Photoregulation of Protochlorophyllide Oxidoreductase and Rubisco Large Subunit Accumulation in Phytochrome A-Deficient Transgenic Tobacco Plants

Some morphogenetic responses, induced by far red (FR) light in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L.), were studied. The inhibitory effect of FR irradiation on chlorophyll synthesis in transgenic plants with reduced phytochrome A content was almost absent. Phytochrome A-mediated repression of the por gene was demonstrated with the use of polyclonal antiserum against protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase. Continuous FR light induced the accumulation of Rubisco large subunits in wild-type but not in transgenic tobacco plants. Our data confirm the suggestion that phytochrome A mediates photoregulation of the synthesis of these proteins.     

Characterization of Transgenic Tobacco Plants Containing Bacterial bphc Gene and Study of Their Phytoremediation Ability

Genetically modified plants can serve as an efficient tool for remediation of diverse dangerous pollutants of the environment such as pesticides, heavy metals, explosives and persistent organic compounds. Transgenic lines of Nicotiana tabacum containing bacterial bphC gene from the degradation pathway of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were tested. The product of the bphC gene – enzyme 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenase is responsible for cleaving of the biphenyl ring. The presence of bphC gene in transgenic plants was detected on DNA, RNA and protein level. The expression of the bphC/His gene was verified after purification of the enzyme from plants by affinity chromatography followed by a Western blot and immunochemical assay. The enzyme activity of isolated protein was detected.Efficient transformation of 2,3-DHB by transgenic plants was achieved and the lines also exhibited high production of biomass. The transgenic plants were more tolerant to the commercial PCBs mixture Delor 103 than non-transgenic tobacco. And finally, the higher decrease of total PCB content and especially congener 28 in real contaminated soil from a dumpsite was determined after cultivation of transgenic plant in comparison with non-transgenic tobacco. The substrate specificity of transgenic plants was the same as substrate specificity of BphC enzyme.     

Phytochrome degradation

Plants actively modulate the levels of the various phyto-chrome isoforms during their life cycle to optimize light absorption and perception. For phytochrome A (phyA), one of the most influential methods of control is selective turnover of the photoreceptor upon photoconversion from the red-absorbing form (Pr) to the far-red-absorbing form (Pfr). Whereas the Pr form has a half-life of approximately 1 week, the Pfr form is rapidly degraded with a half-life of 1–2 h. The ubiquitin/26S proteasome pathway has been implicated in phyA breakdown. In this proteolytic pathway, multiple ubiquitins are covalently attached to proteins committed for degradation; these ubiquitin-protein conjugates then serve as intermediates in the breakdown of the target protein by the 26S proteasome, a multi-subunit proteolytic complex. In several plant species, ubiquitin-phyA conjugates have been detected in vivo following Pfr formation that show accumulation and decay kinetics expected for Pfr degradation intermediates. Analyses of phyA mutants and phyA/phyB chimeras expressed in transgenic plants have been particularly useful in mapping domains within the chromoprotein that are necessary for Pfr degradation. Several domains have been identified within both the N- and C-terminal portions of the photoreceptor that presumably serve as recognition and/or acceptor sites for ubiquitination     

Tuber Formation and Growth of in vitro Cultivated Transgenic Potato Plants Overproducing Phytochrome B

We studied the effect of the ectopic expression of the Arabidopsis PHYB gene, which encodes the phytochrome B (phyB) apoprotein, under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter on the photoperiodic response of tuberization and growth of potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Désirée) transformed lines. Stem cuttings of transformed and control plants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog nutrient medium containing 5 or 8% sucrose in the phytotron chambers at 20°C under conditions of a long day (16 h), a short day (10 h), or in darkness. We showed that the overexpression of the PHYB gene enhanced the inhibitory effect of the long day on tuberization. In addition, tuber initiation in these transformed plants occurred at a higher sucrose concentration. The insertion of the PHYB gene decreased plant and tuber weights and shortened stems and internodes. Thus, we demonstrated the complex result of the PHYB gene insertion: it affected the photoperiodic response of tuberization, the control of tuber initiation by sucrose, and the growth of potato vegetative organs.     

