene is an effective positive selectable marker gene for Agrobacterium-mediated tobacco transformation

We have assessed the use of a homeobox gene knotted1 (kn1) from maize as a selectable marker gene for plant transformation. The kn1 gene under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter (35S::kn1) was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Under nonselective conditions (without antibiotic selection) on a hormone-free medium (MS), a large number of transgenic calli and shoots were obtained from explants that were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 harboring the 35S::kn1 gene. On the other hand, no calli or shoots were produced from explants that were infected with an Agrobacterium strain harboring pBI121 (nptII selection) or from uninfected controls cultured under identical conditions. Relative to kanamycin selection conferred by nptII, the use of kn1 resulted in a 3-fold increase in transformation efficiency. The transgenic status of shoots obtained was confirmed by both histochemical detection of GUS activity and molecular analysis. The results presented here suggest that kn1 gene could be used as an effective alternative selection marker with a potential to enhance plant transformation efficiency in many plant species. With kn1 gene as a selection marker gene, no antibiotic-resistance or herbicide-resistance genes are needed so that potential risks associated with the use of these traditional selection marker genes can be eliminated.     

人HCN2真核表达载体的构建及在HEK293细胞中的表达

目的：构建含有人HCN2基因的真核表达载体,并观察在人胚胎肾细胞（HEK293）中的表达情况。方法：对人HCN2基因全序列进行分析,进行oligo设计,通过PCR,扩增HCN2全长cDNA,通过双酶切（XhoI和BamHI）装入真核表达载体pIRES2-EGFP中,脂质体法转染入HEK293细胞中,利用真核表达载体中带有绿色荧光蛋白GFP报告基因,对转染效率进行监测,采用反转录-聚合酶链反应检测HCN2 mRNA表达,全细胞膜片钳技术检测HCN2通道电流。结果：测序及酶切结果表明HCN2基因正确,荧光显微镜下,转染细胞观察到绿色荧光,反转录-聚合酶链反应检测到HCN2 mRNA表达,膜片钳检测到hHCN2基因编码的通道电流。结论：成功地构建了HCN2真核表达载体并进行了起搏通道HCN2基因的异源性表达。     

一种新型巴斯德毕赤酵母表达载体的构建及甘露聚糖酶的表达

目的:构建以带自身启动子的蔗糖转化酶基因(suc2)为选择标记的载体,用于外源基因在巴斯德毕赤酵母中的正确分泌表达。方法:根据已发表的蔗糖转化酶基因序列设计并合成1对引物,应用PCR技术,以啤酒酵母INVSC1总DNA为模板,扩增出包含自身启动子和终止区序列的suc2基因。将该基因与毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9K连接,构建了以suc2为选择标记的表达载体pPIC12K。将甘露聚糖酶基因man克隆入载体pPIC12K,用PEG/LiCl法转化毕赤酵母GS115菌株。以蔗糖为惟一碳源筛选转化子,利用底物平板检测筛选到的转化子中man基因的表达,并对重组表达菌株进行连续传代实验。结果:部分转化子周围产生明显的水解圈,证明甘露聚糖酶已经得到分泌表达;对重组表达菌株的连续传代实验证实了该表达载体具有良好的遗传稳定性。结论:以带自身启动子的suc2基因为选择标记的表达载体构建成功,并且这个新型表达载体能够对外源基因进行稳定有效的分泌表达。     

A point mutation in the Medicago sativa GSA gene provides a novel, efficient, selectable marker for plant genetic engineering

Bacterial selectable marker genes (SMG) conferring antibiotic resistance are valuable tools in plant genetic engineering, but public concern and regulatory requirements have stimulated the development of alternative selection systems. We have previously demonstrated that a mutated Synechococcus elongatus HemL gene encoding glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase (GSA) is an efficient SMG in alfalfa. In fact, GSA is irreversibly inhibited by gabaculine (3-amino-2,3-dihydrobenzoic acid), but the mutated enzyme is gabaculine insensitive. With the aim to develop a plant derived SMG, we cloned and sequenced the Medicago sativa GSA cDNA and reproduced one of the two mutations associated with gabaculine resistance in Synechococcus, a transversion resulting in a methionine to isoleucine (M → I) substitution. This mutated gene was assessed as a SMG in tobacco and alfalfa Agrobacterium transformation, in comparison with the wild type gene. In tobacco, about 43% of the leaf explants produced green shoots, whereas in alfalfa 47% of the explants produced green embryos in the presence of 30 μM gabaculine when the M → I GSA was introduced. Escapes were absent in tobacco and only 6% in alfalfa. No effect on the plant phenotype was noticed. We propose this new SMG as a widely acceptable alternative to those currently used.     