雪花莲凝集素基因（gna）的改造及其抗蚜性

用定点突变方法对编码雪花莲凝集素（Galanthus nivalis agglutinin,GNA)前体蛋白的DNA序列进行了改造和转基因烟草9Nicotana tabacum L.）抗蚜性的研究。结果表明,将GNA编码序列中含有的稀有密码子改造后,GNA的表达水平从占总可溶性蛋白的0.17％增加到0.25％,转基因烟草的抗蚜性也随之增强,从平均抑制桃蚜（Myzus per-sicae(Sulzer））虫口密度63.7％显地提高到71.0％。     

Improvement of Freezing Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco Leaves by Expressing the hiC6 Gene

A cryoprotective protein, HIC6, was expressed transgenically in tobacco, a cold-sensitive plant, and the localization of the protein within the cell as well as freezing tolerance of the transgenic tobacco was investigated. For constitutive expression of HIC6 in tobacco, its corresponding gene was subcloned into pBI121. Through the transformation with pBI121/hiC6, fifteen transgenic tobacco lines were acquired, out of which twelve lines expressed the HIC6 protein. None of the transgenic tobacco lines, however, showed significant differences in freezing tolerance from the control plants (wild-type and transformed with pBI121) at ?1, ?3, and ?4°C, with the exception that their freezing temperature was ?2°C. In order to increase the accumulation level of HIC6, pBE2113 with a stronger promoter was used. Eight lines expressed the protein out of thirteen lines transformed with pBE2113/hiC6. The accumulation levels of the protein were clearly higher in the tobacco plants transformed with pBE2113/hiC6 than in those with pBI121/hiC6. The HIC6 protein seemed to be localized in mitochondria of the transgenic tobacco plants. Freezing-tolerance test at ?1 - ?4°C showed that the degree of electrolyte leakage was significantly lower in the plants with pBE2113/hiC6 than in the control plants. A leaf browning observation also showed that high accumulation of HIC6 significantly suppressed injury caused by freezing to the transgenic tobacco at ?3°C.     

Induction of Expression Instability of the nptII Gene in Transgenic Tobacco Plants

A comparative analysis of the neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene expression was performed in two groups of transformed tobacco plants, one of which included plants with direct and inverted tandem uidA gene repeats in the T-DNA insertion. This insertion of inverted repeats was shown to reduce the level of stable nptII gene expression to 20%, as compared with 65% in the control transformants. The level of unstable expression of this gene substantially increased (up to 71.4% vs. 5.5% in the control group) when homologous sequences were brought together with direct tandem repeats in the genome of hybrid plants.     

The Expression of the Bacterial Gene for Xylose(Glucose) Isomerase in Transgenic Tobacco Plants Affects Plant Morphology and Phytohormonal Balance

The gene encoding xylose(glucose) isomerase (P00944, EC 5.3.1.5) in Escherichia coli was put under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter and transferred to Nicotiana tabacum L. plants using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens vector. Transgenic plants, which synthesized an active bacterial enzyme, were characterized by the accelerated development of the root system, more rapid accumulation of total plant weight, and larger leaves. These changes were correlated with a changed hormonal balance and a changed activity of the chloroplast-gene expression.     

番茄ACC合成酶cDNA克隆及其对果实成熟的反义抑制

利用RT—PcR技术克隆了ACC合成酶多基因家族成员之－LE-ACC2编码区约1．7kb的cDNA,经酶切图谱和序列分析鉴定无误后,反向插入到植物表达载体pBin437中,构建了表达Acc合成酶反望RNA的二元载体。经农杆菌途径转化番茄“丽春”品种后,通过PCR检测从抗卡那霉素再生植株中筛选到6株转基因植株,Southern杂交确证了外源基因是以单拷贝插入到番茄染色体中;对果实乙烯释放的测定结果表明转基因番茄果实的乙烯释放量仅为对照的30％左右,在室温下转基因番茄果实采后保存60 d以上仍然没有变红、软化。以上结果表明其反义RNA在转基因番茄中的表达能有效地抑制乙烯的生物合成从而延缓果实成熟,表现出良好的耐储保鲜特性。对转基因植株子一代(T1)的分析结果进一步表明反义ACC合成酶基因以典型的单基因方式传到子代。通过对子二代的分析已初步筛选到一 个耐储藏的转基因番茄纯合品系。     

转基因植物表达重组蛋白的研究进展

植物表达系统的一些潜在优点 ,如重组蛋白的高积累水平 ,糖基化 ,细胞内的定位和自然储藏的稳定性是目前植物生产重组蛋白系统研究成为热点的主要原因 .在研究和选择转基因植物表达系统的过程中 ,转化 ,转化后 ,翻译 ,翻译后等环节都会影响到最终产物的数量和质量 ,因此应该了解基因表达的规律 ,以制定植物生产重组蛋白合适的策略 ,重组蛋白积累水平是关键 ,但其它因素如植物的选择 ,转基因植物的处理 ,下游加工等同样重要 .某些情形下 ,仅下游加工的成本一项就影响到特定植物表达系统的实际应用价值 .     

构建转CgA基因反向cDNA片段小鼠模型

为了制作CgA基因反义RNA转基因小鼠,构建了质粒pCAS2C,并把pCAS2C中完整的反义表达框显微注射入小鼠受精卵的雌原核中,随后将注射过DNA的受精卵移植入假孕鼠的输卵管中,假母所产子一低代都用p1和p4 引物对鼠尾基因组DNA进行PCR检测,选出2只首建鼠（PCR阳性）。首建鼠与正常鼠杂交后得到F1代小鼠,经PCR方法筛选出来的阳性F1代鼠雌雄自交产生F2代。为了检测F2代鼠的基因型,将PCR方法鉴定为阳性的F2代小鼠分别与正常小鼠回交,只有回交后所得后代PCR检测结果全为阳性的F2代个体才是转基因纯合鼠,这样分别得到两只转基因首建鼠的纯合个体。转基因小鼠脑总RNA经RT－PCR反应可产生300bp的产物,证明转基因小鼠中转入的反义基因已经转录,以上结果说明转入的pCAS2C反义表达框已经整合到转基因小鼠的基因组中并遗传给后代,而且已经转录。     

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.     

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.     

Reduction of mRNA Levels for the 28.5 kDa Iron-Sulfur Core Protein of Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibits Pollen Maturation in Transgenic Tobacco

Abstract: The multi-subunit enzyme complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is an assembly of nuclear and organ-ellar encoded proteins with distinct roles and functions. The nuclear encoded 28.5 kDa iron-sulfur protein is located at the centre of electron transfer to ubiquinone. Functional importance and regulatory tolerance of this subunit were investigated in transgenic tobacco plants carrying antisense constructs driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. In all of the regenerated transgenics vegetative growth is undisturbed, while in many transformants flower development is abnormal and pollen fertility is reduced. Maximal observed suppression of the steady-state 28.5 kDa mRNA level reaches only about 30%. Apparently, further reduction is lethal to the vegetative tobacco plants, suggesting that the 28.5 kDa subunit is regulated from the steady-state level onwards with little tolerance and no additional possibilities for compensation. This contrasts with the higher flexibility of the NADH-binding subunit of complex I, which vegetatively survives a 70% reduction of its mRNA level.     

外源SOD和APX基因在转基因烟草中的表达与遗传

分析转超氧化物歧化酶基因（SOD）或抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因（APX）烟草及其自交和杂交后代的叶片中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性的结果表明：转基因烟草的SOD和POD活性在终花期最强,不同叶位叶中SOD活性差异不明显,POD活性以下部叶为最高;转基因烟草的SOD或POD活性显著高于近等基因的非转基因品系。杂交后代（F1、F2）的SOD活性能保持稳定,略高于亲本;自交后代（S1～S3）与自交亲本的SOD和POD活性相当。     

两种凝集素基因在转基因烟草中表达的研究

构建了含尾穗苋凝集素基因(ACA)的cDNA序列和改造后的雪花莲凝集素基因(GNA)的植物表达载体pBACG。在此表达载体中,ACA和GNA基因的表达分别由35S启动子和CoYMV启动子控制。通过农杆菌介导,将ACA和GNA基因转化到烟草中,经卡那霉素筛选获得60株转化再生植株。对PCR检测呈阳性的50株植株进行接蚜虫实验,结果表明,其平均抑虫率达83．9％。Southern blotting分析表明,ACA和GNA基因都已整合到烟草基因组中。Western blotting结果显示这两个基因在不同植株中都可表达其相应的蛋白质,但表达水平不同。部分Western blotting分析呈阳性植株的抗蚜性与T0代相近,达85．3％,说明这两个基因的抗蚜功能可以稳定遗传。     

影响苏云金芽孢杆菌基因在转基因植物中表达的因素

苏云金芽孢杆菌（Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt）杀虫晶体蛋白基因是植物抗虫基因工程中应用最广泛的基因资源。影响Bt基因在转基因植物中表达的因素繁多,阐明这些因素的效应对于获得Bt基因在受体植物中的稳定高效表达具有重要意义。现对Bt基因表达的主要影响因子,如Bt基因表达单元、植物发育、外部环境条件、受体植物遗传背景、整合位点及Bt基因沉默现象等进行了综述。     

降低转基因植物外源基因扩散的分子策略

转基因植物可以通过花粉或种子将外源基因转移到其他植物,从而对生态环境造成潜在的危害。如何降低外源基因的扩散已引起了人们的极大关注。目前降低外源基因扩散的方法主要有叶绿体转化、花粉不育、种子不育、闭花受精、无融合生殖、暂时性控制及转基因缓和等。主要对各种方法的原理和优缺点及目前的使用情况进行综述。Abstract: Transgenic plants can transfer foreign genes through pollen or seed to related plant species. This may cause potential harm to ecological environment. How to decrease the gene flow is drawing a growing public attention. The approaches for decreasing the gene flow include chloroplast transformation, pollen sterility, seed sterility, cleistogamy, apomixis, temporal control, and transgenic mitigation. The theoretical basis, advantages and disadvantages, and usage status of these approaches are presented in this review.