Tools for chloroplast transformation in Chlamydomonas: expression vectors and a new dominant selectable marker

Reverse-genetic studies of chloroplast genes in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been hampered by the paucity of suitable selectable markers for chloroplast transformation. We have constructed a series of vectors for the targeted insertion and expression of foreign genes in the Chlamydomonas chloroplast genome. Using these vectors we have developed a novel selectable marker based on the bacterial gene aphA-6, which encodes an aminoglycoside phosphotransferase. The aphA-6 marker allows direct selection for transformants on medium containing either kanamycin or amikacin. The marker can be used to inactivate or modify specific chloroplast genes, and can be used as a reporter of gene expression. The availability of this marker now makes possible the serial transformation of the chloroplast genome of Chlamydomonas. Received: 26 October 1999 / Accepted: 28 December 1999     

glyA基因的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达

根据已知的序列设计引物,以大肠杆菌XL10-Gold总DNA为模板进行梯度PCR,并进行DNA序列测定,其序列与已经报道的glyA基因完全一致。将其克隆到毕赤酵母分泌型表达载体pHBM905C上,获得表达质粒pHBM1001.该质粒转化毕赤酵母GS115所得重组子经PCR验证后成功进行了诱导表达,并初步测定了酶活力。     

耐碱性甘露聚糖酶基因的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达

通过功能平板从土壤中筛选得到含甘露聚糖酶基因的耐碱菌株。构建其基因组文库,从中筛选到甘露聚糖酶基因TM1并测序分析,用BLAST分析表明,TM1的氨基酸序列与其他在GenBank发表的甘露聚糖酶的氨基酸序列的同源性均低于60%,故确定其为一个新的甘露聚糖酶基因(GenBank登录号为AY623903)。将此基因去除信号肽后的编码序列克隆到表达载体pHBM905C上,得到重组质粒pHBM1201。经SalⅠ酶切后分别转化毕赤酵母(Pichiapastoris)KM71、GS115、SMD1168,得到分泌表达的重组毕赤酵母。挑选相对表达量最高的重组毕赤酵母SMD1168-3在摇瓶中诱导产酶,对该酶的粗酶进行酶学性质分析表明,其最适反应温度为55℃,最适PH值为7.5,以魔芋粉为底物所测得的最高酶活为41.8U,半衰期为1h,在80℃保温5min其酶活由最初酶活的77%下降到11%,温度下降到55℃后活性可恢复到最初酶活的60%以上。     

长梗木霉内切葡聚糖酶I基因的克隆及其在毕赤酵母中的表达

一株纤维素酶高产菌株经ITS序列鉴定并命名为长梗木霉SSL (Trichoderma longibrachiatum, SSL)。利用RT-PCR的方法从该菌株中克隆出内切-1-4-β-D-葡聚糖酶I的基因 (eg1), 该基因全长1386 bp, 编码461个氨基酸。序列分析表明：该基因序列与T. longibrachiatum egl1基因具有90％以上的同源性。将该基因的成熟肽编码序列插入到Pichia pastoris表达载体ppic9k中, 构建重组表达质粒ppic9k-eg1, 转化P. pa     

人HCN2 真核表达载体的构建及在HEK293 细胞中的表达

目的:构建含有人HCN2基因的真核表达载体,并观察在人胚胎肾细胞(HEK293)中的表达情况。方法:对人HCN2基因全序列进行分析,进行oligo设计,通过PCR,扩增HCN2全长cDNA,通过双酶切(XhoI和BamHI)装入真核表达载体pIRES2-EGFP中,脂质体法转染入HEK293细胞中,利用真核表达载体中带有绿色荧光蛋白GFP报告基因,对转染效率进行监测,采用反转录-聚合酶链反应检测HCN2 mRNA表达,全细胞膜片钳技术检测HCN2通道电流。结果:测序及酶切结果表明HCN2基因正确,荧光显微镜下,转染细胞观察到绿色荧光,反转录-聚合酶链反应检测到HCN2 mRNA表达,膜片钳检测到hHCN2基因编码的通道电流。结论:成功地构建了HCN2真核表达载体并进行了起搏通道HCN2基因的异源性表达。